Buffalo brewery boom creating opportunity at ECC

Buffalo's beer industry has been exploding, and no one has understood that more than 12 Gates Brewing Company. 

"We'll produce 2,000 to 3,000 barrels of beer each year" Head brewer Scott Schuler said. 

That's the equivalent to almost 90,000 gallons a year. In order to fill that much beer, they need good help, and that is where Erie Community College comes in.

"We saw a need in the community that breweries could hire people that had some experience in brewing" Associate Professor at ECC Keith Scully said. 

Scully teaches in the Brewery Science and Service program. A certified program that has been operating for the past four years to bring more proper brewers into Buffalo's workforce as each student must complete an internship at a brewery as part of the curriculum. 

"They have enough experience that they can be a very trainable employee" Scully said. 

The 10 course program has been incredibly helpful for 12 Gates Brewing Company. Six of their eight brewers graduated from the brewing program at ECC. 

"We can bring in employees, brewers, different positions from inside the area, but we really want to focus on local (talent)" Schuler said. 

For more information on the Brewing Science and Service program, visit ECC's website here. 

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