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Universities tap into craft beer growth by offering classes

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MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — With an explosion in growth in the craft beer industry over the last decade, it’s not enough to simply have a passion for beer when it comes to starting a brewery or working for one. So some universities now offer classes on the business of craft beer.

One is an online certificate program being offered by the University of Vermont starting in February.

According to the Brewers Association, the number of craft breweries has grown to more than 4,000 in the U.S. today, from more than 1,400 a decade ago.

Bart Watson, chief economist with the Brewers Association, says the craft brew industry is much more competitive than it used to be and the bar has been raised for people in the industry on a variety of levels, including technical brewing, business and market knowledge.