New Student Orientation for Fall 2022
Tuesday, July 19 | 10 a.m. to noon or 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Students may attend either session.
Apply for Fall 2022 admission to A-B Tech's Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast now to secure one of the 24 available spots! You must apply before new student orientation.
The Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast ® (CBI) at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is designed to support the rapidly growing craft beverage industry in Western North Carolina and the Southeast by providing curriculum and non-credit courses in brewing, distilling, fermentation, and related business practices. The Institute prepares individuals for positions in brewery and distillery operations and management, distribution, sales and marketing, and customer service or to be self-employed and open their own craft production facility.
The Institute offers a training fermentation facility that supports real-time learning and reflects industry standards:
- Commercial size brew-house
- Six pilot brewing systems
- Hybrid distillation system
- Commercial winery production equipment
- Sensory analysis lab
- Packaging lines
- Quality assurance/quality control lab
In addition to brewing, distillation, and winemaking practices, students perform experiments and vet their production output via sensory evaluations.
Students are able to perform experiments and receive “just-in-time” instruction. In addition to brewing, distillation, and winemaking practices, students may vet their production output via sensory evaluations.
Craft Beverage Institute program brochure.
Learn more about our curriculum Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation program here.
Listen to Jeff "Puff" Irvin's, podcast Consuming the Craft.
Craft Beverage Institute Staff
The Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast is part of A-B Tech’s renowned Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program - home of the nation's first two-year degree in Brewing, Distillation, and Fermentation. Please contact us if you have questions about the Institute, our programs, certifications, workshops, and conferences.

Jeff "Puff" Irvin
Director Craft Beverage Institute of the Southeast