Last year, Newlands Systems paid it forward in a big way.
North America鈥檚 premier brewing equipment manufacturer has worked on hundreds of projects over the past two and a half decades, supplying big brewing companies and small craft brewers alike with the equipment they need to perfect a fine-tasting brew.
One of their latest ventures was to take that state-of-the-art equipment and customize it specifically for instructional purposes, so that the industry鈥檚 next generation of brewers, brew pub owners and beer business professionals could hone their craft on the tanks, vessels and controls they鈥檒l work with out in the field.
The Abbotsford-based company headed up by lifelong brewer Brad McQuhae donated a 2 HL Newlands Pilot Brewing System, along with invaluable expertise to Kwantlen Polytechnic University鈥檚 (KPU) new instructional brew lab in 黑马磁力, which held it鈥檚 official grand opening last month (Sept.16).
鈥淥ne of the reasons I wanted to get involved with KPU鈥檚 brewing and brewery operations program is I鈥檝e always felt education is important, and the industry in North America has lacked the same sort of educational programs found in Europe,鈥� said McQuhae, who explained that having proper, scalable brewing equipment that mirrors what鈥檚 found in industry is a key part of a brewing education.
鈥淪imply put: if students train on simple equipment that isn鈥檛 industry grade, they won鈥檛 learn the knowledge they need to be employed,鈥� he said.
McQuhae has a spent a lifetime collecting that knowledge.
鈥淚 originally started home brewing when I was 14. I put the beer in champagne bottles but didn鈥檛 drink it 鈥� it tasted horrible. But I was a bit of an entrepreneur, so I sold some of what I鈥檇 made to the older kids at 50 cents a bottle,鈥� he said.
鈥淵ears went by and I continued to brew, somewhat more successfully. I eventually found myself studying biochemistry and microbiology in Victoria, and it turns out that I was learning excellent skills for improving my understanding of brewing.鈥�
Coupling a background in science with hands-on trade knowledge is part of what鈥檚 led to McQuhae鈥檚 25 successful years in the industry, where his clients with Newlands include Molson, Labatt, Central City Brewing, Steamworks, Brooklyn Brewing, Boston Beer Company and Miller Coors Brewing, to name seven out of hundreds.
If there is another ingredient that鈥檚 led to his success, it鈥檚 passion 鈥� something McQuhae is generously sharing with KPU students.
鈥淗aving the opportunity to get a quality education in the science of brewing, to train on the best industry equipment and to craft connections with the industry is a recipe for success. I鈥檓 happy to have a hand in supporting B.C.鈥檚 next generation of brewers, and to be doing that alongside KPU.鈥�
McQuhae sits on the advisory committee that oversees KPU鈥檚 two-year brewing and brewery operations diploma.
The program鈥檚 second intake of students began learning the science of brewing this fall, in a brand new, customized brew lab fitted with top-of-the-line equipment thanks to Newlands Systems.
For more information about the program, visit kpu.ca/brew.
