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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: HANNAH TAYLOR
AUTHOR OF: KEG WORKS BLOG
Beer Blogger Interview
Full name: Hannah Taylor
Twitter handle: htcdesign
Name of blog: KegWorks Blog
Current location: Buffalo, NY
Links:
Background “Snapshot”
1. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a suburb of Buffalo, NY
2. What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond?
I did tae kwon do for a few years in junior high, weightlifting, was a varsity diver until my back gave up on me and had a brief stint in crew.
3. How old were you when you had your first beer?
I would say I was about 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?
Ha. My fist beer was a can of Golden Anniversary. I still have a bad taste in my mouth when I think about it. It was had while on a friend’s couch.
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 Canisius College in Buffalo and graduated with my BS in Digital Media Arts. I worked 70 or so hours a week at a local coffee shop to pay for my shit-hole apartment and my Mustang while going to school fulltime, so I didn’t do much else, beside drink at Rendezvous… damn I miss that place.
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:
My first craft beer epiphany was in Portland, ME (lived there about 2 years) at a bar called Rosie’s (I think!) in 2004. I had a Magic Hat #9 – my very first craft beer EVER. All I could think was “I didn’t know beer could taste this good.” Essentially, I was hooked.
2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first? Detail as many of them as you wish:
My second craft beer epiphany was later that month, when I tried Allagash White. I realized, at that moment, that I was NOT a fan of super light, wheat beers. I soon started delving into the world of stouts, porters and hefeweizens.
Beer Blog Background
1. How long have you been writing your beer blog?
I’ve been working on the KegWorks blog for almost as long as I’ve worked for them, which has been just over 3 years.
2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?
I was inspired by the idea that a blog – even for a business – should not be just product-focused. Talking beer seemed like the logical thing on the KegWorks blog, especially since I’d been gaining such an appreciation for it. I work with some really knowledgeable folk too, who turn me on to new great brews all the time.
3. What are you personal goals for your blog? What do you hope to achieve with it?
I hope to turn people on to new, rad brews that they never heard of or thought of trying.
4. What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer blogger?
I’ve “met” some rad beer folk online through the blog and twitter – like Madhouse Larry, The Beer Wench (you!) and even got to have my first beer swap, with Larry/USA Beer Trends
5. What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?
Beer Talk
1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?
Stouts, Doppelbocks, Scotch Ales
2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?
Dogfish Head, Nogne O, Southern Tier
3. If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why?
Dogfish Head – I think my personality and love for their brews fit well, like a string bikini.
4. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they?
No, but hope to someday!
5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
I love a hoppy IPA with a stinky bleu cheese and apples.
The Personal Side
1. What is your current day job?
Designer for KegWorks.com
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?
At the risk of sounding cheesy, I LOVE my job and can’t imagine working anywhere else. BUT, if I could make a living off of traveling the world, one beer at a time, I would.
3. Are you married? Children?
Married? Nope. Children? Never.
4. Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies?
I knit, read, shoot photos, lift weights, swim as OFTEN as possible (weather is usually the issue) and am wicked fast on rollerblades. Oh, and I don’t know if I can stop getting tattoos. It’s already been 14 years of getting inked (I started when I was 15).
Off The Beaten Path
1. If you were a style of beer, what style would be and why?
I’d be an American Brown Ale. I’m sweet and nutty, like an English Brown, but a bit hoppy (an old nickname of mine was Tigger) so that’s why I’d choose the American version (think DFH Indian Brown Ale)
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’d choose a Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. It’s a great sipper beer, so I’d have quite a bit of time enjoying it, and I LOVE bourbon – it’s a perfect mix of two of my favorite things to drink.
3. If I contracted you to brew a beer (or design a beer recipe) called “The Beer Wench” — what style would you chose and what, if any, extra ingredients would you add?
I’d choose a light, crisp Blonde Ale with extra hops for a kick, while keeping it smooth and incredibly drinkable.
4. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
I’d want the power to know EXACTLY what food and/or drink would perfectly satisfy any person I came across at any given moment, and then be able to deliver it, instantaneously. That would be RAD.
5. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?
I physically fought my mugger for my bag… punching, kicking… got dragged down my driveway and scared the shit out of him… I did lose the bag but honestly, it was worth it. And I have a scar on my hip to prove it. Maybe he’ll think first before attacking a little girl again. Ha.
6. What are your thoughts on bacon?
LOVE bacon. On anything.
SPECIAL THANKS TO HANNAH FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!
CHEERS!
March 29, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Hannah is my favorite…. Fantastic interview.. Complete and utter awesomeness.
March 30, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Thank you, Marideth! I can’t wait for our IPA tasting in May. Cheers! :*
April 13, 2010 at 7:54 am
Great blog Hannah. Hope you don’t mind if I follow it’s progress. Do you have a company email address I can use to shoot my contact information to?