Featured Beer Blogger: GERARD WALEN

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: GERARD WALEN

AUTHOR OF: ROAD TRIPS FOR BEER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Gerard Walen
Twitter handle: @roadtrips4beer
Name of blog: Road Trips for Beer
Current location: Clermont, Florida, a suburb of Orlando that is one of the few places with rolling hills in an otherwise flat state. Unfortunately, there are no stores or pubs with extensive craft-brew selections.

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

“The Cigar City” – Tampa, Florida.

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

I played sandlot-style football and baseball with the other kids in the neighborhood. As far as organized sports, none unless you count the inaugural “Soccer Club” at my high school. This was before soccer mania (for kids) swept the country. The club comprised a few “freaks” (my group) and the exchange students. This meant the exchange students did the actual playing while the freaks hung out in the backfield or near the sidelines, occasionally kicking the ball when it came near us.

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

If you count sips of my dad’s Old Milwaukee or Schlitz, then probably 7 or 8. The first beer I recall drinking all by myself, I was 15.

4. If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer?

I remember riding with some of my older brothers and their friends to a campaign fish fry during Jimmy Carter’s first run for president. Someone handed me a beer, probably Busch Bavarian or Budweiser. I drank it. Unlike many Americans, I have fond memories of the Carter administration.

5. Where, if applicable, did you go to college?

I did not take the traditional path, but after many years of taking a class or two at a time at the local community college, I went to the University of South Florida in Tampa to complete my bachelor’s degree in journalism. I joined the typical journalism groups and wrote and edited for the school paper. No sports, but I did attend during the USF Bulls inaugural football season and went to the first and subsequent games. My wife and I now have season tickets.

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?

Several of my co-workers at the newspaper where I worked were craft-beer geeks. I resisted for a while, but then one suggested that I try a beer on tap at a pub I frequented. It was Young’s Ram Rod Strong Ale. I discovered then that beer could be not only a part of a good experience, but drinking a good beer could be an experience in itself.

2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first?

Constantly. The first time I toured a microbrewery, Boulder Brewing Co., is one I remember in particular. Not only could I see how the beer was crafted, but I was able to taste the product immediately after. Hazed and Infused is still one of my standby favorites.

Beer Blog Background

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

Road Trips for Beer still reeks with that new blog smell. I started writing it in February 2010 and introduced it to the world in March.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I was basically recruited by Sheri Wallace, who is the mind behind other “Road Trips” sites, such as

• www.roadtripsforfamilies.com
• www.roadtripsforfoodies.com
• www.roadtripsforgardeners.com

Road Trips for Beer is part of the latest wave of those sites. Also, I recently left the print media industry and was looking for an online opportunity. I love beer and I love traveling, so it seemed a perfect fit. And I was inspired by my wife, who is a travel writer and has built a successful family travel site at www.themeparkmom.com.

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

See above.

4. What are you personal goals for your blog?

To become the go-to website for those who travel to beer-friendly destinations. Although trips to craft-beer destinations will be a big part of it, don’t hate me when I write about mass-produced brews. Touring the now-defunct Budweiser brewery in Tampa’s Busch Gardens still brings back fun memories.

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

Besides this interview, discovering that the beer community comprises a bunch of really cool, helpful and friendly people. I look forward to meeting a lot of you on future road trips.

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

A shoutout to a friend and former colleague and one of those who introduced me to craft beer: @AlanCShaw, who runs the Beer Geek for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. In an unabashed sucking-up maneuver, I just love DRINK WITH THE WENCH. And I’ll keep No. 3 a secret – any beer bloggers reading this can assume it’s YOU!

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA, Stout/porter and Belgian-style ale.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Currently, Cigar City, Boulder Brewing Co. and Great Divide.

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

Though I have not yet visited it – and I need to fix that – probably Cigar City in Tampa because it’s in my home town and although relatively new, it’s creating quite a stir in the industry with its great brews.

4. Are you a homebrewer?

No, though I’ve had some luck in the past with the Mr. Brew kit. I’d like to try it on a larger scale someday. Maybe find a mentor?

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

Wait! I can get certified in beer? Hot damn!

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I enjoy eating food and drinking beer with it. Sorry, I can’t give a straight answer because that would imply that I have some degree of good taste and social refinement, and I strive for honesty.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Freelance writer and editor.

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?

This may sound odd, but I think I would be a landscape architect. It sounds like a job where I could split time between the office and outdoors, without being trapped in either, and I think I would enjoy the work.

3. Are you married?

Yes, to the aforementioned Theme Park Mom, and I have a wonderful 6-year-old daughter.

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

I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and gardening. I’m a big NFL/college football fan. And of course traveling.

Off The Beaten Path

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

This is the hardest one to answer, but I’d say probably a Trappist ale because I go well with cheese.

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?

Something extremely high-gravity. Then I would offer it to the guard, who would drink it and get groggy enough that I could overpower him (or her) and make my escape.

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?

When I think “wench,” I naturally think “pirates,” which leads me to “barrels of grog.” So The Beer Wench would be a cask-conditioned ale, aged in an oak rum barrel.

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

I’ve always wanted stretchy powers like Plastic Man or Mr. Fantastic. That way I could stretch my arm out to the fridge to get a beer without having to get up from the easy chair.

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

Although it wasn’t something I did – other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time – I had a gun drawn on me one time by a bounty hunter who was in the midst of capturing an acquaintance who, unbeknownst to me, was a fugitive from justice in another state. Needless to say, I cooperated by freezing and nearly peeing my pants.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Pork product of the gods.

SPECIAL THANKS TO GERARD FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!