GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Students enrolled in Grand Rapids Community College’s craft brewing program capped off the semester with a professional milestone: the creation and commercial release of their own beer.
The craft brewing program, launched at GRCC in 2016, offers students a comprehensive education in the industry. Coursework includes brewing microbiology, sensory analysis, taproom management, and legal aspects of beer production and licensing. Students also receive hands-on training at the college’s own Fountain Hill Brewery, which is operated entirely by students.
As part of their semester project, students collaborated with Big Lake Brewing in Holland to develop a mango sour beer aptly named School’s Out. The beer is currently available on tap and in cans at Big Lake Brewing.
According to Molly Daniels-Pereira, GRCC Craft Brewing Instructor and Head Brewer at Fountain Hill Brewery, the partnership was designed to give students insight into large-scale brewing operations and the importance of networking in the industry.
“The goal of the collaboration, at least on the student side, is really just to expose them to the need to network and build industry relationships,” Daniels-Pereira said. “It also helps them see what it looks like to brew on a different system.”
The collaboration not only marks a significant educational achievement for the students but also highlights GRCC’s commitment to real-world industry engagement.
