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- NC Brewmaster students Allen Vary (left) and Tony Arnold (right) join Royal Canadian Legion branch 56 president Harry Hamilton at the NC Teaching Brewery. While sampling Juno, they admire a model spitfire with casks of beer underwing as was used to deliver beer to troops.
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- Two presidents from local Royal Canadian Legion branches join students and staff members at the Niagara College Teaching Brewery in a pre-Remembrance Day toast with Juno – a commemorative wartime beer. From left: Allen Vary (Brewmaster student), Tony Arnold (Brewmaster student), Harry Hamilton (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 56 president), Eric Cuthbert (Royal Canadian Legion Branch 17 president, Jon Downing (NC Brewmaster professor), Steve Gill (general Manager NC’s Learning Enterprises), Victor North (Brewmaster support liaison) and Justin Niece (NC sales coordinator).
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- Brewmaster support liaison Victor North holds his model spitfire with casks of beer underwing as was used to deliver beer to troops in France post D-Day. North was inspired to build the model when the Teaching Brewery crafted Juno.
Just in time for Remembrance Day, Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery has rolled out a commemorative wartime brew inspired by an English beer that helped maintain the morale of the Allied forces 75 years ago.
A group of staff and students from the College’s Teaching Brewery, along with representatives from local Royal Canadian Legion branches, marked the re-release of the beer, named ‘Juno,’ on November 7.
The Second World War-style brew debuted at the Teaching Brewery last spring prior to the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Staff at the Teaching Brewery decided to brew it once again this fall in advance of Remembrance Day. It will be available in cans at the Niagara College Teaching Brewery while supplies last and at several Royal Canadian Legion Branches in Niagara.
“It was an honour that the Canadian Legions wanted us to brew it for their members, especially for Remembrance Day,” said college brewmaster Jon Downing.
The recipe for Juno replicates a recipe made by St. Austell Brewery in England during the Second World War. The 3% Pale Ale adheres to the legal limit for alcohol during the Second World War due to government restrictions, and incorporates heritage hop varieties and ingredients used in the original recipe. The result is a very light ale with distinct fermented sugar character, lightly hopped but crisp and refreshing.
Downing was inspired to create the beer earlier this year after viewing St. Austell Brewery’s brewing log from D-Day, June 6, 1944, in a Brewery History Society newsletter. It struck him how the timing of the beer, which was brewed that day at St. Austell, coincided with Canadian soldiers landing on the shores of Normandy. He also researched the wartime challenge of supplying troops with beer in The Journal of the Brewery History Society. Downing contacted St. Austell for permission to reproduce the beer before setting out to create a recipe as close to the original as possible.
“The project to recreate that beer brewed at St Austell Brewery on 6th June 1944 is a human touchstone to the countless individuals who all did their bit in difficult times to deliver the ultimate victory over fascism,” said Roger Ryman, brewing director and head brewer of St. Austell Brewing. ”Beer and pubs were considered essential to the national morale during the dark years of the war.”
Brewing the heritage beer was a learning experience for students in NC’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program. It exposed them to the history of the beer style and the process, and was a lesson in what to do when restrictions are in place.
“My grandfather fought in World War Two with the Canadians, under the British, so this of huge significance to me,” said Brewmaster student Tony Arnold of Burlington, who brought photos of his late grandfather, Aurval Arnold, who served in the Second World War with the Canadian Army, to mark Juno’s return to the Teaching Brewery for Remembrance Day.
Tony Arnold held the memory of his grandfather, Aurval Arnold, close to his heart when creating Juno in class and while sampling it at the Teaching Brewery in November.
“I’m very much into in history, and having the opportunity to merge beer and history is basically the dream for me,” said Allen Vary of St. Catharines. “I think the process of finding an old recipe and bringing it back to life is a great learning experience, and I’m stoked to be a part of the process.”
Representatives from local Royal Canadian Legion branches were looking forward to serving the beer at their Remembrance Day events.
“What a great way to inspire the memories of 75 years ago and to allow the younger generations to taste a piece of history of their parents or grandparent or great-grandparent,” said Harry Hamilton, president of Branch 56 in Port Colborne.
Hamilton noted that he first heard about Juno beer in April of 2019 and ordered some to serve at Branch 56’s special remembrance and dedication service held for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. “The veterans attending all thought that this was a wonderful way to add to the special service,” he said.
Eric Cuthbert, president of Branch 17 in Thorold also noted that Juno was well received at their D-Day event and they wanted to bring it back for Remembrance Day
“Those who had served really grasped the significance of the beer,” said Cuthbert. “They were shocked to find out it was so close to the original recipe.”
