Beer has played an important role in human civilization, history and culture. Learn more about its place in Wisconsin history at a free lecture offered by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

“Wisconsin’s Beer Heritage” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, presented by Terese Barta, associate professor in the Department of Biology. Held in the Pinery Room of the Portage County Public Library, this is the second talk in the eight-part 2019-2020 Community Lecture Series. The public may attend free of charge.

“This presentation will survey the history of brewing and take a look at the rich brewing tradition in Wisconsin,” said Barta, who has been an avid home brewer for more than 20 years.

As a microbiologist, Barta said she is fascinated by the biology and chemistry of beer, as well as its history. Throughout her teaching career she has found ways to combine her academic training with brewing, beginning when she started as a faculty member at what is now UW-Stevens Point at Wausau. Barta started the first home brewing club in the area and conducts outreach to professional brewers through a Microbiology for Brewers workshop she teaches several times per year through UW-Stevens Point Continuing Education.

For more information on the Community Lecture Series, visit www.uwsp.edu/cols/lectureseries or email stappa@uwsp.edu.