ROCHESTER, N.Y. — College courses are always transforming to keep in line with modern-day professions. One of those courses is catching the eye of many local undergrads.

At Rochester Institute of Technology, students explore the world of beer through tasting sessions and academic study in the popular course "Beers of the World."

What You Need To Know

  • Ted Ganster, a professor at RIT, offers students the unique opportunity to explore the world of beer through his course "Beers of the World"

  • Student get to taste anywhere from 6 to 8 beers for about an hour and learn about about the history of beer, how it's mad and different techniques that are used to make it

  • In New York, minors can consume alcohol under adult supervision with a school curriculum or registered by the state education department

Ted Ganster, a professor at RIT, offers students the opportunity to explore the world of beer through his course.

"You get to come in and taste beer, you know, anywhere from six to eight beers for about an hour and then learn about the history of beer," said Ganster. "Just all facets of the beer as well, how it's made, different techniques that are used to make it."

But it's not just about drinking. Ganster emphasized the importance of tasting and understanding the complexities of the beer.

"Everyone can drink, but it takes practice to taste," he added.

Brian Fallon enrolled in the course and is very passionate about beer.

"I took beers of the world because I'm a fanatic for beer," Fallon said. "I love pairing it with food, I love drinking it, I love smelling it and I love tasting it. We've been learning quite a lot here. We've been learning different mouthfeels, different hints, different textures, side notes even. I would say how temperature affects beer is pretty cool."

Responsible consumption is also a key aspect of the course.

"We'll cover like factors that will impact your blood alcohol content and just some, definitely responsible consumption tips and things along the way," Ganster said.

This course is a traditional 14-week class, just with a twist, with tasting sessions, educational videos and a final exam, too. "Beers of the World" has become very popular among the students.

"The higher the class you are, the earlier you get to enroll. It's rare that like a freshman would be able to get into the course; it's super popular as you can imagine," Ganster explained.

For students like Fallon, the course offers not only a deeper understanding of beer but also a broader palate and appreciation for the craft.

"I would just say having a wider palate, especially now that we're over 21, we can start going out to different breweries," Fallon said. "So just having knowledge on different hops that they use, different brewing techniques, seeing how each of that kind of affect the overall ... product and the flavor afterward, just so you have a smarter and better understanding of it."

All of the beers used in the classes are local. Ganster also teaches the students about wine.

In New York, minors can consume alcohol under adult supervision with a school curriculum or registered by the state education department.