Yeah, really fun. ;)
Posted on 09/20/2003 10:32:13 AM PDT by Willie Green
For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.
UNLV students are pouring drinks today at an off-campus beer festival, but the event's proceeds will help bring the beverages home -- at the university's own brewery.
The Big Beer Bash, a beer-tasting event at Cashman Field, will feature more than 100 draft beers produced by dozens of micro and regional breweries. Admission to the shindig, which runs from noon to 6 p.m., costs $25.
The event is co-sponsored by BRUNLV, a nonprofit organization that supports the advancement of craft brewing in Southern Nevada. Earnings will help build a pilot brewery on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.
Andy Feinstein, UNLV assistant professor of food and beverage management, says the university's involvement in the Big Beer Bash and its plans for a brewery are legitimate.
"This is not about chugging beer," he said. "This is about the chemistry and science behind beer."
Today's festivities and the planned pilot brewery are intended to provide students with work-related experience, Feinstein said.
About 25 students enrolled in a festival and events management class in the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration are assisting in today's event. All UNLV students participating in the Big Beer Bash are at least 21 years old, and those serving alcohol are certified.
"We have a number of students who want to become experts in business planning. We try to provide them with the opportunities to get involved with these kinds of events," Feinstein said.
With at least 3,000 attendees expected, BRUNLV is hoping to collect between $3,000 to $5,000.
Today's beer-tasting festival is exposing students to event planning, but more sophisticated brewing equipment would help students better understand the steps in making beer, including the fermentation process, Feinstein said.
"It would be a disservice not to provide such services in this school," he said. "More beer is sold in the state of Nevada than wine and distilled spirits combined."
The new brewing system might be on campus as early as next year, pending additional outside funding. Feinstein estimates the equipment will cost about $75,000. The brewing facility likely will be built on the northwest corner of campus. Once it is up and running, it will only be accessible to students through classroom teaching, and only a few gallons will be brewed per class, Feinstein said.
UNLV offers classes that teach the science of brewing and beer sampling. In one such beverage class, which met Friday, students were carded by professors when they enrolled to ensure all participants were of legal age. Feinstein said four beers are usually split among 50 students, so very little is consumed.
The new brewery will operate in the same fashion, Feinstein said. Students of legal age will consume just a few ounces of concoctions per class.
UNLV would not be the first university to house a pilot brewery. The University of California, Davis has a full teaching program in brewing science, a pilot brewery and a professor endowed by Anheuser-Busch.
But some affiliated with UNLV are skeptical about student involvement in classroom breweries and beer-tasting festivals. Members of the University of Nevada Board of Regents contacted Friday knew nothing about plans to build a campus brewery, although Regent Doug Seastrand questioned the need.
"I didn't know there was a demand for creating microbreweries," he said.
Ben Montoya, a UNLV teaching assistant, cannot understand how a university could justify brewing beer in class. He said UNLV should concentrate more on academics and liberal arts programs. "We're smack in the middle of Sin City," he said. "UNLV is struggling to prove itself as a major university, and I don't think brewing beer on campus helps."
Angela Yanz, a communications major, is concerned about student involvement in the Big Beer Bash. She said it could damage the university's image.
"This doesn't look very good on the school's name," she said.
Christine Newcombe, a hotel administration major and one student helping plan the Big Beer Bash, said several precautions will be taken to ensure responsible drinking. Attendees will be provided glasses with 4-ounce pour lines to encourage moderation. Cab companies have been notified and are prepared to provide rides for those who may need one.
"I can see some people thinking this is going to be a big party, but our emphasis is on teaching people about different kinds of beer," Newcombe said.
Scott Weiner, a UNLV beverage management major assisting in the Big Beer Bash, defends the teaching of the hotel administration college, pointing out other university programs linked to alcohol.
"Even if there was not a beverage management program at UNLV, we still have beer companies sponsoring our football games and other events," he said. "It's here regardless."
I'm thinking I could KLEP out of that one........
Talk about some fun research!
Yeah, really fun. ;)
ROTFLOL! College kids drink beer. Frequently. It was so when I was young and when Dad was young and so on.
Ms. Grundy had better get used to it.
You aren't the only one. I could probably get enough credits for a PhD already.
I should have been a beverage management major, I did the course work I should have got the credits for it.
Thank you very much little lady.
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" -- Ben Franklin.
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. * Frank Zappa
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