MiraCosta College’s BrewTech program has earned the Grand National Championship title in the U.S. Open College Beer Championship. First-time contender in the championship, MiraCosta College won gold medals for their Hefeweizen, Pale Ale, Spring IPA, and Stout, plus a silver for their Raspberry Berliner.
The Open College Beer Championship is in its fifth year with eleven colleges and universities from the United States and Canada participating. The U.S. Open is the only competition for beers exclusively from college and university brewing and fermentation programs. All beers submitted were judged according to the U.S. Open Style Standards allowing any number of gold, silver, or bronze medals could be awarded.
The MiraCosta beers were submitted by brewing instructor, Mike Stevenson, and were brewed on approved on or off-campus brewing systems. The MiraCosta students responsible for the school’s championship performance were Ron Bass, Kyle Breckenridge, Kelly Cardinell, Kellen Darnall, Alberto Espinoza II, Mike Hughes, Ricardo Mendoza, Garrett Perkins, Kaitlin Peters, Elizabeth Robles, Amy Still, Patrick Sullivan, William Vazquez, and Kristoffer Wheeler.
MiraCosta College BrewTech Program
MiraCosta College graduated the first class in its BrewTech certificate program in the spring of 2019. The 280-hour class includes industry relevant curriculum, state-of-the-art equipment, and job placement assistance. Classroom material covers the chemistry and biology of beer production and an introduction to equipment used in breweries of all scales. Topics covered include the brewing process, brewhouse quality control, yeast and fermentation processes and how they affect beer quality.
BrewTech is the only craft beer program in the region with a brewery on site and an 80-hour internship requirement. The program culminates with a graduation in which students serve their beers at a campus tasting room with industry representatives.
BrewTech instructors include Mike Stevenson, head brewer and co-owner of Culver Beer Company in Carlsbad, Justin Stambaugh, former head of brewing operations at Rip Current Brewing Company and founder of Stave & Nail Brewing Company, and Greg Turk, who has worked as a brewer at Karl Strauss and The Lost Abbey.
About MiraCosta College
The MiraCosta Community College District has served the coastal North San Diego County area for over 80 years. More than 19,000 credit students annually in over 70 disciplines enroll in associate degrees, university transfer and workforce readiness certificate programs. The college also serves over 7,000 students a wide spectrum of educational needs in the region ranging from programs for adult education, community education, basic skills, and ESL to a California Community College pilot program offering the nation’s first baccalaureate degree in biomanufacturing. As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), veteran and military supportive institution, and Achieving the Dream Leader College, MiraCosta College fosters the academic and holistic success of its diverse learners within a caring and equitable environment to strengthen the educational, economic, cultural, and social well-being of the communities it serves. MiraCosta College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).