NC wines and beers will soon square off with an Irish twist at the Irish Harp Pub’s fifth annual Grapes vs. Hops dinner event.
The popular Niagara-on-the-Lake pub, which is a hub for tourists and locals alike, will host the spirited event on Jan. 22 as a celebration of home-grown talent, driven by the NC roots of its leadership team.
“The connection is very personal for us,” said Adam Brooker, General Manager of the Irish Harp Pub “We wanted to give back and be part of supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders.”
In addition to Brooker, who graduated from basic and advanced Cook II Apprenticeship (2008/2009), Assistant General Manager Liza Calder (née Hunter) graduated from Hospitality Management-Hotel & Restaurant (2011), and Chef Ryan Price Jones graduated from Culinary Management Co-op (2017).
The ticketed event features an Irish-pub inspired four-course meal designed by the Irish Harp staff. Each course will be paired with a Dean’s List wine from the Teaching Winery and an NC beer from the Teaching Brewery. The wine and beer selections were handpicked by College Winemaker Allison Findlay and Teaching Brewery and College Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing, respectively.
“The goal has always been to showcase the incredible products Niagara College students are creating while raising awareness of the College’s wine and beer programs,” said Brooker. “It gives the community a chance to experience firsthand the quality and creativity coming out of the programs.”
While the Irish Harp’s event may echo the playful rivalry between NC wine and beer that shines during the College’s highly anticipated Caps, Corks and Forks events – where the College’s wine and beer students compete for guest votes through their beverage pairings – a champion will not be declared on Jan. 22.
“While we ask guests which pairing they enjoyed most, there is no winner,” said Brooker. “The focus is entirely on how both beer and wine uniquely complement the same dish.”
The partnership between the pub and the College extends beyond Grapes vs. Hops. The Irish Harp ensures NC talent is always on tap, featuring a rotating line of student-crafted brews year-round.
“Each time a keg runs out, we feature a new Niagara College student beer, helping showcase the region’s newest brewmasters and their work,” said Brooker.
NC Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing applauded the initiative.
“This is a fun event where we get to support a loyal customer and the graduates who work there at the same time,” said Downing. “The Irish Harp takes new student brews from us regularly so showcase what our students are up to with the Niagara-on-the-Lake community.”
Event details
The fifth annual Grapes vs. Hops experience will begin at 7 p.m. on Jan. 22.Guests will have an opportunity to explore how both wine and beer can elevate classic pub-style cuisine, enjoy guided pairings, learn more about the craft behind each pour, and experience how local brewing and winemaking complement a carefully designed menu.
Tickets are $80 per person (plus tax and gratuity). The price includes a table for the evening, welcome sparkling wine and truffled kettle chips, the four-course dinner, four wine and four beer pairings, and educational guided tasting.
For information about reservations and tickets, visit theirishharppub.com/events/grapes-and-hops/
Pairing menu
Welcome
- NC Balance Brut and truffled kettle chips
Amuse bouche
- Wine: 2019 Dean’s List Chardonnay
- Beer: Leicht Lager
Soup course
- Wine: 2022 Dean’s List Gamay
- Beer: Winter Weizen Bock
Main course
- Wine: 2022 Dean’s List Cabernet Franc
- Beer: Strong Irish Red Ale
Dessert course
- Wine: 2023 Dean’s List Scholar Riesling Icewine
- Beer: Irish Storm Imperial Stout
Caps, Corks and Forks
Caps, Corks, and Forks, Round 19 will be held on Feb. 21. 5-9 p..m.) at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake (Rankin Family Student Commons). More than 200 tickets have been sold. Additional tickets are expected to be released on the weekend of Jan. 10-11 via Eventbrite: Caps, Corks, and Forks, Round 19 Tickets, Sat, Feb 21, 2026 at 5:00 PM | Eventbrite.
