Fermentation Sciences

15 Unusually Cool College Degrees That Actually Exist [program featured]
Sep 8, 2026

Long before craft beer and artisan kombucha became trendy, fermentation was a science. Appalachian State University recognized that and built a degree...

Fermentation Sciences

Hundreds of people waited in line to get into the Beer Fest right at 3 p.m. when the general admission opened.

Bubbles, brews and sweet potatoes: High Country Beer Fest marks 19th year [staff featured]
Sep 3, 2026

BOONE — Thousands of beer lovers filled the Watauga County fairgrounds Saturday for the 19th annual High Country Beer Fest, sampling pours from 37 b...

Tents with people drinking beer in front of them.

Beer, bubbles and Boone businesses come together for Beer Fest [faculty featured]
Sep 2, 2026

Despite the nation’s declining alcohol sales and general consumption, here in the High Country, the annual High Country Beer Fest kicked off Saturda...

Fermentation Sciences

Upcycling sweet potato field waste into a plant-based milk [faculty featured]
Aug 19, 2026

North Carolina grows most of the sweet potatoes in the US, which means it accumulates most of the sweet potato waste, too. Approximately 28,600 tonnes...

Sweetpotato milk first gains big financial backing [faculty featured]
Jul 30, 2026

Will sweetpotato milk fill a gap in the dairy alternatives space?...

Appalachian State University researchers, backed by a $1.82 million grant, have found a new use for sweet potatoes: sweet potato milk. It features a rich texture and sweet taste with a slight tint of the signature orange hue. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Buttery, sweet and orange: This milk alternative has deep North Carolina roots [faculty featured]
Jul 27, 2026

The humble sweet potato, long considered a North Carolina staple, is at the center of innovation as it’s transformed into the latest plant-based mil...