Two British-style beers from Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery continued their winning streak with medals from the Ontario Brewing Awards.
NC’s Beer 101 Strong earned silver (Strong British Ale category) while Beer 101 Bitter picked up bronze (British Bitter category) at the competition’s recent award ceremony, which celebrated excellence in Ontario craft beer.
Both NC award-winners are among the most popular student-made beers from the NC Teaching Brewery. The recent OBA awards mark the 19th and 20th medals for Beer 101 Bitter and Beer 101 Strong, respectively.
“Awards for our Teaching Brewery’s student-crafted products are a win for our students and our College, as a testament to our leadership in beer education,” said Steve Gill, General Manager of NC’s Learning Enterprises. “They’re also a win for Ontario’s craft beer industry, as our highly skilled graduates bring their knowledge and skills into the workforce.”
Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing said the awards celebrate the skills of NC’s student brewers. Students from all levels of the College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program contribute to the Beer 101 series. The fact that the two beers have won so many awards for more than a decade – even though they were brewed by different classes of students – demonstrates a high level of consistency and quality.
“The awards show that our students are not only learning but mastering the skills taught in the Teaching Brewery,” said Downing. “They are the ones learning while brewing these beers under the guidance of Head Brewer Ian Morrison.”
Beer 101 Strong (7.5% ABV) was developed from a very popular version of the Teaching Brewery’s annual Christmas beer, Rudolph’s Red Nose Ale. The 2013 recipe proved to be so popular that it became a regular offering from the Beer 101 series as Strong 101.
Beer 101 Bitter is an English Pale Ale (4.4% ABV), which started off as the multiple award-winning Butler’s Bitter – introduced in 2012 to mark the bicentennial of the War of 1812. It was later released in cans as Beer 101 Bitter, part of the Teaching Brewery’s flagship brand, while still available in bottles under its original name.
More than 100 awards in 38 styles were presented at the 2024 Ontario Brewing Awards event held on January 17, 2025 at the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Judging for the competition was double blind and impartial, conducted by a BJCP-certified panel.
Several alumni from the College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program – now at breweries throughout the province – were among the winners.
Head Brewer for the NC Teaching Brewery Ian Morrison (Beamsville) was happy to receive medals for the NC Teaching Brewery and was excited to see several other NC graduates at the ceremony. Morrison began working at the Teaching Brewery a year after graduating from the College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program in 2022 and has been Head Brewer for almost two years.
“I remember when the College won awards for beers I helped brew as a student and now it is fun to see beers that I get to brew with students win those very same awards,” said Morrison. “I think the most rewarding part of my job is the continuous opportunities to learn new things and pass them on to others.”
Eric Mainville, from NC’s Brewmaster class of 2015, is President and Head Brewer at Brauwerk Hoffman Brewery in Rockland. He brought home several awards, including a gold and silver in the Pale Malty European Lager category, a silver in the German Wheat Beer category, and bronze in Monastic Ale.
For Mainville, who designs, brews and packages all of the beers at his small brewery which he opened just four years ago, the medals are a recognition of his hard work. He recalled attending NC during the earlier years of the Brewmaster program. “It was exciting to be a part of something in its infancy,” he said. “I was fortunate to have some amazing mentors and teachers there. Not to mention, we got real experience and established friendship in the brewing community.”
Information about the Ontario Brewing Awards and list of 2024 winners is available at ontariobrewingawards.com/.
Beer 101 Bitter and Beer 101 Strong are regularly produced and available for purchase alongside student-crafted products from NC’s School of Wine Beer and Spirits, at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre (Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake) and online at ncteachingwinery.ca.
‘Niagara College has been making waves in the brewing world’
Here’s what the Ontario Brewing Awards have to say about Niagara College:
“Niagara College has been making waves in the brewing world, earning consistent recognition at both the Canadian Brewing Awards and the Ontario Brewing Awards. The fact that their beers shine year after year, even with our blind judging process and rotating panel of judges, speaks volumes about their ability to produce truly great, to-style brews,” said Ania Donich of the Ontario Brewing Awards.
“On January 17, we hosted the Ontario Brewing Awards gala, a private event that brought together winners and a few industry influencers. With around 100 attendees–including key decision-makers and brewers–it was a fantastic night of celebration. Niagara College also hosted last year’s gala, and we couldn’t be more grateful for everything they do for us and the industry as a whole. The event consisted of an awards ceremony followed by some food, beers and entertainment.
“We owe a huge thank-you to Sarah Scott and Jon Downing from Niagara College, who went above and beyond to help make the event a success. From securing the venue and coordinating the food to helping consolidate the award-winning beers, helping with logistics, and even suggesting entertainment. She also recommended Marc as the emcee after discussing potential alumni with Jon, which was such a thoughtful and fitting choice as we received positive feedback about our award ceremony.
“Niagara College has been an incredible partner in putting events like this together, helping us celebrate and connect the brewing industry while bringing alumni and industry leaders together. We’re so thankful for their support and everything they do to elevate the brewing community!”
