The 2023 Grand National Champion of the U.S. Open College Beer Championship is Niagara College of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Niagara College was previously named Grand National Champion in 2016 (the first year of the competition). Every beer the school entered received a medal (two golds, two silvers, and a bronze), and one of the gold-winning beers was also shared Best of Show honors.
Second-place honors went to Eastern Michigan University, while last year's Grand National Champion Kalamazoo Valley Community College was third. Niagara College won the gold in this year's head-to-head style competition (Belgian Dubbel), EMU was awarded the silver, and KVCC took home the bronze.
Complete List of Medal-Winning Beers
GOLD MEDALS:
I drink there I yam (Vegetable Beer) - Appalachian State University
Appointment with Danger (American Black Ale) - Eastern Michigan University
Kentucky Gambler (Historical Beers) - Kalamazoo Valley Community College
The Big COBALski (Baltic-style Porter) - Lourdes University (Best of Show - tie)
Echoes in the Classroom (Belgian Dubbel) - Niagara College
Hulk Roggan (Historical Beers) - Niagara College (Best of Show - tie)
Hefe (German Hefeweizen) - Schoolcraft College
SILVER MEDALS:
Dubbel Your Fun (Belgian Dubbel) - Eastern Michigan University
Inciting Event (American Stout) - Eastern Michigan University
Marven the Märzen (Märzen/Oktoberfest) - Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Taylor Road Saison (French and Belgian Saison) - Niagara College
Te-toiset Bois (Belgian Tripel) - Niagara College
BRONZE MEDALS:
Belgian Dubbel (Belgian Dubbel) - Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Beast of the Basement (American Imperial Stout) - Lourdes University
T'Weiss as Nice (German Wheat Ale) - Niagara College
About
The U.S. Open College Beer Championship is for colleges and universities that teach brewing courses. The U.S. Open College is the only competition for beers exclusively from college and university brewing and fermentation programs.
Any college or university that offers courses in brewing could enter the U.S. Open. All beers were submitted by one of each school’s brewing professors/instructors. The beers could be brewed on any system on or off-campus that is approved by the professors/instructors.
Each college or university could enter up to four beers of their own choosing. Those four entries were judged according to the U.S. Open Style Standards and the submitted intentions of the student brewers. Among these entries, any number of gold, silver, or bronze medals may be awarded.
In addition, each school was invited to submit a beer from a specific category to be judged head-to-head according to the U.S. Open Style Standards. This category will rotate from year to year. Only one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal are awarded in this special category.
2024 dates and information
2024 SCHEDULE
*Registration will be open on Thursday, February 1st.
Registration closes on Wednesday, May 15th.
Entries must be received between Tuesday, May 6th and Friday, May 24th.
Judging will take place in the month of June. Results will be announced on the same day at the U.S. Open Beer Championship (usually the second Monday in July).
Each college or university could enter up to four beers of their own choosing. Those four entries were judged according to the U.S. Open Style Standards and the submitted intentions of the student brewers. Any number of gold, silver, or bronze medals may be awarded among these entries.
In addition, each school was invited to submit a beer from a specific category to be judged head-to-head according to the U.S. Open Style Standards. This category will rotate from year to year. Only one gold, silver, and bronze medal each are awarded in this special category. The category for 2024 is TBA.
Any college or university that offers courses in brewing may enter the U.S. Open. One of the school’s brewing professors/instructors must submit all beers. The names of the students who brewed the beers must be submitted on the application. The beers can be brewed on any system on or off campus that is approved by the professors/instructors.
PLEASE NOTE: Collaboration beers brewed with a professional brewery should be entered in the U.S. Open rather than the U.S. College Open.
