Travelling for Knowledge: Educational Opportunities in 19^th Century Bavarian Brewing Education

Abstract

As the brewing industry underwent major changes and brewing became ever more science-based in the course of the 19^th century, the need for a more science-based brewer’s education grew. The article explores the reforms and diversification of brewing education, starting with the traditional way of a journeyman’s journey. By taking Bavaria as a case study, the article shows how the centuries-old tradition of travelling gradually changed towards a stationary school system on different educational levels, publicly and privately funded – though these early institutions catered to only the wealthy brewers. Closely related, by using Q-GIS as a mapping software, an analysis of 15 individual travelling routes of brewers from two Upper Franconian towns underlines that early on, international travel and hence, knowledge transfer were essential for the brewer’s education.