Featured Beer Blogger: SETH ODELL

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: SETH ODELL

AUTHOR OF: BEER WITH FRIENDS

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Seth Odell

Twitter handle: @SethOdell

Name of blog: Beer with Friends

Current location: Los Angeles, CA

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Albany, NY.
2. What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond? My first job was as a bat boy for a minor league baseball team, does that count?
3. How old were you when you had your first beer? 13
4. If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer? Where did you have it? What style and brand was it? A single Budweiser, bottle, consumed in my friend Matt’s basement during an epic 8th grade sleepover.
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 majored in Public Communications at the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. Besides school, I spent most of my time playing in a local hardcore band and going to concerts. I also worked overnights at a Dunkin Donuts. That job was delicious.

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: It wasn’t my first epiphany, but what really got me hooked was living with my older brother for a few months back in 2007. Getting into craft beer is a lot like getting into punk music. You need a good friend with good taste to show you the ropes, make you a mix and dish on the latest and greatest stuff coming out. For me, my brother was able to do all of that. Over the course of a few months he gave me the 411 on styles, brought home tons of different samples, and ultimately helped spark a passion and appreciation for craft beer.
2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first? Detail as many of them as you wish: I can’t think of any others specifically, but I will say, I believe part of the reason I have such an appreciation for craft beer is that I grew up with a father who always seemed to have something from Saranac, Brooklyn or Sierra Nevada in the fridge.

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been writing your beer blog? In the world of beer blogging I’m a definite noob. I’ve only been writing the blog officially for about a month.
2. What inspired you to start writing your blog? I’ve been unofficially blogging about the beers I drink for over a year now on Facebook. After getting such good feedback from friends I decided to take the blog public and see if anyone else wanted to join the discussion.
3. Why did you chose the name of your blog? The focus of my blog is simply to share the various beers I drink with friends, both new and old, and to get reaction from other folks who may have tried them.
4. What are you personal goals for your blog? What do you hope to achieve with it? There are already a ton of great blogs out there that either cover the craft beer industry or provide extensive brew reviews. Wiith Beer with Friends I am definitely not trying to do either of those things. I’m simply documenting my life as a craft beer drinker and sharing the beers I drink with the world. If it sparks a little discussion amongst fellow beer fans and encourages someone to try something new, well, all the better!
5. What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer blogger? Well, considering the rather short time I’ve been at this, I’d have to say being asked to do this interview takes the cake!
6. What are your top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?

In no particular order…

• BeerAdvocate.com
• Beernews.org
• Twitter.com – Now I know Twitter isn’t a beer website, but it absolutely deserves a shout out anyway. I use the microblogging site to not only keep up on a variety of beer blogs, but also get the latest information from area bars and restaurants on exactly what beers they’re tapping. One tweet about someone tapping a Pliny can completely alter my plans for an evening.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles? American IPA, Pale Ale & anything sour
2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries? Stone, Dogfish Head and Oskar Blues. Big Russian River and Ballast Point fan as well.
3. If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why? Stone. Besides being a hop head, I absolutely love their passion for the environment and community.
4. Are you a homebrewer? If yes, what is the most unique and interesting beer recipes you’ve brewed as a homebrewer? Haven’t tried my hand at homebrewing yet. Hoping to give it a go in the next few months when my brother moves back to LA.
5. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they? I’ve been told I’m certifiably awesome, but I don’t know how that correlates to beer.
6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing? Sculpin and just about anything.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job? I work in media relations at UCLA.
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? I actually don’t think I’d change a thing. I love working in digital media marketing and media relations.
3. Are you married? Children? Happily married for just shy of two years.
4. Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies? I love music, hiking and my dog.

Off The Beaten Path

1. If you were a style of beer, what style would be an why? I’d probably be an American IPA. Like the style, I’m bold, hoppy and American!
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? Sculpin from Ballast Point. In my opinion there is nothing better.
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’m thinking a spicy saison…in a can!
4. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be? Not sure anything beats flying.
5. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story? I once ate 9 hot dogs in 90 seconds. True story.
6. What are your thoughts on bacon? While I acknowledge its deliciousness, it’s not for me.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SETH FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!