Even Mother Nature delivered on student-led plans to host an outdoor cottage-themed beer festival on campus on April 19.
More than 550 guests flocked to the courtyard at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus to sip, savour and experience Project Brew Hops by the Docks as the sun shone and the temperature rose well into the high twenties, reminiscent of summer.
Eleven students in their final term of the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program not only planned the festival but created their individual and class Project Brew beers which were on tap at the event. Donning their Project Brew t-shirts and bucket hats, Brewmaster students were on site to pour their beers and the share stories behind them with guests.
“We so enjoy the chance to celebrate the accomplishments of our students,” said Associate Dean for the School of Wine, Beer and Spirits at NC. “Having a celebration open to the public makes it even better.”
Brewmaster student Mark Farrow’s cream ale with strawberry and basil, named ‘Responsibility’ won over judges as well as guests. He was announced the winner of the $4,500 Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship (determined by a panel of beer judges) as well as winner of the event’s People’s Choice award (determined by guest votes).
“The idea [for the beer] came from my mother who regularly adds strawberry and basil to sparkling water,” said Farrow.
Farrow, who plans to return to his hometown of London, Ontario to pursue his career in the beer industry – and perhaps open his own brewery someday – noted that his family members also sparked his initial interest in craft beer.
“I don’t know who was more excited when I got into this program – me or my family,” he said, noting his family members also travelled to attend Project Brew.
Michael Kessler was announced as second place winner (for his beer, Cream of the Hop), Nathaniel Perrault won third for his brew (Fake it Til You Make It), and an honourable mention went to Ellie Riches (Lake Lager).
The scholarship is determined through judging by consensus, unlike the students’ Target Brews, which are evaluated by judges in terms of how well they fit a classic style, said Victor North, Brewmaster faculty who also has a national BJCP ranking for beer judging.
“For Project Brew, the students are often not brewing to style – which is to say they are quite often doing wonderful, experimental, innovative things – the students frequently choose to push beyond classic styles when deciding what it is they want to brew for their Project Brew event,” said North, who participated in the judging along with NC staff and faculty, and visiting Soos family members from NatterJack Brewing. “We also have students enter beers that have been brewed to be an outstanding example of a classic style! Because the lineup of beers made by students is going to be varied and different each time (regardless of what each individual student decides to brew) it is something of an ‘apples to oranges’ judging challenge.
“Therefore, we do not provide the judges with any guidelines for how to judge the beers, but simply ask the judges to pick the best beers – however they define that to be.
The Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Matt Soos, who graduated from the Brewmaster program in 2015. The scholarship was established by Railway City Brewing, and Muskoka Brewing, where Soos worked at the time of his passing shortly after he graduated from the College.
The scholarship is supported by Natterjack Brewing Company Ltd., founded by the family of Matt Soos in 2016 as a legacy to honour Matt’s passion for the craft beer industry.
The Soos family attended the event along with a busload of guests from Natterjack Brewing, (based in West Lorne, Ontario) .
Proceeds from Project Brew benefit the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship.
