Featured Beer Blogger: DAN LUX

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: DAN LUX

AUTHOR OF: THE BREW DORK TIMES

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Dan Lux
Internet nickname: D.Lux AKA ‘the Brew Dork’
Facebook: Facebook.com/BrewDorkTimes
Twitter handle: @BrewDorkTimes
Name of blog: The Brew Dork Times
Current location: Tempe, AZ

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up just outside of Bangor, Maine in a town too small to have it’s own post office (it was an exciting day when they installed our towns first traffic light!)

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

I played ‘em all (just none of them very well). I did, however, become quite the competitor at beer pong during my years at college.

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

I was far too young to remember my first stolen sips, but I drank my first ‘full beer’ at the age of 18.

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

I can remember the fateful day as though it were only yesterday **sigh**. The setting was Wooster, Ohio. It was a cool late August evening, day two of freshmen orientation to be exact. I was bursting at the seams with the excitement of finally being away at college… Through the grapevine I learned that the Zeta House was hosting a “Welcome Party” that night for the years incoming coeds. My first real college party, I thought, how exciting!

When I arrived I found a basement jam-packed with partygoers dancing, talking, and drinking. After nearly twenty minutes of pushing, squeezing, and squirming my way across the sweaty crowd I finally reached a makeshift bar that was located at the far end of the room. With nervous anticipation I squeaked out a request for beer and without hesitation, THEY GAVE ME ONE! I was ecstatic and quickly raised the red-plastic cup to my lips… It was the best tasting Old Milwaukee’s Best ever consumed by mankind.

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 attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH. I majored of International Relations (with a concentration in Political Science), and a Minor of Spanish. Outside of classroom I participated in a variety of intramural sports, had a radio station for a few years (DJ D-Lux!), and for a couple of years acted as a role model to incoming freshmen as a Resident Assistant in the Freshmen dorm [think: scolding them for drinking Natty-lite, and instead encouraging them to drink locally, something perhaps, from Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland].

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 came about when I ordered a pitcher of Great Lakes’ Christmas Ale in late December of 2002. I ordered the Christmas Ale primarily because it’s alcohol percentage was roughly twice that of Budweiser’s. When I tasted, however, something strange happened. I remember vividly how it wonderfully confused and disoriented my palate. It didn’t taste anything like what I thought beer was ‘supposed’ to taste like. It had aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon, hints of honey and spice!?! I was blown away. It was so different, so unique, and so God damn delicious that it changed the way I looked at beer forever… I’ll never forget that pitcher.

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

[See ‘What inspired you to start your blog’? below].

Beer Blog Background

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

Almost eleven months now

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I posted my first B.D.T. entry two weeks after returning from a trip around Europe that was jam-packed with beer epiphanies. From Paris, to Prague, Amsterdam to Austria, everywhere I went I saw people enjoying good, local beers that were popular not because they were in fashion, but because they were part of the culture of the place. I spent a lazy afternoon at a sidewalk patio in Brussels, drinking the day away one great Trappist beer after another, and less than a week later spent an entire day chanting German drinking songs while standing on tables in a Bavarian beer-hall in Munich (one arm around a new best friend, and the other struggling to support the weight of a tankard of Oktoberfests’ best).

I over consumed, I took tons of photos, and I had the time of my life. When I returned and the dust had settled I decided I was tired of keeping my passions about beer, writing, photography, travel, all bottled up, and that I would start a blog to share it with the world!

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

I first though up the play on words with the New York Times years ago. I wrote it down, chuckled quietly, and then more or less forgot about it for a few years. Last October, when I decided to start blogging about beer I remembered my old newspaper spoof and decided that it would be a perfect fit. It’s unique, it’s beer-relevant, and most importantly, it owns up to the fact that I’m a bit of a dork.

4. What are you personal goals for your blog?

I want to share my passion for beer, writing, and photography with others who are similarly afflicted. I want to collaborate with other beer-bloggers, beer-brewers, beer-distributers, and all around beer-lovers. I want to reach a thousand twitter followers and twice as many facebook ‘like’s! That said, my original goals much less grand. They were to drink more craft beer, write more, and take photographs more, and learn about web building and social media. In those regards, my site is already a huge success!

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

Connecting with like-minded individuals that I never would have otherwise met has by far been the coolest thing that has come from beer-blogging.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

I like all styles but my current favorites are American IPA, Imperial Stout, and Amber Ale

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Green Flash, Dogfish Head, and Deschutes, in that order.

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

Hands down Green Flash. They are my favorite brewery for a number of reasons: They’re small, they’re unpretentious, they have a great location, and maybe most importantly (in my book anyway), when I visited their brewery, every single employee I met was genuinely warm and friendly. Oh yeah, and they make pretty good beer too!

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

Yes, although I’m very new to it! At this point I’m just trying to get basic recipes down

5. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)??

Nope, my practice is fully un-licensed.

6.What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Beer and cheese. Kind of vague, I know, but sometimes simplicity is best.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a Travel Agent for STA Travel.

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?

See question 3 from the ‘Beer Talk’ section above.

3. Are you married? Children?

Two big ol’ no’s.

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

Photography is a huge passion of mine, as is Travel (does that count as a hobby??).

Off The Beaten Path

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

I’d probably be a Pale Ale. Why? I’m light hearted and easy-going. I have depth, but I’m not complicated. I pair well with just about everything/one, I’m very approachable, and I’m at my best outdoors with friends.

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?

Probably Lost Abbey’s Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout. It’s sooo rich, sooo creamy, and sooo robust! After a few generous quaffs of SLH pretty much anything is bearable.

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?

No idea! I’ll do some research (i.e. read your archives) and get back to you.

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

I’d have two stomachs and three livers. But seriously, I have no idea!

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

I’ve had more than a few mishaps while traveling. Thankfully a smile and a little dumb luck has, for the most part, keep the reaper a safe distance from me.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I’m for it.

SPECIAL THANKS TO DAN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!