Featured Beer Blogger: BRAD TARVER

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

Curious what goes on in the minds of your favorite beer bloggers? Well, The Beer Wench is and she has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer bloggers that she can — from all over the world. Are you a beer blogger? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING: BRAD TARVER

AUTHOR OF: BRANDON BOURBON & BEER CLUB

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Brad Tarver
Twitter handle: @idl3mind
Name of blog: Brandon Bourbon & Beer Club
Current location: Brandon, MS

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Jackson, MS

2. What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond?

I played both golf and tennis in college, but only recreationally.

3. How old were you when you had your first beer?

15

4. If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer? Where did you have it? What style and brand was it?

It was a Bud Ice. I was at a friend’s sister’s house one day after school. I got a buzz from it, but it tasted horrible. Looking back, I can’t believe that’s how my beer drinking began.

5. Where, if applicable, did you go to college? What did you study? What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?

I went to Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University. I majored in Architecture, but dropped out after three years. I found out I was diabetic a week before my 21st birthday and my grades were severely suffering as a result of my untreated diabetes. Soon after, my interests shifted to computers after that, and I have been working in Information Technology since that time.

Craft Beer Epiphany

Every craft beer enthusiast has at least one pinnacle craft beer experience that completely changes ones perspective on beer. I refer to this mind-blowing moment as a “craft beer epiphany.”

1. What was your first craft beer epiphany? Recall as many details about it as you can:

I recall sitting in a bar called Wall Street in Hammond, LA. I was about 21 or 22 years old. I had a German style wit bier. I can’t recall the name of it, but it was distinctly new to me. I told myself then I would never drink a Bud Light or Coors Light again if I had the choice.

2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first? Detail as many of them as you wish:

The first time I had Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in 2007. It became my staple beer for several months. Every time I opened one, it was a new, refreshing experience for me.
Another beer epiphany was the first time I had an Orval Trappist Ale in 2008. I was at the Flying Saucer in Cordova, TN. I was blown away by its bitterness and full body. I feel sorry for my fellow Mississippians that may never try this beer simply because it’s not available for sale in Mississippi due to our prohibition-era laws.

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been writing your beer blog?

Since September 2007.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Matt Wann inspired me. We both thought it would be pretty cool to pontificate about the virtues of beer and bourbon appreciation.

3. Why did you choose the name of your blog?

I live in Brandon and both of my favorite drinks are beer and bourbon.

4. What are your personal goals for your blog? What do you hope to achieve with it?

I hope to get the word out more about the asinine beer laws in Mississippi and hopefully help to get them changed through word of mouth and activism.

5. What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer blogger?

New friends, free stuff and recognition among the craft beer community.

6. What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?

• THE FULL PINT
• MS BREW
• FLYING DOG NEWS

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Trappist Ale, Barley Wine and IPA

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Orval Brewery, Flying Dog Brewery and Abita Brewing Company

3. If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why?

I would work for Flying Dog. They seem to be very serious about brewing while also having a tongue-in-cheek attitude. I like that.

4. Are you a homebrewer? If yes, what are the most unique and interesting beer recipes you’ve brewed as a homebrewer?

I dabbled in homebrewing some in college but haven’t done any lately. I plan to pick it back up though.

5. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they?

None

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

A very bitter IPA and strong cheeses.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

For the past seven years, I’ve worked as Sr. Network Administrator at a large law firm with offices spanning from Colorado to Michigan to the southeastern US.

2. If you could change your career at this very moment, without any restrictions on what you could do, what would you want to do and why?

Medical school; I would probably go into radiology.

3. Are you married? Children?

Divorced; no kids.

4. Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies?

Watching movies and attempting to play guitar.

Off The Beaten Path

1. If you were a style of beer, what style would be and why?

I would be a Barley Wine because I’m distinctively sweet and well-liked by many.

2. You were caught smuggling beer illegally, which has now been made punishable by death. Right before you are sent to the executioner, you are offered one last beer. What beer would you chose and why?

I would choose a Sam Adams Utopia because I would be guaranteed to go out with a good buzz.

3. If I contracted you to brew a beer (or design a beer recipe) called “The Beer Wench” — what style would you choose and what, if any, extra ingredients would you add?

I would make a high gravity, very hoppy triple.

4. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

My superpower would be the power to travel through time.

5. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?

In high school, I was in a short-lived garage band. During spring break of my junior year, a few guys were going to come over to my house, and we were going to rehearse some new songs. My dad’s pickup truck was parked in the garage. Being lazy, I just knocked it out of gear and pulled on the tailgate to get it to roll out of the garage.

Instead of just jumping in and hitting the brake, I thought I could just lean into it and stop it. Yeah right. The truck knocked me into the mud and rolled over my shoulders and back. Fortunately, I didn’t have any internal injuries with the exception of my shoulder popping out of joint and a torn rotator cuff. The worst part I guess was the embarrassment of telling people that “I had run over myself.” What can I say; it was a dumb teenage moment.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It’s the perfect food. It goes with anything. I can never have enough bacon!

SPECIAL THANKS TO BRAD FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!!!

CHEERS!!!