Final term students from Niagara College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program were hopping with excitement after learning of their success at two U.S. beer competitions recently.

Of the five beers entered in the 2024 U.S. Open College Beer Championship, Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery collected three medals: a gold for its Cherry Blawesome Barrel Aged Stout, a silver for its Vindobona Schrammer Vienna Lager, and a silver for its Blonde…James Blonde Belgian Blonde Ale.

Cherry Blawesome was also awarded Best in Show, and the Teaching Brewery tied for third place overall.

“Our Teaching Brewery continues to shine internationally, proving once again that Niagara College’s level of teaching is exceptional,” said Steve Gill, General Manager, Learning Enterprises. “The hands-on learning that students get at NC is the reason they’re so successful, both while they’re studying and after they graduate. We’re very proud of our students and the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program.”

NC was one of 11 schools entered in the eighth annual championship, which is the only competition of its kind that focuses on student brewers. Each college or university may enter up to four beers of their choosing to be judged according to the regular U.S. Open style standards as well as the stated intentions of the student brewers.

One additional beer from a specific category can also be entered to be judged head-to-head according to the U.S. Open style standards and judging procedures.

For student brewer Braden Pedersen who worked on silver medal-winning Blonde…James Blonde, the “surreal” win was all due to a strong group effort.

“I’m super thankful for what I’ve learned taking this program, as it certainly helped me refine the original recipe into something much better,” Pedersen said. “But more importantly, I have to thank my fellow classmates who assisted me and our other winners throughout our brew days, as without their care and attention to detail none of us would have medaled. At its best, brewing is a team effort; even if your beer didn’t medal (you) know that your effort and craftsmanship is appreciated every step of the way.”

Nathan Melo’s Cherry Blawesome started as an experiment—the goal of which was to create a beer his mother would enjoy.

“The beauty of this program is that we have the facility and the freedom to take on a challenge, so I did,” Melo said. “I developed the recipe with my mother in mind… and wanted to make something she would enjoy. As a child I recall her loving the Hershey’s Cherry Blossom candy, so I formulated the recipe to have a complex chocolate profile, a gentle cherry sweetness, and a very light vanilla flavor from the barrel.”

For his brew to win a gold medal was a bonus—and justified the many hours of work he put into it, he said.

“The award is very humbling, appreciated and validates that the late nights, early mornings and the one-hour commute (from Puslinch, ON) to and from class have all been so worth it.”

The Teaching Brewery was also awarded two medals at the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship. Winners were announced shortly after those from the college competition.

The U.S. Open Beer Championship is among the top beer competitions in the U.S. and judges more beer styles than any other competition in the world.

NC’s Beer 101 Bitter was awarded a silver medal in the Special Bitter or Best Bitter category, while its Beer 101 Strong earned a bronze in the Old/Strong Ale category. Both beers medalled at the 2023 championship as well.

“Being recognized with an award is always a great personal reward and recognition for their class and the college,” said Brewmaster and professor Jon Downing. “Encouraging the students to design, brew and select the entries into (these competitions) allows them as a group—and individuals—to see what it takes to take a beer from an idea to an entry in a world-class event.”

Cherry Blawesome will be one of the beers featured at the next Project Brew, taking place on August 9 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus. The beer festival showcases the work of fourth-semester Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management students, whose distinctive craft beers will be sampled by guests with the goal of being chosen the People’s Choice.

The top beer will be awarded the $4,500 Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship, sponsored by Lallemand Brewing.

Products from the NC Teaching Brewery are available for purchase alongside student-created products from the NC Teaching Winery and Teaching Distillery (while supplies last) at NC’s Wine + Visitor Education Centre at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake (135 Taylor Rd.)