Accepted Proposals

13. What if we build a college nanobrewery as a centerpiece of on-campus inter- and cross-disciplinary experiential learning experiences?

May 16, 2025

The collaboration led by: Karen Brewer 

With collaborators: Shawna O'Neil; Brian Hansen; Wei Zhan Tim Gadziala

Making beer is the liberal arts in action! The creation of a maker-space that combines curricular, co-curricular, and experiential learning around a nanobrewery would enhance and highlight the connections between Hamilton’s various academic areas and explore the interconnection of the science of fermentation and the socio-economic history of brewing and pub cultures. We propose to build a nanobrewery and work with local brewers, staff, faculty, and students to design courses, brewery talks, programming, training opportunities, and trips to engage the Hamilton community with the practice of brewing craft beer. 

The proposal was submitted for TRANSFORMATIONAL funding (no maximum) and was ranked high with respect to the other proposals based upon the evaluation rubric.

The committee applauds the proposers for:

• Developing an innovative idea
• The possibilities that could evolve (special brews for special occasions, town gown opportunities, etc.)
• Collaborating across the college in interesting ways

The points that the committee recommends the proposers need to continue to develop include:

• Consideration of how this project interfaces with the existing Little Pub 

From the committee’s perspective, the next phase of this project would include:

• Program development 
• external consultant
• Exploring necessary equipment and infrastructure

The committee recommends funding the next phase of this proposal for $10,000 to move this idea forward for further aspirational design and development.