KPU Brewing announces first series of alumni collaboration beers

Fri, Aug 10, 2018

Langley, BC — Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) brewing graduates have achieved significant feats, including becoming head brewers at some of BC’s top breweries and racking up an impressive list of awards, provincially, nationally and internationally. Now, KPU has invited these busy young brewers back on campus to create the first alumni collaboration brews.

The alumni teamed up with KPU brewing instructors Martina Solano Bielen, Jon Howe and Derek Kindret over the summer to develop recipes and brew at the KPU brewery in Langley. The brewers, who were able to get as creative as they wanted, produced recipes such as a Salsa Piquanté Wheat Ale with mango and a Dry-Hopped Kettle Sour with Lemondrop hops.   

The participating alumni brewers are:

  • Tom Morrison, brewer, Red Truck Beer, Vancouver (class of 2016)
  • Ashley Brooks, quality control manager, Four Winds Brewing, Delta (class of 2016)
  • Dan Marriette, head brewer, Ravens Brewing, Abbotsford (class of 2016)
  • Jonny Kostiuk, head brewer, Deep Cove Brewers + Distillers, North Vancouver (class of 2017)
  • Jacquie Loehndorf, head brewer, Faculty Brewing, Vancouver (class of 2018)

“We have so many alumni to choose from and we tried to pick from each grad class, so it wasn’t an easy task,” says Alek Egi, chair and instructor, KPU brewing diploma. “The goal is to do a collaboration series every year during the summer break. It’s also a great opportunity for grads to come back and put their unique stamp on a KPU beer.”

The first collaboration beer, a Salsa Piquanté Wheat Ale by Tom Morrison at Red Truck Beer, will be released today (Aug. 10) at the KPU Brew Lab in Langley, where customers can purchase growler fills and enjoy free beer tastings from 1-6 p.m.

“It was great being back in the KPU Brew Lab and creating one of the first alumni collaboration brews," said Morrison. "It’s a much smaller system than what I’m used to at Red Truck and it reminds me of how far I’ve come since graduation. For our collaboration brew, we made a Salsa Piquanté beer which is a sessionable summer wheat ale with a few surprises; it’s infused with mango and habanero pepper but only has a tiny bit of heat to it. We wanted the flavour, not the shock factor."

“We’re unbelievably proud of our alumni and their accomplishments,” says Betty Worobec, dean of the Faculty of Science. “These collaboration brews are a way to celebrate and showcase the fine work many of our grads are doing in the industry. We hope to make this an annual tradition.”

Latest details of the available beers and their release dates will be shared via the KPU Brewing social media pages: Instagram - @KPUBrew; Twitter - @KPUBrew; Facebook - @KPU Brewing

For more information on KPU’s brewing diploma program, visit: kpu.ca/brew  

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About KPU Brewing

The KPU brewing diploma is the only program of its kind in BC and the first Canadian institution recognized by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas for a standard of excellence in brewing education. 

About Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has served the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 learners. Four campuses — Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley — offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs in business, liberal arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 120 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at kpu.ca.

Media contact:
David Connop Price
Manager, Media and Communications, KPU
t: 604.599.2840
c: 236.880.3323
david.connopprice@kpu.ca

For more KPU news:
@KPUmedia
kpu.ca/newsroom
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