Niagara College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management students have an idea to make the future a little brighter.

In fact, they have an entire case of beer’s-worth.

Graduating students have created Brewtopia: Brews for a Better Future, featuring 24 capstone beers for this term’s edition of Project Brew.

“We have this idyllic idea of what life should be like without COVID,” said April Tyrrell, who teaches Brew Sales and Promotions. “We want it to be light and fun, and have that message of positivity instead of doom and gloom.”

Project Brew is the student-run beer festival that happens each term to showcase the work of fourth-term Brewmaster students. The festival is typically held at Market Square in St. Catharines but the in-person celebration has been put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Students are still keen to showcase what they’ve learned in a safe, pandemic-friendly way, however, and worked in Tyrrell’s class to come up with the Brewtopia concept. Student-brewed beers for the project include a pale stout, New England IPA, mango gose and dry-hopped lager, among others. They’re for sale online as a 20-pack for $75.

In keeping with the cheerful theme and the spring season, Brewtopia cans feature a bright rainbow label. Packages also include two tasting glasses and a treat.

An additional four-pack of fruit sours, including two that students brewed collaboratively, is also for sale for $15.

“It’s that idea again, with the fruit and the colourful label, of being cheerful and positive,” Tyrrell said.

Both options can be ordered online through the College’s Project Brew website (niagaracollege.ca/projectbrew/) and are available for shipping in Ontario or pickup at the College April 16-17. To order visitncteachingwinery.ca/collections/gifts-packages/products/project-brew-brewtopia or ncteachingwinery.ca/collections/gifts-packages/products/sour-pack-brewtopia 

Proceeds from the sales of Brewtopia packs will support the Matt Soos Memorial Fund , which awards a scholarship each year to the student who brews the best beer in the academic Target Brew competition.

Beer aficionados can also learn about the brews through short Facebook videos produced by students in the Broadcasting — Radio, Television and Film (BRTF) program. Brewmaster bios will also be available online.

“You’re getting a case of beer to drink at your leisure,” Tyrrell said. “There are videos to go along with it to learn about how the beers were made and to get to know the brewer.”

This year’s Project Brew arrives on the heels of the 10-year anniversary of NC’s trailblazing Teaching Brewery, which officially opened on April 13, 2011 [View news release here.]

NC’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program was launched in 2010 as the first of its kind in Canada. The award-winning, two-year program offers extensive hands-on training at an on-site, state-of-the-art Teaching Brewery to prepare students for employment in the expanding brewery, microbrewery and brewpub industries. Located at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, students learn from award-winning faculty and have access to on-site hop yard and local farm product to brew a full range of beer styles.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, spirits, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca. 

Photo: Cans in Project Brew’s Brewtopia 20- and four-packs feature a bright rainbow label in keeping with the cheerful and positive theme.