Featured Beer Blogger: BILLY BROAS

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: BILLY BROAS

AUTHOR OF: BILLY BREW

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Billy Broas
Twitter handle: @BillyBroas
Name of blog: BillyBrew.com
Current location: Denver, CO

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I spent my first 10 years in Northern NJ. After that I moved to Williamsburg, VA, the town where someone can walk into the 7-11 in 18th Century attire and you don’t even blink. The colonial stuff got old after a few dozen school field trips, but it really is a beautiful town and a great place to grow up.

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

I dabbled in cross country and wrestling, but my main sport was baseball. I played it all throughout high school but didn’t quite have the skills to go beyond that. Our college softball team was pretty nasty though.

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

I must have been 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?

My Dad kept Natty Ice (that’s right, ICE) in the fridge and would hook me up on occasion. If you want to call that being hooked up…

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 James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia for undergrad and grad school. It’s known for its work hard, party hard philosophy, and I like to think I was a good example of that. Intramural sports were big so I did softball, football, soccer, and volleyball. I was also a big nerd and was the president of my honor society. For academics I studied biotechnology and renewable energy.

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:

That one is vivid. It was my Junior year in college when my neighbor came over bragging about his “10 dollar six packs”. At first I thought it was stupid to pay that much for beer, but being open minded I went to the store and got put down my own 10-spot. After 1 Hobgoblin, I was hooked.

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

Sour beers were a real epiphany for me. My first lambic totally blew me away. I have less of what you would call epiphanies nowadays, being immersed in the beer world 24/7. I wish I could go back in time to those moments of discovery.

Beer Blog Background

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

I started in January 2010, so 7 months.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

It’s fun! Plus I wanted to provide a place where people could get into beer and geek out about it if they wish. One key thing for me is to keep the blog laid back and not snobby. There’s too much beer snobbery out there. I like to think I’m scratching an itch for people. They want to know about beer, and I provide that.

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

I was originally thinking BillyBeer but someone told me that it had history with Jimmy Carter’s brother or something. I don’t know, I’m too young to get it, but BillyBrew was close enough.

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

I want to convert as many people as possible to craft beer. My blog has a simple philosophy – it’s about the reader, not me. Their questions, their problems, their entertainment. If I’m keeping them engaged and teaching them about craft beer, then I’m doing my job. I also want to teach people about homebrewing. While I’m no expert, I think my experience and method of teaching via video can really help people improve their beer.

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

No private jet rides or fur coats yet, but the recent beer bloggers meeting we had at Oskar Blues was phenomenal. The gang there really treated us well.

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

There’s no way I could narrow it down to 3 beer blogs. If I frequently comment on your blog, you’re one of my favorites. For 3 non-blogs I’ll say Beer Advocate, CraftBeer.com, and Homebrewtalk.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Old ale, Double IPA, and Berliner Weiss.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Dogfish Head, Bell’s, and Great Divide.

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

Dogfish Head, but I’d have to telecommute. Sorry Sam but Delaware is not my thing.

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

Yes! My 400 IBU Double IPA was pretty nuts.

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

No, but BJCP some day.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

A raspberry lambic with brie and crackers smothered in raspberry preserves.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I work for a consulting company that focuses on renewable energy development. We help large organizations get started in wind, solar, and biomass technologies. It’s meaningful work and it’s fun being in a small company where I can wear a lot of hats.

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?

With the future looking bright for renewable energy, I’m happy where I’m at.

3. Are you married? Children?

Nope. I live with my girlfriend and if she gets her way we’ll have a dog soon. So, we’re getting a dog.

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

Snowboarding, trail running, traveling, reading, cooking, and anything outside.

Off The Beaten Path

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

A barleywine. I don’t know why, I’m just hoping I get better with age.

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?

Any of my homebrews. They have the most emotional attachment for what would be a very emotional moment. What a sad question!

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?

It’d be some soft of coffee beer. Your energy is like caffeine.

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

Cliche’, but flying. I just want to know if you finally achieve it, do you stop dreaming about it?

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

I think making it through college alive and in 4 years was quite the accomplishment.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Canadian bacon is seriously underrated. Can’t it get some love?

SPECIAL THANKS TO BILLY FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!