The Siebel Institute has been a leading institution for learning in the brewing industry for over a century. I found their reputation for excellence well-earned last year when I took the Concise Course in Brewing Technology. The instructors were all seasoned veterans from many different sizes of breweries, from AB InBev and MillerCoors to local Chicago craft breweries and brew pubs. The shear amount of information packed into the two week course was massive, covering everything from hop and barley growers, processors, malters, and the water in beer to the intricacies and processes of brewery operations for brewing, filtering, waste water management, filtration, packaging, evaluating, and distribution of beer, as well as yeast management and the biochemistry of beer from water composition to fermentation. And Ive probably missed a good chunk of the topics covered.If that sounds like a lot of information cramed into two weeks time, it is. The thing to remember about the Concise Course is that the focus is upon exposure to and familiarization with the many moving parts that effect the brewing process and its final product, not a mastery of the details and processes or the acquisition of specific skills. It is an exercise in confirming what you already know about brewing while exposing you to all of the things you didnt even realize that you needed to know, which are likely many if you are in the early days of a career in brewing or considering a move into brewing either at an existing brewery or opening a brewery of your own. You will not become a brew master taking this course; Siebel offers other courses to teach and hone those skills. But by he end of the Concise Course you will have a clear understanding of what is required to become a brew master and a better idea about how to chart your own personal journey accordingly.Perhaps the greatest benefit of taking the Concise Course at the Institutes Kendall College location is the connections you will make with other students, as well as the joy of exploring Chicagos eclectic craft beer culture. People literally come from all over the world to study at the Siebel Institute, as well as from all across the United States. If you dont walk away from the Concise Course with at least a couple of life-long friends and a small network of brewing industry people you can reach out to in the future, thats definitely on you. It is a unique opportunity and well worth exploring for those interested.