The Brewery at the CIA named New York State Brewery of the Year

Professor John Fischer (left) and Head Brewer Hutch Kugeman of The Culinary Institute of America teach the Art & Science of Brewing course.

Cheers to the Brewery at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), an educational microbrewery on campus that was recently honored as the New York State Brewery of the Year for 2019. In addition, two student-produced beers earned Gold Medals competing against professional breweries in their respective categories at the New York State Craft Beer Competition, held in Rochester.

The Brewery of the Year award was based on earning the highest total scores in the competition. Gold medals were awarded to the CIA in the Brown Ale and Wheat Beer categories. The class project Br-Br-Br-Brown was best in the Brown Ale category. The beer, as the name suggests, was a winter-themed ale developed by students in the CIA’s “Art and Science of Brewing” course. The Brewery’s signature Mise en Place Wit, brewed every semester by students taking the class, was champion in the Wheat Beer category.

There are 420 breweries across the state, and 813 different beers were entered in the competition. Mise en Place Wit is on tap at the CIA’s on-campus restaurants in Hyde Park and will soon be available at select restaurants and bars owned by CIA alumni in the Hudson Valley and New York City. Visitors to the CIA can also purchase growlers to take home from the Egg, a student dining venue on campus. The Br-Br-Br-Brown was only produced last winter, with each new class of students every semester creating its own unique beer in a style appropriate for the season.

The Brewery at the CIA is primarily a classroom where undergraduate students learn about the ingredients, equipment and techniques required to produce ales and lagers. It was created in 2015 in partnership with Brooklyn Brewery, whose brewers and business executives often serve as guest lecturers. The class helps future food professionals think differently about beer, elevating its status as a fine beverage on a level with wine.

The Culinary Institute of America is located at 1946 Campus Drive, just off Route 9 in Hyde Park. Call (845) 452-9600 for further information and reservations.