This fall, UConn Brewing Innovation partnered with Urban Lodge Brewing to create the newest collaboration brew: Husky Berry Buzzzz, a cranberry wildflower honey sour. As the first sour beer made by the Brew Crew, this launch marked an exciting milestone in the program’s history. Husky Berry Buzzzz combines the tartness of cranberry with the sweetness of wildflower honey, creating a refreshing and festive flavor that’s perfect for the holiday season.
This fall, we were excited to offer the Brew Crew as a for-credit class for the very first time, and the response was overwhelming! Over 100 students applied to join the program. The Brew Crew consisted of 26 students representing 17 different majors across 5 schools and colleges.
Students started the semester by learning about the core ingredients of beer, such as hops, barley, malt, water, and yeast. They then dove in to the branding and marketing strategies, including label design. The real excitement came on brew day, when the brewers at Urban Lodge guided the students through the brewing process, showing them how they operate the equipment and how craft beer is brewed step by step.
This course gave students hands-on experience and the chance to understand the ins and outs of both brewing and running a business.
The launch event for this collaboration was November 21st, held at Urban Lodge Brewing in Hartford, CT. Over 200 beer enthusiasts, students, faculty, and community members gathered to celebrate the debut of this beer. Guests enjoyed Husky Berry Buzzzz, met the Brew Crew, and got a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process that brought the beer to life. Since its release, 1,500 pints of Husky Berry Buzzzz have been sold, and 172 four packs have been purchased.
As we prepare to welcome new students to the Brew Crew in the spring, the program continues to build a community of future brewers and beer enthusiasts.
The partnership between UConn Brewing Innovation and Urban Lodge shows how education and industry can come together to create unique learning experiences for students. A huge thank you to the team at Urban Lodge for their dedication to our students!
Stay tuned for more exciting projects from the Brew Crew!