Learn the art of making fermented drinks at home!
Fermented drinks can be made at home. The satisfaction that you have created your own fermented beverage can be satisfying and also save you money. Learn correct techniques with this 20 hour short course. Work through the course in your own pace. On successful completion of short online tests at the end of each lesson, plus an online exam at the conclusion of the course.
This short course will show you how to make a wide variety of fermented drinks:
- Wine
- Beer
- Spirits
- Mead
- Cider
- Low alcohol Drinks
- Kefir and Kombucha
How does it work?
At the end of each lesson, you will be given a short interactive test to undertake, which will provide an indication of how your learning is progressing. Upon completing the very last lesson, you will be offered a more thorough automated test or examination. This final assessment can be undertaken at any time of day or night; and any day of the week; and if you achieve an overall pass (60% or more); you will be able to obtain a “certificate of completion” with your name and completion date on it.
Note: these short courses are self-guided online courses and are not to be confused with our tutor-supported online courses.
There are 10 Lessons in this course:
1. History, scope and nature of alcoholic drinks
- A Brief History
- Trends in Beverage Consumption
- Alcohol & Health
- Global Wine Production
- Global Wine Consumption
- Global Beer Production
- Global Beer Consumption
- Good Quality Water
2. The science: chemical & microbiological processes
- Understanding the Science
- Fermentation
- Glycolysis
- Carbohydrates
- a) Monosaccharides
- c) Polysaccharides
- Microbiology
- Yeasts
- Enzymes
- Effect of Temperature
- Effect of pH
- Spoilage
3. Probiotic drinks
- The Benefits of Probiotics
- Kefir
- Making Kefir
- Variations
- Other Uses for Kefir
- Reducing Alcohol Content
- Storage and Reuse
- Long Term Storage
- To Feed the Kefir Culture
- Kombucha
- Making Kambucha step by step
- Beet Kvass
4. Brewing beers
- What Can Be Brewed?
- Water: The Essential Ingredient
- The Water Profile
- Example of a Commercial Brewing Process
- Brewing Using Different Methods
- Open Brewing/Fermentation
- Closed Brewing
- Fermentation Temperatures
- Spontaneous Brewing
- Barrel Aging
- Old Brewing Techniques
- Double Dropping/Dropping System
- Cleansing System
- Skimming System
- The Yorkshire Square Brewing Method
- Using Hops in Brewing
5. Brewing ciders
- Traditional Cider
- Fruit Ciders
- Apple and Pear Fruits
- Making Apple or Pear Cider
- Equipment – What You Will Need
- The Wild Yeast Method
- Heat Treated Method
6. Mead
- Making Mead
- Preparing to Make Mead
- Ingredients
- Making the Mead
- Examples of Different Types of Mead
7. Wine
- What Is Involved In Winemaking?
- An Overview of Some Winemaking Terms
- An Overview of Winemaking Processes
- The Importance of Yeast
- The Fermentation Process in Detail
- Containers
- Sweetness
- Malolactic Fermentation
- Red and White Winemaking
- A Winemaking Method for Some Wines
- Preparing to Ferment
- Types of Wine
- Red Wines
- White Wines
- Rosé Wine
- Sparkling Wine
- Fortified Wines
- A Glossary of Terms for Wine Making
8. Spirits and fortified wines
- Distillation
- Spirits
- Spirit Groups
- Brandy
- Whisky
- Gin
- Rum
- Vodka
- Tequila
- Liqueurs
- Liqueur Groups
- Aperitifs
- Sherry
- Vermouth
- Port
- Gin Making – A Simple Approach
9. No or low alcohol brewed drinks
- Brief History of Non-alcoholic Drinks
- Reasons to Choose Low or No-Alcohol Drinks
- Alcohol Content
- How to Remove Alcohol after Brewing
- Beers
- Wine
10. Other variations on brewed drinks: getting inventive
- Mixed Drinks & Cocktails
- Mixed Drinks
- Cocktails
- Making Mixed Drinks & Cocktails
- The Art of Brewing
- Ingredients
- Equipment
- Getting Inspiration from Around the World
- Final Assessment