In the December 23rd edition of the Grand Forks Herald, they included an article about the Bitter North Brewers homebrew club.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/252227/
There is really no better way to understand beer than to homebrew. As you work with the base ingredients in beer and go through the processes needed to make beer, you can really appreciate the final product and what is really takes to get there and how all the flavors you find in the end product get there.
Click on the Homebrew menu tab to find the club local to you along with suppliers of ingredients and equipment so you can start homebrewing yourself.