The high quality of beers and brewers coming out of B.C.’s only brewing diploma program were recognized at the 2018 BC Beer Awards.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) won second place in the German Wheat Beer category with their 50/50 Hefe (Hefeweizen) beer at the awards ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 20. At least ten program alumni are part of teams that won trophies for their brews, including five first-place wins.
“We are elated to see KPU Brewing students and faculty honoured at the BC Beer Awards again. It’s a major achievement and a testament to the skilled brewers coming out of our world-class brewing program,” said Dr. Elizabeth Worobec, dean of KPU’s science and horticulture faculty, which oversees the brewing diploma program.
“We’re ecstatic with our win at the 2018 BC Beer Awards. This is our second time entering the BCBAs and winning an award, which is a huge accomplishment given the KPU Brewing program is still quite new,” said Alek Egi, chair and instructor, KPU Brewing.
This isn’t the first award for KPU brewing students and faculty this year – they also won silver and bronze medals in the 2018 US Open College Beer Championships in May.
The BC Beer Awards recognize the very best of craft beer and ciders brewed in the province. 1050 entries were submitted from breweries across the province and 90 awards were presented in 30 categories.
The KPU alumni recognized at the awards include:
- Dan Marriette, Ravens Brewing (Abbotsford)
- Jacquie Loehndorf, Faculty Brewing (Vancouver)
- Ted Fine and Ryan Jurgens, Main Street Brewing (Vancouver)
- Kristy Mosher, Yellow Dog Brewing (Port Moody)
- Cole Smith, Dead Frog Brewery (Langley)
- Sean Kellock, Bridge Brewing Company (North Vancouver)
- Mike Nicholson, Britannia Brewing Co. (Richmond)
- Ashley Brooks, Four Winds Brewing Co. (Delta)
- Allan Cukier, R&B Brewing (Vancouver)
- Mike Trudeau, Steamworks Brewing Co. (Burnaby)
Find the complete list of winners here.
The KPU Brewing and Brewery Operations Diploma is the first program in Canada to be recognized by the Master Brewers Association for a standard of excellence in brewing education.
For a behind-the-scenes tour of KPU's teaching brewery, the next open house and information session is taking place Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at KPU’s Langley campus (20901 Langley Bypass). The Brewing Lab is located behind the Best Western hotel, across the parking lot. The open house is free and open to the public, but registration is requested at kpu.ca/brew/info-session.
For more information on the program, visit kpu.ca/brew.