Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) brewing students brought home two gold medals and a silver at this year’s US Open College Beer Championship.
Competing against eleven different schools across Canada and the United States, students and alumni of KPU's Brewing and Brewery Operations program tied for second place overall in the competition.
“This is a big deal,” says Dr. Brett Favaro, Dean of the Faculty of Science. “I’m very proud of our students for winning these prestigious awards, and of our faculty and staff whose mentorship and instruction have made this program an internationally-recognized success.”
Recent KPU graduates Wilson Chu and Francisco Hwang won gold in the competition’s International Style Pilsners category for the Student Signature Series brew Happy Hoppy.
“Winning a gold medal for Happy Hoppy is an incredible honour,” says Hwang. “Although I’m still a novice brewer, this recognition serves as a tremendous motivator for me to continue to improve my skills and push the boundaries of what I can achieve.
The student-crafted Harvest Rice Saison beer was another hit, tying for the title “Best in Show” with Niagara College and winning gold in the French and Belgian Saison category. This Korean-inspired beer was developed by students Hyang (Su) Kim, Hyorae (Harry) Kim, Francisco Hwang, Donghwan Chang and alumnus Thomas Nickel.
First-year students at KPU got a taste for success by securing a silver medal in the Non-Alcoholic Stout category.
This isn’t the first time KPU Brewing has shined at this competition, with students triumphing in various categories since 2017. In 2019, KPU was named Grand National Champion as the school that brews the best beers in North America.
Student-brewed craft beers are available for purchase every Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the KPU Brew Lab, which is located at KPU’s Langley campus, 20901 Langley Bypass.
Anyone interested in learning more about KPU's Brewing and Brewery Operations program can register for a virtual ‘Ask Me Anything’ information session with instructor Michael Miller on Thursday, July 25.