This year, Niagara’s brewing event themed “Hops by The Docks” competition took place drawing in 400 guests with  11 varieties of beers competing against one another when the Niagara College Brewmaster graduating students held one last competition.

The brews are designed and brewed by final-term Brewmaster students, as well as three collaborative class brews. Ranging from a lightly smoked strong ale right through to a Flanders red ale, a Belgian mixed ferment beer aged in barrels.

All proceeds from Project Brew benefit the Matt Soos Memorial Scholarship, in memory of Matt Soos, who graduated from the Brewmaster program in 2015.

The $4,500 scholarship was established by St. Thomas’ Railway City Brewing and Bracebridge’s Muskoka Brewing, where Soos worked at the time of his passing, shortly after graduating from Niagara College.

“On the bus will be a few judges who will help narrow down all the amazing brews, to find the one that will receive the $4,500 prize,” said Daniel Soos, brewer and owner of Natterjack Brewing Company Ltd., brother of the late Matt Soos. “We always say that every one of the beers is a winner, and it’s a challenging competition to judge.”

This year, Natterjack collaborated with Storm Stayed Brewing from London, Ontario – whose head brewer is Brewmaster alumna, Diana Salazar – to create a Coffee Vanilla Vodka White Stout for the event.

“Diana graduated the same year as Matt and they were great friends,” said Daniel. “Not only did we work with Storm Stayed but also various other businesses in the local communities to pick specific flavour profiles to best suit this brew.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF: NIAGARA COLLEGE

SOURCE: INSAUGA