The beer, Never Been To Spain, won first place in the Belgian-Style Strong Blonde Ale category.
Add one more accolade to the Schoolcraft College Brewing and Distillation Technology’s trophy case.
The winning beer, Never Been To Spain, won first a gold medal in the Belgian-Style Strong Blonde Ale category in the 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship earlier this month.
Tom Block, director of the Brewing and Distillation Technology program, describes the beer as bright with some spice, brewed with Belgian candy sugar, orange peel and coriander.
“We have been lucky enough to win a lot of awards for our beer here at the Schoolcraft brewery. I’m super proud of that,” Block said. “This most-recent recognition shows the type of quality product our students create, and their hard work has paid off in winning this gold medal.”
Since launching more than 10 years ago, the Schoolcraft Brewery has won more than 30 awards for its brews, which are all created by students in the College’s Vistatech Center.
Schoolcraft College was one of six Michigan-based breweries to earn recognition in the annual competition, one of the premier contests in the brewing world.
Curious about what an award-winning brew tastes like? Never Been to Spain is available in four-pack cans and on tap at The Craft Grille, Schoolcraft College’s brewpub located inside the Vistatech Center.
Those looking to join the craft beer industry can learn more about opportunities at an open house for the Brewing and Distillation Technology program taking place from 4-8 p.m. Aug. 13. Guests can meet faculty, take a tour of the brewhouse and learn more about how to enroll in the program. Those interested in attending can register here.
To learn more about the Brewing and Distillation Technology program, visit schoolcraft.edu/brewing.