If you've been following The Line, you know that we love keeping our eye on the craft-beer revolution that's been rolling through our towns since changes in state and municipal laws in the last few years cleared the way for breweries to flourish, open taprooms, and do growler sales. (Our Elizabeth Millard took a comprehensive look here.) It's been a glorious return to the nineteenth century, when breweries were as ubiquitous as livery stables, especially in places with a pronounced German heritage, like here.

It was only a matter of time before the microbrew movement became a bona fide local academic topic--right up there with Shakespeare, the French Revolution, and organic chemistry. (Wait--brewing is organic chemistry!)

And so here's heads-up about an authoritative-looking class that will be given by University of Minnesota Extension in July: The View From Here: Minnesota's Craft Beer Scene. On July 10, 17, and 24, suds scholars will be led on erudite tours of Summit, Surly, and Dangerous Man breweries by none other than Michael Agnew, who was Minnesota's first Certified Cicerone®.

What's a Cicerone?

What indeed? Having only seen the word in novels by Henry James, I thought it referred exclusively to ominously handsome Italian gentlemen who guided attractive American heiresses through Roman ruins on sketching expeditions. But in the microbrew world of 2013 it designates the holder of a prestigious credential in beer expertise issued by the Cicerone Certification Program, founded by Chicago-based beer educator and author Ray Daniels.

Cicerone Agnew, who is an active local beer consultant, a competition judge, and a teacher at Cooks of Crocus Hill, will be offering "a hands-on introduction to the history, economics, trends, business models, and processes (and beers!) of Minnesota's contemporary brewing landscape."

Clearly, a cleverly designed combination of two traditional elements of higher education: the multidisciplinary examination of a complex topic, and the beer buzz.