South Puget Sound Community College's (SPSCC) Craft Brewing & Distilling program will celebrate a first-of-its-kind achievement on Friday, August 14, with the public release of a beer originally developed by students in the program's Brewing Capstone course.
The new Sour Saison was created by SPSCC Craft Brewing & Distilling students during the 2026 Spring Quarter and later scaled up for commercial production by the team at Percival Creek. The release marks the first time a student-developed capstone beer has been brought to market, giving the public an opportunity to taste a product that began as a classroom project.
The Sour Saison pours a pale gold with a light haze and features citrus and stone fruit aromas, balanced by clean lactic tartness and a classic saison finish with subtle pepper and farmhouse character. Crisp, dry, and refreshing, it was designed as a perfect summertime beer.
"This release represents exactly what our program is designed to do: give students real-world experience that prepares them for careers in the craft beverage industry," said Jake Holshue, Director of Craft Brewing & Distilling at SPSCC. "Our students developed this recipe, refined it through the capstone process, and now get to see it enjoyed by the community. It's incredibly rewarding to watch their creativity and technical skills come together in a product that reaches the public."
Community members are invited to join the celebration beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 14, at the Percival Creek Tasting Room. Visitors will have the opportunity to try the student-created Sour Saison, meet members of the brewing community, and learn more about SPSCC's Craft Brewing & Distilling program.
Those interested in pursuing brewing professionally are also encouraged to attend the program's upcoming information session and facility tour on Thursday, August 20, where prospective students can learn about SPSCC's hands-on curriculum, industry connections, and pathways into the craft beverage industry.
