Brewery Maintenance Systems Course
I've heard that I can donate beer to the course. Is this true?
Yes! It is course tradition for students to supply beer for consumption during the course. Shipments should be sent to the Lowell Center following the labeling instructions below. Typically students have supplied 2–3 cases per student.
Students from outside the United States are urged to check beer with their baggage on the plane or have it shipped to the Lowell Center through a local distributor. If this is not possible, enlist your company's custom broker to ship the beer to your attention and bill shipping charges to your brewery, NOT MBAA or the hotel. The beer must be marked "NOT FOR RESALE."
Ship to:
Lowell Center
University of Wisconsin
610 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53703
Hold for: Master Brewers Systems Technology and Maintenance Course
Guest: (YOUR NAME) arriving (YOUR ARRIVAL DATE)
NOT FOR RESALE
What is included with tuition?
Accommodations
Overnight accommodations at the Lowell Center on the University of Wisconsin Madison campus are included with the tuition fee for the opening night on Sunday through the closing night on Thursday of the following week. Check in begins at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Check out is at 11:00 a.m. on Friday. Luggage can be stored at the front desk after check out. Should you require a late check out, it is your responsiblity to secure it with the hotel and pay any fees incurred because of it.
Accommodation requests for early arrival or late departure should be made by contacting the Lowell Center directly at +1.608.256.2621 or lowell@ecc.uwex.edu. You are responsible for paying for any additional room nights.
Two Meals per Day During Instruction Times
All breakfasts and lunches on days students attend class are provided, except on the final day, when only a continental breakfast is provided. An opening and closing reception/dinner is also included. See course schedule for reception dates.
Educational Materials
Students will receive all applicable lecture materials on the first day of the course.
Tour
Tours are currently being arranged for this offering.
What is not included in tuition?
Transportation
Transportation to and from Madison is at your own cost. See the next question for additional information on transportation.
Parking
If you bring a car, you may obtain a parking permit at the
Lowell Center Front Desk. There may be a fee for parking. Parking
without a permit may result in your car being ticketed or towed.
Meals Outside of Class Time
Evening meals, as well as meals on nonscheduled class days, are not included. However, campus cafeterias and restaurants are accessible by car, cab,
and foot. Some fast-food restaurants will deliver to the Lowell Center.
Special Interests
Athletic passes for use of the gym, swimming pool, and tennis
court facilities are available. There is also an adjacent trail for
persons who wish to walk or run. Medical facilities are available should
the need arise.
How do I get to the course?
Transportation to and from Madison is at your own cost. Please
keep in mind that Madison is served by Northwest, United, and several
smaller commuter airlines. The airport serving Madison is the Dane
County Regional Airport. The airport is 6 miles from the Lowell Center,
and cab fare is estimated at $15.00.
Driving directions to the Lowell Center are available at http://conferencing.uwex.edu/directions.cfm.
For attendees who may be traveling into larger airports, the following are estimated distances:
- Chicago O'Hare International, Chicago, Illinois, 135 miles, 2.5-hour drive.
- General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 87 miles, 1 hour 45-minute drive.
When are the class times?
Classes will begin at 8:00 a.m. and end around 5:00 p.m. (except for the final day, which will end at 12:00 p.m.). Please plan to spend approximately one hour after classes are finished to work on your case study assignment with your team. Please refer to the course mainpage for a link to the full class schedule.
What prior education or background requirements are needed to get the most out of this course?
There isn't an experience or education prerequisite for this course. Each lecture will provide a foundation of the topic and then cover the more in-depth considerations and practical applications, so as the students are exposed to each lecture the important items of each subject are reviewed and discussed by the class. This allows all experience levels to actively participate in the course. However, having knowledge about brewery systems will further reinforce the course content.
What should I wear?
Dress is comfortable (casual) for classroom attendance and business attire for the banquets.
I've heard that I should leave room in my luggage for take-home materials. How much space should I plan for?
We no longer provide course materials in the form of three-ring binders. However, if you'd like to order a book at the course, leave room!
Is smoking allowed?
The University of Wisconsin, Madison, facilities are all non-smoking. If you wish to smoke, you must do so in the appropriate areas outside.
What's the weather like in Madison, Wisconsin?
Weather in Wisconsin during August can is usually variable and cloudy. The temperatures range between 59°F (15°C) and 78°F (26°C). Be prepared for rain or shine.
I want to bring spending money. What do you recommend?
Be sure to bring U.S. currency with you in denominations of $5, $10, and $20 bills. Traveler's checks are acceptable and recommended in small denominations.
I've planned to bring extra spending money. Will I be able to purchase Master Brewers Merchandise at the course?
Definitely! There will be Master Brewers items available for purchase. If you order during the first week, you will have your products before you leave the course. Only credit cards will be accepted for onsite purchase.
I still have questions. Who can I contact?
Master Brewers Continuing Education
3340 Pilot Knob Road
St. Paul, MN 55121
E-mail: mbaa@mbaa.com
Phone: +1.651.454.7250
Fax: +1.651.454.0766
