USF Alumni & Brewery Launch Pilsner to Fund Brewing Program | Fox 13 Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A collaboration between Mastry’s Brewing Company and the University of South Florida (USF) has resulted in the launch of a new beer, St. Pete Pilsner, designed to support the university’s Brewing Arts program. The initiative, spearheaded by USF alumni, faculty, and students, aims to bolster funding and awareness for the program, which has been operating for over a decade.

Matthew Dahm, owner and founder of Mastry’s Brewing Company, explained the genesis of the project. “We wanted a crisp, tasty something to enjoy under the Florida sun at a tailgate,” Dahm said. He emphasized the collaborative nature of the endeavor, highlighting the involvement of Dr. Joe Askren, director of the USF Brewing Arts program. “The birth of this idea really came to be a collaborative effort…really just looking for more ways to spread awareness and again, to bring additional levels of funding to the program to help it continue to grow and expand.”

The Brewing Arts program at USF provides a comprehensive education in the brewing industry, extending beyond the technical aspects of beer production. According to Dahm, the curriculum encompasses the entire lifecycle of a brewing business. “It’s a semester-long program that takes the students all the way from the beginning of beer, all the way down to the making it, selling it, marketing it…not only do they get to learn about how to make it, the hops, the water, all the fun magical beer science that comes into it, but then we also talk about the business of beer, marketing and participating with the community.” Mastry’s Brewing has actively participated in the program by providing internship opportunities.

Beyond the brewing process itself, the St. Pete Pilsner project incorporated a marketing component, engaging students in the design of the beer’s label. The label features USF’s mascot, iconic locations from the St. Petersburg campus, and imagery representing the local environment – sea life and palm trees – alongside illustrations of brewing ingredients and equipment. Dahm noted, “The label was another really fun component of this project. It gave us an opportunity to not only work with the Brewing Arts program, but bring in another class in the marketing school.”

To further connect consumers with the program, a QR code has been incorporated onto the beer’s packaging. Scanning the code directs individuals to information about the USF Brewing Arts program, facilitating direct engagement and potential support.

The launch of St. Pete Pilsner reflects a broader trend of collaboration between local breweries and USF, with several Tampa Bay Area brewery owners and managers contributing to the Brewing Arts program as instructors. Dahm underscored the importance of community engagement and the desire to invest in local talent. “We are very community-focused, which is why this was a natural partnership,” he stated. “Our goal is to develop the best hand-crafted beers and invest money in products made in our local community. And what better way than partnering with our local university to further brewing arts and using sales of the beer to support education for our industry.”

Dahm expressed his pride in the university and the project’s potential to foster school spirit. “Go Bulls. I love the University of South Florida. There’s always a lot of additional Bull pride that goes and to be able to support my alma mater, enhance the workforce, provide student education, continue to grow what we love here with the craft beer community. And so, it really is a giant collaboration amongst a lot of Bull-loved individuals that are very passionate about what that university does for this area, and then how we give back to it.”

Currently, St. Pete Pilsner is available at Mastry’s Brewing Co. In St. Pete Beach. Plans are underway to expand distribution to retailers near USF’s campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Dahm indicated that Mastry’s is open to collaborating with other bars and restaurants interested in carrying the beer to support the university’s Brewing Arts program.

The initiative represents a tangible link between the academic world and the burgeoning craft beer industry in Florida, offering a unique avenue for funding and promoting educational opportunities within the field. The partnership between Mastry’s Brewing and USF serves as a model for how local businesses and universities can collaborate to support both economic development and educational advancement.