Dr. Charles (Charlie) Bamforth examines a pint of beer, appreciating its color and frothy head.

Former Head of UC Davis Brewing Science Program, Charlie Bamforth, inducted into The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame

  • by Jordan Beaver

Dr. Charles (Charlie) Bamforth, Distinguished Professor Emeritus and Former Head of UC Davis' Malting and Brewing Science Program, was inducted into the 2026 Class of The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame. A British scientist specializing in malting and brewing, Bamforth earned the moniker "The Pope of Foam" for his numerous contributions to the understanding of beer foam stability. He is a former president of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and served as the Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at UC Davis. He later worked as senior quality adviser to Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and has received numerous industry honors, including the Brewers Association Recognition Award, the Master Brewers Association of the Americas Award of Honor, and honorary life membership in the MBAA.