Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery has added another feather to its brewing cap with a silver medal at the prestigious U.S. Open Beer Championship.
NC Craft IPA took silver in the highly competitive English India Pale Ale / IPA category.
“This is the first win for our IPA,” said Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing. “The IPA categories are the most hotly contested these days, so the award is significant.”
Downing noted that the IPA continually gets reformulated and adjusted as hops, malts and consumer tastes evolve. The award-winning beer represents the latest version developed by head brewer Ian Morrison who was assisted by lead brewer Adam Marshall during Winter term.
Both second semester and final semester students contributed to crafting the winning brew.
“This award is a great reflection of the quality and care that goes into our beers, and of the hands-on learning our students experience throughout the brewing process,” said Amanda Baldinelli, Hospitality Manager, NC Craft. “It’s especially rewarding to see a beer produced here at Niagara College compete on an international stage and be recognized among breweries from across North America and beyond. We’re proud to have this award-winning IPA on tap and to share it with our guests here at NC Craft Beverage Centre.”
Originally brewed with extra hops and a higher alcohol content for the long voyage to India during British rule, the IPA was later adapted using North American hops as colonization expanded. At 6 percent ABV, NC Craft IPA features a medium body and a copper hue. The palate delivers sharp notes of pine and citrus balanced by a sweet malt backbone resolving into a lingering, hoppy finish.
Medal winners for the 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship were announced in mid-July. As one of the premier events celebrating brewing excellence, this year’s competition drew entries from around the globe across more than 180 categories and subcategories.
The NC Teaching Brewery shared the podium in the English Pale Ale/ IPA category alongside gold winner Allusion Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania and bronze winner Gravel Road Brewing Co. in Ohio.
NC Craft IPA is available for purchase in 473 mL cans and in kegs (20 L, 30 L or 50 L) at the NC Craft Beverage Centre (formerly the Wine Visitor + Education Centre) located at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the Lake. The retail centre carries products from the College’s Teaching Brewery, Teaching Winery, and Teaching Distillery. Visit www.nccraft.ca.
Full competition results and additional details are available at.3 U.S. Open Beer Championship – Medal Winners.
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