By Andi Anderson
At Iowa State University, brewing and winemaking programs play an important role beyond producing beverages. These programs focus on research, education, and community support while helping students gain hands-on experience in the beverage industry.
The Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute works to support grape growers and winemakers by providing research, training, and technical services. The institute also connects with industry professionals through webinars, workshops, and visits to wineries, especially those that are new to the field. These efforts help improve knowledge and build strong industry networks across the Midwest.
“Our primary mission is to support the grape, wine and related industries to be sustainable and profitable,” Norton said. “We do that through research, outreach and education, and lab services.”
The institute also organizes events like “Lunch and Learn” sessions and roundtable tastings where winemakers share feedback and improve their products. Its work extends beyond Iowa, helping neighboring states that lack similar support systems.
One major focus is improving the quality of cold-hardy grapes, which are suitable for the Midwest climate. Over the years, these varieties have shown significant improvement, making them competitive with global wine standards. Students actively participate in research activities, harvesting, processing, and product design, gaining valuable industry experience.
“If students show real interest, we find ways to get them involved,” Norton said.
The Brewing Science Program, established in 2021, complements this work by focusing on beer production using scientific and engineering principles. The program includes classroom learning and practical training at the ISU Brew Lab.
“Right now, we’re pretty small scale,” Brown said. “Our goal is to expand so that production can generate income to support our teaching, research, and outreach ambitions.”
Students learn about brewing processes, including yeast development, fermentation, and quality control. Research projects also focus on improving brewing efficiency and product taste.
“We offer workshops at least every year on topics like harvesting yeast and so-called ‘faults’ in beers,” Brown said. “We want brewers to recognize those faults even at very low levels and then learn what they can do to prevent that from happening. That's the most important part of our outreach right now.”
Both programs support industry growth by offering practical solutions and training. Products like wines and beers are sold locally, and profits are reinvested into education and research.
Through these combined efforts, Iowa State continues to strengthen the beverage industry while preparing students for successful careers.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-willhowecreative
Categories: Iowa, Education