Niagara College Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management students are bringing their creativity and passion for craft beer to the outdoors with Project Brew – Pints in the Pines. The student-led beer festival marks the culmination of their academic journey, offering a glimpse into the future of the craft beer industry.
Acting as the final term project for the Beer Sales and Promotions class, Project Brew provides a platform for 13 students to showcase their brewing techniques and event coordination skills that they have developed during their studies at the college. From conceptualization to execution, students lead every aspect of the festival, including marketing campaigns, social media strategies, creating promotional materials and presenting their own uniquely crafted brews, preparing them for their future careers.
“I am really looking forward to another edition of Project Brew,” said Victor Pauka Alves De Oliveira, Manager, Catering & Special Events. “It is always exciting to witness the hard work our students have applied to their learning throughout the year, and it’s a great way to celebrate their accomplishments at the end of term.”
Project Brew is a key component of the experiential learning that takes place at Niagara College’s Teaching Brewery.
“Our students craft custom beers from scratch using their imaginations, knowledge and research, and it’s always a pleasure to see what they create,” said Brewmaster Professor Jon Downing. “Project Brew is a great opportunity for students to showcase the knowledge and expertise they have acquired throughout the program and share it with their families, friends and community members.”
This year’s theme ‘Pints in the Pines’ invites the community to embrace the spring season and gather outdoors on April 12, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Attendees will get to try sixteen student-crafted beers on tap, accompanied by live music and culinary offerings prepared by students in Niagara College’s Culinary Arts programs.
Student Erick Patrician, the Project Brew class chair, has brewed a dark lager called ‘Dusk til Dawn’ balanced with roast malt characteristics. He chose this style based on his belief that dark lagers have the potential to bridge the gap between what craft and non-craft beers typically deliver in their flavour and drinkability.
“While I was aware of this beer style previously, it wasn’t until third term when I had a pint of it at a local brewery that I really saw its potential,” said Patrician. “From that point on, I was hooked and went about trying to refine the style and deliver a version that would be approachable for craft and non-craft beer drinkers alike.”
Despite student Michael Haswell’s love for dark beers, he challenged himself to brew a light lager infused with lime flavours called ‘Green Lemons’ to align with the changing season and outdoor theme of the festival. He chose to integrate a Norwegian strain of yeast called Kveik, inspired by a personal milestone in 2022 where he completed his first solo bike trip through the Nordic countries.
“After a month of cold rainy days, sleeping on the side of the road, and more gas station hotdogs than a man should ever consume, a few celebratory pints were definitely in order, many of them brewed with Kveik,” he said. “These pints tasted better after crossing that finish line and since then, I have always had a special love for those strains.”
A highlight of the Project Brew festival is the beer-judging competition, where all student-crafted beers are evaluated by a panel of judges from Niagara College. The winning student will be honoured with the $4,500 Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship. Guests will also get to participate as judges and vote for their favourite beer to be crowned the People’s Choice Award winner.
A portion of the proceeds from Project Brew are donated to support the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship, 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 graduating from Niagara 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.
Guests will also get to taste the talents of two students from Niagara College’s Culinary Innovation and Food Technology program, who will showcase their culinary creations specially made to complement the diverse beer offerings. Their creations will serve as complimentary additions to the Project Brew food menu and are part of the students’ free-form Capstone Project, which focuses on developing ready-for-market products for the food and beverage industry.
Student Michael Koski is most looking forward to witnessing the enjoyment on guests’ faces as they taste the beers and immerse themselves in the festival.
“Seeing people enjoy our beer and sharing a social event to celebrate all our learnings is the ultimate reward for me,” he said.
Project Brew tickets are still available for purchase here. Ticket prices are $35 plus taxes and fees and include four beer tokens and a beer glass. Additional tokens are available for purchase at $2 per token. Guests must be 19 years or older to participate.
