A UNC Charlotte degree can open a multitude of doors. And many of our alums go on to do some really interesting things.
That is especially true for Dave Martin (’10) who’s putting his biology degree to work as the director of brewing operations at the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) in Charlotte.
OMB opened its doors in 2009 specializing in world-class, authentic, German-style beer, which means they strictly adhere to the oldest beer purity law in the world – the Reinheitsgebot, which states that beer should only contain four ingredients: malt, hops, yeast and water. In doing so, Martin's role as a microbiologist becomes critical to the brewing process.
“People don’t make beer, yeast does, and I’m in charge of the yeast,” said Martin. “And because we follow such strict guidelines, the biology behind the beer is paramount.” For Dave, brewing beer is science, and the brewery is his research lab. “I get to make beer, but at the same time, I also get to be a scientist,” he said. “I get to do research on something that I love and millions of people around the world love.”
It’s no secret that the craft beer craze is in high demand these days. With breweries dotting the Charlotte landscape and new ones continuing to pop up, the University recently tapped into the phenomenon by launching programs focused on the beer industry through Continuing Education programs.
Check out the Craft Beer Business Essentials Certificate and the Beer Basics: Crash Course in Craft offerings for more information.