News

In an October 25th article for National Geographic, FST's Glen Fox adds his expertise to a discussion of the health benefits of hops, the plants that provide beer with its signature tastes and smells, and the compounds of which are under investigation for their health-promoting properties.

In a celebration of friendship and fermentation, the 2024 UC Davis Iron Brew competition has crowned Brew La-La as this year’s winner. With each sip, this Belgian blonde ale features hints of honeysuckle, wildflowers and citrus blossoms that intertwine with subtle undertones of vanilla, bubble gum and honey. 

UC Davis has had many educational and research themes running over many decades. One of the older such themes is the brewing program within the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST). The brewing program has a reputation as a global leader with students coming from far and wide to understand the complex science behind one of the world’s oldest beverages. 

Congratulations to the 2023 Iron Brew winners! Each year, the students in the practical malting and brewing course at UC Davis formulate a recipe and compete for the Iron Brew title. The winning team includes Food Science and Technology students Sarah Jane Suriano, Asuka Okamoto, Yoon Jung Choi and Zachary Alan Carling. Their English porter was scaled up with the help of Sudwerk Brewing Company and will be released at the Gunrock Pub on campus June 8, and at Sudwerk on June 9.

Dr. Charlie Bamforth, FST Distinguished Professor Emeritus, was honored as the 2023 Craft Beer Pioneer at the Third Annual Brewers Cup of California.  The Pioneer Award was created to "recognize an individual who has propelled the craft beer industry over the years and helped shape it into what it is today. These individuals are synonymous with California’s beer scene, and it is a privilege to be able to celebrate their contributions with this prestigious award." 

FST's Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences, Glen Fox, is quoted in this Jan. 5th, 2023 article by Erik Ofgang in Thrillist, "Why Yes, You Can Major in Beer at These Schools".  The article describes the scope of brewing programs in the U.S., advantages of degree and certificate programs in brewing, and advice for choosing a program.

Emily Newman is a graduate student in the Food Science and Technology Graduate Group at UC Davis. She conducts research in the brewing lab, focused on upcycling waste from the brewing industry. Emily earned a B.S.

FST's Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences, Dr. Glen Fox, received an Outstanding Service Award for 2022 from UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education (CPE).  The award celebrates the dedication, enthusiasm, excellent teaching and service by the instructors on behalf of UC Davis CPE.  The awards were presented at the Outstanding Service Awards and Instructor Appreciation Reception on September 8th.  

For three days in September, after a five year hiatus, the North American barley research communities gathered at UC Davis for the combined 23rd North American Barley Researchers Workshop and 43rd Barley Improvement Conference.

There’s a buzz in the air when students are brewing a batch of beer at UC Davis’ state-of-the-art brewing facility, the Anheuser Busch InBev Brewery. Joe Williams, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Endowed Brewer, is featured in episode four of Thought/Space, a CA&ES video series about the special places that faculty, staff and students have found at UC Davis.