On September 2, Kathy Yan Li with The Canadian Homebrewers Association wrote about Makgeolli (pronounced “mahk-oh-lee“) a Korean alcoholic rice beverage, being brewed at Niagara College, and an unexpected variety for a brewing competition.The article features interviews with Victor North, Brewmaster support liaison at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute and administrator for the Niagara College homebrew competition.
North describes the taste of Makgeolli as “a milky, tart, complex-yet-refreshing rice based alcoholic beverage with a creamy mouthfeel cut by a clean lactic tartness.”
North explains that while he loves the Korean beer style, he underestimated his students interest in the “unfamiliar and unusual” brew. North introduced Makgeolli as part of a broader approach to world brewing traditions, to which his students responded with enthusiasm.
The article also includes interviews with Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program students Nathan Byrnes and Ian Evans.
Nathan judged the Fruit and Spice Makgeolli/Cheongju category flight which saw eight entries. Altogether, NC’s three Makgeolli flights had 14 entries, which made it the largest style type in the competition. Byrnes is among the first people to ever judge Makgeolli in a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) sanctioned competition.
Fruit and Spice Makgeolli/Cheongju” category flight
Brewmaster students took home awards in all of the featured categories:
- Ian Evans won gold in Makgeolli for his brew Mercury;
- Ian Evans won gold in Fruit or Spice Makgeolli/Cheongju for his brew Gemini;
- Alex Benjamin and Dan Barale won gold for specialty Makgeolli and Cheongju called Cullen Had A Math Test;
- Jin Lee won silver in Fruit and Spice Makgeolli/Cheongju for Yuja Makgeolli.
“Benjamin and Barale had an unexpected and unmatched take on the beverage: Makgeolli flavored with maple syrup and lime!” said North.
Judges advanced many of the winning Makgeollies to the Best of Show category, including student Jin Lee’s Yuja Makgeolli.
“The judges must have thought it was exceptional enough to take a shot at Best Of Show too. All told, there were four Makgeollies in Best of Show,” said North, who says this is very rare for a BJCP competitions anywhere!
The full list of winners can be found on a plaque in the basement of the HT building,
Read the news coverage at this link.
