Beers to U
By day, Dr. Chris Dolmetsch is a mild-mannered Professor of German at Marshall University. Yet every time I run into him it’s usually during the evening or a weekend, when Dr. Dolmetsch is just Chris, BJCP beer judge, beer geek and German beer enthusiast. So, it was kind of odd for me when Dr. Dolmetsch sent me a syllabus for a new class he was proposing to conduct for Marshall University. Chris? Syllabus? Beer? Yes, this was really happening and he was asking me to be a small part of it.
The professor had been mulling this idea around in his head for quite some time, usually over a fine German lager while sitting in his kitchen Eckbank (German for corner dining nook). “I assumed that when I first proposed a course titled ‘German Beer’ I would get lots of amazed stares and challenges from those higher up” says Chris. “But that did not happen.”
He goes on to explain: “The course is being offered as a special topics course, meaning that it is not a regular catalogue offering at present, but rather is being given as a kind of experimental course, though it still earns ‘culture’ credit for students majoring and minoring in German or needing such credits for an adjunct program such as International Affairs.”
The class was full within 12 hours of it being posted during pre-registration and will start this semester. The course will cover the history of beer in Germany, drinking traditions, how it is made, and of course, what constitutes “good beer.” Text from recognized beer historian Horst Dornbusch will be used. Students are required to read Mr. Dornbusch’s book “Prost! The Story of German Beer.” There will also be video programs to support lecture topics. PowerPoint presentations covering specific topics concerning ingredients in beer will be presented by guest speakers (with yours truly being). Unfortunately, beer tasting in class will be “Verboten,” so any “lab work” will have to be done off campus. (When will this country grow up? This is a college class, for hops sake!)
I think this course will be a success and hopefully becomes part of a well-rounded education for many Marshall students in the future. I sure wish these kind of courses were available to me when I was in school! There is hope out there. Well, at least for beer anyway…
