At 6:30 p.m. Friday, beer lovers will make their way to USF Tampa’s Sam & Martha Gibbons Alumni Center for the inaugural Sampling Science: The Engineering Behind Craft Beer, where they'll immerse themselves in the scientific element of the region’s budding craft beer industry.
Sampling Science is a concoction from Anna Hayes and Taylor Lubecki, fundraising chairs for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Society of Women Engineers, which will benefit from the event. Hoping to shed light on the scientific and engineering aspects that go into creating distinct brews, the duo accompanied the event’s series of guest speakers with local vendors and appearances by Bay area brewmasters.
Among a myriad of speakers, Odd Elixir Meads owner Ann-Marie Bays will examine pilsners and porters; USF professor Dr. Vinay Gupta will hold a talk called “How Not to Get Sloshed;” Khris Johnson, Green Bench Brewing Co. head brewer and co-owner, will present the process and science behind barrel-aging beer; and Darwin Brewing Company small-batch brewer Leslie Chore will discuss how the chemistry and culinary realms come together in beer-making.
Eventgoers who snagged tickets before they sold out will experience more than 20 food and beer purveyors, including 3 Daughters Brewing, Bastet Brewing, Steve’s Gourmet Olives, Sunshine Canning, Craft Brew Peanuts and Barley Mow Brewing Company. And Ciara, a contortionist, will perform during intermission from 7:45 to 8:30 p.m.
This article appears in Feb 19-25, 2015.