Brew U at CIA
A Beer, Food, and Education Festival
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 2 p.m. (VIP 1–5 p.m.)
Join us for the annual Brew U festival on Saturday, April 18, at The Egg in the Student Commons at CIA’s Hyde Park, NY campus. Brew U is an exciting beer festival that will combine sampling from top breweries—including CIA’s brewery—with incredible food from CIA and fun, educational seminars for beer and culinary enthusiasts.
Ticket Information
Admission to Brew U includes all beer and food during the event, access to all tours and educational seminars, and a commemorative tasting glass. VIP ticket holders will be admitted at 1 p.m. prior to general admission to get a jump on food and beer tastings as well as exclusive bites and beers.
Early Bird Pricing: Through March 6
VIP Admission: $100 (1–5 p.m.)
General Admission: $65 (2–5 p.m.)
Designated Driver: $25
Regular Pricing: March 7
VIP Admission: $120 (1–5 p.m.)
General Admission: $85 (2–5 p.m.)
Designated Driver: $30
CIA Students: $35 (CIA student ID required at check-in)
All tickets are non-refundable. All guests must be at least 21 years of age.
“We are thrilled to be bringing together this special selection of breweries to one event on campus. I really want to offer attendees a taste of beers that are a bit harder to find and have really interesting and unique flavors.”—Hutch Kugeman
Participating Breweries
Updated as of April 3. Additional breweries to follow.
Educational Seminars
Updated as of April 8. Additional seminars to follow.
Appreciating the Classics
Host: Anne Becerra
Time: TBA
Join Certified Cicerone Anne Becerra to learn the unique origins, backstories and flavor profiles of some of the most popular beer styles. Anne will lead you through a tasting of quintessential examples of these important styles that inspired countless modern versions (including many being poured here today).
Artisan Bread with Spent Grain
Host: Lisa Kirschner ’08
Time: TBA
Join Chef Lisa Kirschner to learn how to turn leftover brewing grains into amazing artisan bread. In this informative presentation, learn some easy tips and techniques for repurposing spent grain and sample delicious bread that you can make at home!
Beer and Cheese Pairing Workshop
Host: John Fischer ’88
Time: TBA
Professor Emeritus John Fischer brings together his expertise on choosing and pairing cheese and beers. He will cover types of cheeses that are good for pairing, flavor profiles and tasting notes, as well as how to plan the order of your beer and cheese pairing.
Beer, Marshmallows, and S’mores
Host: CIA Chef Angelina Violante ’21
Times: TBA
Beer and dessert are a fantastic match! Join Chef Angelina Violante ’21 in our new state-of-the-art bakeshop to learn how to use beer to put a creative spin on marshmallows and s’mores.
Cream Ale: New York’s Original Style!
Host: Paul Leone and Jamie Fox
Times: TBA
Join Paul Leone and Jamie Fox of the New York State Brewer’s Association, to explore Cream Ales, a style with New York roots. Learn the history of the style here in our state and enjoy a sampling of award winning Cream Ales from around New York State.
Beer Tours: The Art and Science of Brewing
Host: CIA Students
Time: TBA
Students will take Brew U attendees through CIA’s brewery to learn about the process of making beer—turning barley and hops into hand crafted ales and lagers. Starting with raw ingredients students will explain the brewing process and the factors that influence flavor and aroma of the beers you love.
