The next generation of craft brewing talent took centre stage at Project Brew.
More than 230 guests gathered at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake to witness graduating students from Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program showcase their technical skills and creative experimentation with a roster of unique brews.
Held at the end of each term, the beer festival is a rite of passage for final term Brewmaster students, as well as an opportunity for the public to get a taste of student crafted beers from those poised to enter the industry.
Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship: Nordic KnightLoaf rises to the top
Student Raman Singh got this moment in the spotlight as the winner of the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship.
Singh, who is from India and now lives in St. Catharines, won the $4,500 scholarship – the highest award of the evening — for his beer, Nordic KnightLoaf.
“It was honestly an intense emotional experience for me with joy, gratitude, and excitement all in one moment. I wasn’t expecting it, so it took a second to process, but it surely felt great to have my work recognized in front of everyone,” said Singh. “I am pretty sure my ears turned red in that moment.”
A Baltic Porter, Singh’s beer was inspired by Scandinavian baking traditions, with spices like cardamom and citrus peel – flavorus that mirrored historical trade routes. The name itself was a clever tribute, evolving from “NightLoaf” to “KnightLoaf” as a nod to the NC Knights.
“I feel incredibly honoured and grateful to the Soos family for their contribution to the program. Being selected for the Matt Soos Scholarship was a breathtaking moment because I was so nervous competing among such a strong group of peers who made such interesting beers,” said Singh. “I am glad I was able to go through this program with the classmates I have.”
Singh noted that the most rewarding part of the Project Brew experience was the ability to take a concept from a mere idea to a finished, practical product.
The recognition from the scholarship win was a significant boost for Singh, as he prepares to enter the professional world.
“It gave me added confidence as I move forward in the brewing industry and reinforces that I’m on the right path,” he said.
The Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship was established a decade ago in memory of Brewmaster graduate (Class of 2015) Matt Soos, who passed away shortly after beginning his professional career. The prestigious $4,500 award has distributed over $40,500 to 11 deserving recipients.
The judging panel for Project Brew included NC sensory experts and members of the Soos family.
People’s choice
Lachlan Robertson accepts a prize for the Fan Favourite, alongside NC President Sean Kennedy and Professor Adrian Popowycz.
Lachlan Robertson, who served as the student lead for the event, captured the hearts and votes of guests, securing a second place win and the Fan Favourite award for his Spring Forward beer. His juicy New England Pale Ale infused with lavender offered a floral twist on a popular style which resonated with the crowd.
“Oh boy, I was stunned! We had a great lineup of products, so it was anyone’s game,” said Robertson, who grew up in St. Catharines and returned to Niagara after 15 years in Kingston. “I was just so honoured and humbled by the recognition. Getting to hear my name called with my parents in the audience was an incredible feeling.”
For Robertson, the event was a testament to the hard work the entire cohort put into their product lineup.
“It not only validated the choice to try something experimental, but it meant so much that my beer was able to resonate with such a diverse audience,” said Robertson. “Personally, I was just thrilled to be able to present my beer to a crowd, and it was thrilling to see the responses from such an array of guests.”
The beer that rights a ‘wrong’
Hamse Chin, who moved from South Korea to enroll in the program, took third place for his beer, Oops, Spelled it Wrong. The yuzu sour beer with low AVV stood out with its refreshing, crisp character, and proved to be a popular choice during the event.
“Honestly, I felt like I got a bit lucky,” he said, recalling how the beer was a result of a mistake made during the brewing process where he used spelt malt instead of the malt he intended, and had to adjust the recipe on the spot. “It ended up working really well … I was actually a bit surprised, since the quality of the other student beers was very high and I wasn’t expecting it.
Missed Project Brew?
Following the event, cans of the latest Project Brew beers became available for purchase — while supplies last — at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre (135 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake) alongside other student-crafted products from NC’s Teaching Brewery, Teaching Winery and Teaching Distillery.
Brewmaster students take the stage with NC President Sean Kennedy, Dean Craig Youdale, Professor Adrian Popowycz and members of the Soos family who were on the judging panel.
Related
Tap into the next generation of craft excellence
