Three years ago, the promise of a craft beer industry poised to blossom in his homeland – and a dream to be a part of it – led Peng Wang across the world to NC.
Now, the Chinese student caps off his studies in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program with the knowledge and skills he needs to master his craft, along with the top prize for one of his own unique creations.
On April 11, Wang was announced as the winner of the coveted $4,500 Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship. The award is presented annually to the student behind the best beer at Project Brew – the College’s craft beer festival showcasing unique creations by final-term Brewmaster students.
“I was surprised to win because everybody made good beers,” he said. “I’m happy the judges loved my beer, that people loved my beer.”
Wang didn’t know much about different types of beers or experimenting with flavours when he arrived at the College from China. He had been working in business consulting in Beijing but, after the onset of the pandemic, he began looking for new career opportunities.
While China is one of the top global consumers of beer, he noted that the craft beer industry is just getting started there. He was excited to tap into the opportunities and set out to learn about craft beer and brewing to pursue his goal of opening his own brewery someday.
“Beer making is like magic,” he said. “You take different hops, grains and yeasts, and put them together in different ways to make unique flavours.”
“Beer is the kind of thing that can bring people together, raise the global culture.”
Wang’s winning beer was a jasmine tea and orange wheat beer called ‘JO Bloom’ – fitting with the springtime theme of the event, Project Brew: Brews in Bloom.
“I wanted to make a beer that people can drink in the springtime, that smelled like flowers,” he said. “I’m so happy that I made a beer that people loved.”
He also created a second beer for the event, ‘Chocolate Salty Stout,’ tapping into his personal favourite flavours,
For Wang, having the opportunity to interact with people enjoying his beer at Project Brew was the highlight of the experience – one that rivalled winning itself.
“People were lining up to try the beer, asking questions, ‘is your friend called Joe?’ and I told them, ‘J is for Jasmine and O is for Orange,'” he recalled. “I love that feeling, face-to-face, when you can get a direct response from people drinking your beer.”
“You can see it in their eyes when people love your beer. It’s a good experience; beer gathers people together.”
Once he completes his studies, Wang hopes to gain experience within Canada’s bustling craft beer scene before returning to China and someday opening a brewery of his own.
“It’s so exciting, there’s lots of potential there,” he said.
Wang values the experience he gained in the Brewmaster program, which equipped him with the knowledge and skills he needs to be a part of the exciting industry.
“Niagara College is famous for beer. That’s why I came here,” he said. “I learned so much. I found out about different kinds of beers and I learned to make them – so many new flavours, many opportunities.”
Hosting Project Brew is a rite of passage for students in their final term of the Brewmaster program, who plan the event and craft a variety of beers for guests to sample – some were made individually, and others in collaboration with students and alumni from the program.
Net proceeds from the event support the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship, in memory of Brewmaster alumnus Matt Soos. Daniel Soos, owner, Natterjack Brewing Company, attended the event to participate in the judging along with three others from the brewery. Soos – brother to Matt – noted how important it is for his family to support the scholarship fund.
“Unknown fact by most, but as a family we started the brewery and all tips from day one have gone to the fund! It’s our way to keep it going,” said Soos. “We feel it’s important to support the scholarship as it allows the student who wins or those who potentially win to strive to be the very best and take home that amazing prize of $4,500. It’s a way we try to keep Matt alive.”
Brews in Bloom
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- Wang takes the stage with his classmates at Project Brew,
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- Brewmaster students have an opportunity to connect with guests while pouring their beverages.
Wang and his classmates planned the April 11 event which – true to its springtime theme – was held indoors in the Student Commons, in consideration of the day’s rainy forecast. Spring-inspired dinner and dessert fare made by students from the College’s School of Culinary Arts, was available for purchase. The menu was designed by Benchmark Chef Justin Downes, in collaboration with the graduating Brewmaster class. Floral arrangements from NC’s Teaching Greenhouse also helped set the stage for the event.
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