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Distilling 101

Distilling 101 Overview

Distilling 101, the first course to be offered in the Distilling Science Academy, is a 10-week, hands-on certificate course for current and aspiring distillers. The course's aim is to train students for a career in the distilling industry. The only program of its kind in Western Pennsylvania, the Distilling Science Academy is made possible with collaborations between Point Park faculty and distilling industry experts. The program was featured in the news. 

2025 Schedule

  • May 20 – July 25
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5 – 8 p.m.
  • Registration: March 17 – May 9

Topics and activities

  • An overview of distilling and distilling history
  • Raw materials for different spirits
  • Materials processing
  • Production methods and styles
  • Malting and mashing
  • Fermentation
  • Distillation theory, equipment and techniques
  • Maturation
  • Bench-top distillation
  • Sensory training
  • Packaging
  • Opportunity to work with industrial scale equipment at Iron City Distilling
  • Field trips to area distilleries

Testimonial

Matt Strickland was great—very knowledgeable and very open with information. The detail of science behind distilling that Matt gave was excellent. He took theories and concepts and gave us hands-on opportunities to smell and try things to help us understand. He even went into recipe development and launching a product. Finally, the experience of going out to Iron City and actually seeing distilling on that scale was invaluable. I loved the class.

-Erika Turner, co-owner of TLC Libations

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A man checks a distilling machine
People walk in a room of whiskey barrels.
A man drills into a whiskey barrel.
A man drills into a whiskey barrel.
People stand in a room of whiskey barrels.
People look at whiskey in glasses.
People listen to a lecture above a distilling room.

Instructor

20240220_162233394_iOS_OPT.jpgThis course is taught by industry veteran Matt Strickland, Head Distiller at Iron City Distilling, faculty member at Moonshine University in Louisville, KY as well at the Siebel Institute of Technology’s distilling program in Chicago, and author of two highly regarded textbooks on distilling.

Tuition

Total Cost: $2,200

Includes all course materials and six hours of lectures per week for 10 weeks.

There are two full scholarships available. Read more and apply on our Scholarships page.

Contact Us

Any questions regarding the program should be sent to the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at SCPS@PointPark.Edu.