Back in the fall of 2019, the trio with Mitchell Reilly Pictures – friends Nick Mirka, Drew Williams, and NC faculty member Christopher Treschak – visited Niagara College for tastings at the Teaching Brewery and our many Learning Enterprises.
In the episode, the trio explore student-crafted beer at the Teaching Brewery, under the guidance of head brewmaster Jon Downing, with dean of the Canadian Food and Wine Institute Craig Youdale providing context on NC’s vision for student learning. Downing notes that students produced over 350 beers last year, with many of the brews going on to win accolades. Several beers are featured, including a cherry pilsner, butler’s bitter, and an IPA, among others. Downing explains that many of the beers brewed on-campus include hops – over 12 varieties – grown in the Brewery’s backyard. He also notes alumni from the program who have gone on to brew right across Canada and beyond.
Mirka, Williams and Treschak also visit the Teaching Distillery, offered a spirit tasting by head distiller David Dickson. Dickson explains the distillation process and how Artisan Distilling students craft world-class, small-batch spirits in this first-of-its-kind facility.
The final stop on the tour is a food-and-beer pairing, featuring the culinary excellence of students at NC’s Benchmark Restaurant. The coverage focuses on the many local and College-grown ingredients that go into the cuisine at Benchmark.
Aired on YouTube in April webisodes of Tales from the Ale Trail are showcased on Bell Fibe TV1.
