Niagara Parks and Niagara College are proud to partner and present, History on Tap at Old Fort Erie – a one-of-a-kind experience combining NC Craft beer samples from Canada’s first Teaching Brewery and cider from Canada’s first commercial Teaching Winery with historically inspired food pairings and immersive storytelling. This unique event invites guests to step back in time and discover life in Upper Canada during the War of 1812.
“History on Tap showcases the power of collaboration in creating innovative visitor experiences that allow guests to connect with Niagara’s rich cultural history in a whole new way.” said Sarah Wood, Director, Cultural Services, Niagara Parks. “Through our partnership with Niagara College, we’re bringing together local history, culinary traditions and Niagara’s vibrant craft brewing industry to create a memorable new event at Old Fort Erie, a National Historic Site that was a pivotal battleground during the War of 1812.”
As a national trailblazer in beverage education, Niagara College is bringing its living-lab model to the forefront of this unique historical event.
“NC Craft is proud to partner with Niagara Parks for the inaugural History on Tap event, celebrating Niagara’s rich brewing heritage through historically inspired food and beer pairings that reflect what would have been enjoyed in the early 1800s.” said Gary Torraville, Senior Director of Global Business Development, Niagara College. “As home to Canada’s first Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery, we’re especially excited that our students will be serving guests throughout the event, gaining valuable hands-on experience while sharing the award-winning beverages they help create. It’s a unique opportunity to connect our region’s history with the next generation of craft beverage professionals.”
“History on Tap is a wonderful opportunity for Niagara College Teaching Brewery to connect with the community while sharing our knowledge of brewing and exploring the important role beer production has played in Canadian heritage and culture,” said Amanda Baldinelli, Hospitality and Events Manager for the Niagara College Learning Enterprise Corporation. “It also gives our students further practical experience engaging with guests, who can enjoy a variety of NC Craft products, many of which are available to take home from our retail store or online.”
Brews, bites and ballads
As autumn paints the Niagara River corridor in rich hues of red, gold and orange and cooler evenings settle in, step through the gates of Old Fort Erie for a different kind of journey into the past. History on Tap transforms the old stone fort into an immersive after-hours experience with costumed interpreters sharing stories of beer rations and military life in Upper Canada during the War of 1812.
While exploring the fort, guests will enjoy five historically inspired bites prepared by Niagara Parks’ culinary team, each perfectly paired with a 4 oz. sample of NC Craft beer. Highlights include Three Sisters Stew with corn, beans and squash, paired with NC Craft IPA, and a Bison Slider with blueberry chutney and caramelized onions, paired with NC Craft Light Lager.
Black-powder demonstrations and live music performed by Celtic rock band, The O’Deadly’s, will bring the sights and sounds of the era to life. Together, the stories, flavours and music invite guests to tap into the past and experience Old Fort Erie like never before.
History on Tap takes place at Old Fort Erie on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. and is a 19+ event. Tickets include admission, five 4 oz. NC Craft beer samples and five themed dishes paired with each beer selection. Additional NC Craft beer and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
Free parking is available at the Old Fort Erie Welcome Centre. Tickets are $90 per person and can be purchased here.
Crafted by student learning
The beverage lineup for the event was carefully selected from the College’s roster NC Craft beverages to complement the historical theme. The featured products are produced at NC’s Teaching Brewery and Teaching Winery. Here, students have a hands-on role in crafting beverages from start to finish, working closely alongside expert makers to hone their craft.
The selected beverages highlight authentic brewing and cider-making heritage. Guests will enjoy Butler’s Bitter, a modern take on the traditional English bitter style of the 1800s brewed with caramel malts and classic English hops.
Originally released by the NC Teaching Brewery in 2012 as a flagship beer to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, this multi-award winning ale will feature its retro 2012 commemorative label applied directly to NC Craft cans exclusively for this event.
“Not only is Butler’s Bitter a natural fit for History on Tap because it was originally brewed to commemorate the War of 1812, but we’re actually bringing back a piece of our own history in honour of the event,” said Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing. “We took the original Butler’s Bitter labels from the 650ml bottles and they fit perfectly on the front of the new cans so the retro designs will be used specially for this unique event.”
Butler’s Bitter has consistently impressed at competitions, earning over a dozen industry accolades. These include gold at the Canadian Brewing Awards, and multiple golds and silver at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, and silver at the 2025 Ontario Brewing Awards.
The lineup also features an India Pale Ale that highlights a historic brewing style originally formulated in the late 1700s and early 1800s for shipping to the colonies – specifically India – leading up to the first documented record of beer specifically called the 1820s “India Pale Ale.” The IPA won a silver at the U.S. Open Beer Championship in 2025.
Representing the traditional Leichtbier style first developed in the 1870s and popularized into the 1900s, the Light Lager offers a crisp clean profile. Also selected is a Porter, which is a cornerstone style of the 18th and 19th centuries, emblematic of the robust dark ales favoured by working-class soldiers and citizens of the period.
The traditional Cherry Cider produced by the Teaching Winery reflects the longstanding historical tradition of blending seasonal fruit into apple ferments to impart a vibrant flavour and acidity. It won a bronze medal at the 2025 U.S. Open Cider Championship.
Explore NC Craft
Niagara College is Canada’s leader in applied beverage education. Located at its Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, NC’s Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery were each the first facilities of their kind in Canada. Here, students gain hands-on, real-world experience alongside expert makers.
NC Craft Butler’s Bitter, India Pale Ale, Light Lager, and Cherry Cider are regular offerings available for purchase at the NC Craft Beverage Centre (formerly the Wine Visitor + Education Centre) while supplies last. Visit on campus (135 Taylor Rd., Niagara-on-the-Lake) or online at nccraft.ca.
