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Featured Beer Blogger: JACOB MCKEAN

The Beer Wench — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:06:38 +0000

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!

INTRODCUING: JACOB MCKEAN

AUTHOR OF: THE STONE BLOG + THE BEERCHOOSER BLOG

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Jacob McKean
Internet nickname: J-Delicious
Twitter handle: @stonebrewingco, @beerchooser
Name of blog: The Stone Blog, The BeerChooser Blog
Current location: San Diego, CA

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Los Angeles

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

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

I split a 12-pack of fizzy yellow beer with the valet parking attendant at my classmate’s bat mitzvah.

4. Where, if applicable, did you go to college? What did you study? What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?

Columbia University. I studied history and anthropology. I was an anti-globalization activist, rakish troublemaker, and young bon vivant. New York is a great town in which to ply those trades.

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:

Although I drank plenty of Brooklyn lager in college, my epiphany came shortly after I graduated. In the process of courting the lovely girl I now live with, I made regular visits to Chicago. She lived in Andersonville, near The Hopleaf, a Belgian-focused beer bar of legendary repute. A tulip glass of Tripel Karmeliat blew the doors off my life. I fell in love with the beer and the girl at The Hopleaf.

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

That fortuitous glass of Tripel Karmeliat turned me on to Belgian beer, but it was an AleSmith IPA that turned me on to American craft beer. Another AleSmith beer showed me just how epic beer can be: Kopi Luwak Speedway Stout, a beer made with weasel shit that tastes like rainbows. That removed any doubt that beer is, in fact, the most dynamic and delicious beverage on Earth.

Beer Blog Background

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

At Stone, 8 months. At beerchooser.com, intermittently for a couple of years, I think.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Well, writing for Stone is my job, so fear of starvation is the prime motivation there. BeerChooser.com is a personal project designed to help people explore craft beer, especially those bewildered by the array of options and worried about wasting money on six packs they won’t like, so that’s a labor of love.

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

You’ll have to ask the creative genius who came up with “The Stone Blog.” As for “The BeerChooser Blog”, well, that’s my groundbreaking originality.

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

People love Stone. They really, really love it. So I want to give them a look behind the curtain. As a beer geek, that’s what I want to see. For BeerChooser, it’s mostly site updates, press coverage, etc…I hope BeerChooser helps people explore craft beer with more confidence, as if they have a knowledgeable friend who consistently recommends beers they love. Except that the friend is a computer/phone instead of a human being.

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

I get a paycheck from a legendary craft brewery for which I have oodles and oodles of respect. That is the coolest. Plus, I get to go to some events for my job that I would gladly pay to attend. OK, so the whole thing in general is pretty cool. But don’t think I don’t work my ass off; I do. In fact, I have very little ass remaining at this point.

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

BeerAdvocate, RateBeer, BeerNews. That’s where the tribe congregates.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA, Russian Imperial Stout, American Wild Ale. Groundbreaking, I know.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Stone, Russian River, AleSmith. Cigar City should be in there as well; they’re pushing American Strong Ales—the style pioneered by Arrogant Bastard Ale—in new and devastatingly delicious directions.

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

I wish I were chopping wood at Brasserie Caracole in Belgium for their wood-fired kettles. That sounds far better than taking pictures at obscenely decadent beer and food events.

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

Yes, I am. I recently brewed an American Pale Ale that creates wormholes in the space/time continuum every time you crack one open.

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

I have a purple belt in Taekwondo. It helps me hold my own on judging panels.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Dark Lord paired with fillet of unicorn.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Social Media Coordinator at Stone Brewing Co. I attend to my adoring fans on Facebook. In the 8 months I’ve worked at Stone, we’ve gone from 18,000 to 52,000 “Likes” on our Facebook page. My personal goal is to surpass a certain (insipid, deceptive, bullshit) lunar-themed brand with around 58,000 fans. If I do that, Greg has promised me a Fabergé egg filled with leprechaun tears from his personal collection. I’ve also been doing a lot of work on the European brewery project.

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 would be an Afghan opium lord. I wrote a short story about the subject in 5th grade, and it’s been a dream ever since.

3. Are you married? Children?

Nope. Yup. Kidding.

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

I rip phone books in half for stress relief.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I would be a maple-wood smoked rye imperial brown ale fermented & lagered with a mix of Belgian, German, and American yeasts and aged in a toasted American oak barrel.

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?

Russian River Temptation. I forget the batch, but my first bottle of that beer had more white wine character than the subsequent bottles I’ve had. The smell and taste of that first bottle were so good they nearly melted my face off.

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?

Sorry, but I don’t believe in contract brewing. I think it undermines the authenticity of craft beer and misleads consumers about beers’ origins. If your name is on a beer, you should be making it yourself, on your own equipment.

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

The ability to conjure up a plate of vegan tamales and a live mariachi band at a moment’s notice.

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

I went to a baile funky (literally, “funk dance”) in a Rio slum. There were a thousand people dancing inside a crater in the middle of the favela. Teenage drug dealers were walking around, hitting on girls and firing their machine guns in the air. They had crews of younger kids with handguns stuffed into their swim trunks who were drinking cocktails, smoking joints, and sniffing glue. There was an enormous wall of speakers blasting music so loud it made your brain vibrate. The dancing was frenetic, endless, and—to put it mildly—suggestive. Compared to that spectacle, the parties you see in hip hop videos look like ice cream socials hosted by the Yale a cappella club.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I’m a vegan. I could fuel my Hummer with a pureé of rainforest trees and endangered coral reefs, and it wouldn’t equal the environmental impact of eating animal products.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JACOB FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

ODONATA Announces SAISON Release

Wenchie — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:14:10 +0000

If you are not a proper stalker (gasp! how dare you…), then you probably don’t know that the Saison is one of my top three ALL TIME favorite styles of beer. This is partly because I have a fetish with Belgian yeast and partly because I am obsessed with attenuation (Saison yeast, especially Dupont yeast, is highly attenuative and produces a nice dry beer … just the way The Wench likes it).

For some time now, I have been following the updates of Peter Hoey and Rick Sellers of Odonata Beer Company regarding the production of their Saison. It has been a very torturous past couple of weeks, but I am extremely happy to announce that today is the OFFICIAL release of the Odonata Saison!

Unfortunately, I will not be able to trek up to Sacramento to taste some of this delicious nectar. However, I have been assured that it should be hitting the Bay Area in the next week or so.

Ever since I learned of its creation, Odonata has been on my radar as one of the top breweries to watch in 2010 (ooooh that gives me a great idea for another post!). This February, my assumptions about Odonata were proved to be correct after I had the opportunity to taste two of its sours, Beersell and Rosa, during San Francisco Beer Week. Both completely floored me. Peter and Rick are extremely talented, and I can only imagine how far they will go from here!

Without any further ado, I present ODONATA SAISON:

ODONATA (OH-DOE-NAH-TA) is ecstatic to announce the arrival of its flagship beer, Saison! Brewed with malted barley, wheat & rolled oats, Saison is a rustic interpretation of the traditionally Belgium-brewed beer. Spiced with Styrian & East Kent Golding hops Saison has an aromatic, floral & peppery aroma and a modest hop bite. Our Belgian yeast strain also lends the slightly wild scents of passion fruit and spice. Saison is designed for refreshment & complexity; perfect on its own, or paired with ripened cheeses or classic Belgian-style seafood dishes. Saison bottles are bottle-conditioned, so serve chilled.

ODONATA Saison will be available on draft at select Northern California retailers beginning Friday, April 30, 2010 and will begin distributing bottled Saison in mid-May throughout Northern California. For more information on events, follow @OdonataBeer on Twitter, or check out the Odonoata Beer Company blog.

One of my all-time favorite beer recipes is beer mussels. And there are three different styles of beer that I think are a SLAM DUNK for steamed mussels –> The Gueze, The Saison and The Wit. One of my favorite people in the entire word, the world-renowned Homebrew Chef Sean Paxton, developed an amazing mussel recipe for the Odonata Saison: OdonataSaison

Now, if I can only get Paxton to make it for me … that would be the ULTIMATE experience.

Congratulations to Peter and Rick for the first bottle release from Odonata Beer Co.!

I look forward to tasting the Odonata Saison. And as with any NorCal beers, if any of you readers are interested in a trade — I would be more than happy to ship out some Odonata Saison!

Cheers!

ODONATA Beer Company is based in Sacramento, Ca. Brewmaster Peter Hoey is an experienced, award-winning brewer as well as an instructor at UC Davis’ prestigious brewing school and The American Brewers Guild. Sales Director Rick Sellers is an experienced beer journalist and former Beer Director for DRAFT Magazine, the world’s largest beer publication. Together Peter & Rick started ODONATA in 2009, with their first beer release (Rorie’s Ale) scoring a 100 on RateBeer and was named one of the best beers in the world.

New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat Spins into 13 Cities this Season

DHonig — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:18:28 +0000

Those of you that follow me on Twitter or know me in real life, know that I have a thing for “Beering & Biking” … a habit that has covered my body in bruises, “battle wounds,” and scars. Every other week or so, I take major spill. Most of the time, my injuries are weather related. I have no tread on my tires (road bike) and I have hydroplaned a few times.

Anyways, before you start lecturing me about how I can get a DUI on a bike, let us just get to the point. New Belgium is one of my favorite breweries in the world, not just because they make great beer, but because they are dedicated to the environment. And they love beer and bikes, just like me.

Needless to say, I am really excited about New Belgium’s announcement about its “Tour de Fat” … and I cannot wait to partake in AT LEAST one its events. Heck, if I could I would attend them all. So without further ado, here is the official announcement:

New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat Spins into 13 Cities this Season

Come ride, dance and experience the ultimate freedom: trading your car for a bike!

Ft. Collins, CO, April 15, 2010 – Clip a card in your spokes and fluff the rainbow wig …Tour de Fat is back for its 11th season! New Belgium Brewing’s traveling celebration of all things bicycle rolls through 13 cities this year, raising money and sharing bike love. At each Tour de Fat stop, one person will help honor mankind’s greatest invention, the bicycle, by handing over their car keys and committing to a year of car-free living.

For the fourth year in a row, Tour de Fat is looking for volunteers to accept the swapper challenge. One volunteer in each city will give up their car and receive a hand-built Black Sheep (http://www.blacksheepbikes.com/) commuter bike. The volunteer is chosen after submitting a video or essay describing their desire to live sans-car for a year. To submit an application, log on to http://www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat.

“The car-for-bike swap is the pinnacle of the day, illustrating one person’s true belief in all that a bicycle can offer,” said Bryan Simpson, spokesman for New Belgium. “Bikes represent freedom, fun, fitness and folly while helping the environment. It’s a way of life that we live and share at New Belgium.”

Tour de Fat kicks off in Chicago on June 26 and wraps up in Austin on October 30, with first-year debuts in two cities, Milwaukee and Los Angeles. The tour originated in Ft. Collins, Colorado to increase awareness and participation in cycling as a sustainable form of transportation. Since then, it has become a rite of passage celebrated by bike enthusiasts of all skill levels across the land.

Why Tour de Fat is a Must-Attend Event:

Tour de Fat encourages everyone to embrace their inner-cyclist and ride the streets as a cohesive carnival of creativity. Each show begins with a costumed bike parade that stops traffic and turns heads along the way. (Costumes are highly encouraged!)

Tour de Fat seeks to leave as small an environmental imprint as possible and composts and recycles waste from each tour stop. The waste diversion rate for 2009 was 94 percent.

Tour de Fat is free to participants, but beer and merchandise proceeds go to local cycling non-profits. So far, Tour de Fat events have raised more than $1.25 million for philanthropy.

All musical acts perform on a solar-powered stage with decorations made from recycled materials, trucks and transport use biofuel sourced from recycled waste oils, and all vendors operate off the grid.
This is a pro-bike celebration, not an anti-car rally…non-cyclists are more than welcome to join the festivities.

See http://www.newbelgium.com/tour-de-fat for the Tour de Fat credo, schedules, videos and to submit your entry to swap your gas guzzler for a shiny new bicycle. Also visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Belgium-Tour-de-Fat/10150099069050417?ref=ts.

Tour de Fat 2010 will cycle through each of the following cities:

June 26 – Chicago, Palmer Square Park

July 3 – Milwaukee, Humboldt Park

July 10 – Minneapolis, Loring Park

July 31 – Seattle, Gasworks Park

August 14 – Portland, Waterfront Park

August 21 – Boise, Anne Morrison Park

September 4 – Fort Collins, Mothership

September 11 – Denver, City Park

September 25 – San Francisco, Lindley Meadows in Golden Gate Park

October 2 – San Diego, Balboa Park

October 9 – Tempe, Tempe Town Park

October 23 – Los Angeles, L.A. Historic Park

October 30 – Austin, Fiesta Gardens

About New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces eight year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Ranger IPA, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

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Featured Beer Blogger: DEVERIE ROBSINSON

The Beer Wench — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:51:27 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING:

AUTHOR OF: HURRA BIER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Deverie Robinson
Twitter handle: @hurrabier
Name of blog: hurrabier.com
Current location: Washington, DC

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I’m Alaskan, but Alaskan like Susan Butcher, not Alaskan like Sarah Palin. I grew up on the Kenai Peninsula, in a town called Soldotna (population, 4087) just a few miles away from where my grandparents homesteaded in the late 1940’s. My family later moved to the Pacific Northwest, where I attended high school and college. After college I lived in Seattle, San Francisco, and now Washington, DC.

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

I’m kind of uncoordinated, but I did some stints in soccer, cross-country, and cheerleading in high school. No sports in college which, trust me, is better for everyone involved. I love watching college basketball and college football though, and spent plenty of time as a fan.

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

I remember my Dad and uncle letting me sip the foam off of their Budweiser at family picnics when I was a kid. I’m pretty sure that was illegal then, too. I always loved the taste, though. And I still firmly believe that there is a time and a place for a macrobrew like that (after mowing the lawn, maybe?) but since then I have grown my beer repertoire beyond Bud (and beyond sips of foam, for that matter!).

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

After the sips of Budweiser foam, I think my first real beer was probably at a party in high school (sorry, Mom!). I didn’t hate the taste too much, but it wasn’t great either. I think it was a Red Dog, back when the “red” beer names were all the craze. Ugh, I think I tried a Zima back then too. Makes me shudder!

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 Washington State University, on the eastern side of the state, in Pullman. Pullman is a great college town in the middle of a bunch of wheat fields. It’s an amazing place to be in early fall, and the “school spirit” is palpable. Originally, I enrolled in their Design program, but after too many late nights in the Architecture studios, I switched to English/Humanities. I also joined a sorority, and met wonderful friends. My grades really suffered from all of the fun WSU parties, and if I had it to do over again I would focus more on academics…but I had a great time!

I suspect that our college might just be the biggest contributor to the growth of AB In-Bev, solely through our consumption of Busch Light. It’s watery, fizzy, dirt cheap, and great on cereal. The watery aspect makes it a perfect all-day beer – is it sad that I know this? We went through a lot of Busch Light in those days…

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:

Spending so much time in Washington State was a natural avenue to discovering great beer. I remember making the switch from Busch Light to Bud Light and then coming across a little gem called Widmer Hefeweizen while out celebrating my 21st birthday. Served with a lemon slice (fancy!) and everything. Oh man, that first sip of Widmer was AMAZING. It still holds a special place in my heart.

I guess you could call that Widmer a gateway beer, because after that I was interested in trying any Hefeweizen I could get my hands on. Everybody was promoting that style of beer back then. Then it was Pale Ales…then Stouts…then an amazing barleywine (some would call it an old ale) turned my world upside down (a bottle of Thomas Hardy’s Ale, at a great little beer bar in NY) and the whole exploration of great beers continues to blossom.)

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

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to take a “beerventure” road trip; starting in San Francisco and driving up through the interior of Northern California, Central Oregon, to Bend, Portland, and back down the coast to San Francisco. I think it was something like 19 breweries and/or beer bars in 12 days. This was where I first discovered chili beers, which is still one of my favorite styles (in small doses!). Of all the places visited, Lucky Labrador was and still is my favorite brewery. Great atmosphere, good people, and tasty brews. I was also really lucky to have a seriously knowledgeable beer-guide as my companion on this trip, and I learned a ton.

We visited:
1) Sierra Nevada
2) Deschutes Brewing
3) Bend Brewing Company
4) Old St. Francis School/McMenamin’s Bar
5) Full Sail Brewing Company
6) Bridgeport Brewery
7) Lucky Labrador
New Old Lompoc
9) Widmer (And yes, I had a Hefeweizen)
10) Pelican Pub and Brewery
11) Rogue Ales – Newport
12) Six Rivers Brewery
13) Lost Coast Brewery
14) Eel River Brewing Company
15) North Coast Brewing Company
16) Anderson Valley Brewing Company
17) Bear Republic Brewing
18) Russian River Brewing Co.
19) Lagunitas Brewing Co. (sort of – if you count driving around the parking lot)

Beer Blog Background

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

Not long, when compared with some of the amazing beer blogs that are out there. I started this in September 2009, when I decided to get serious about educating myself on beer. When I started my research, I only knew of a few beer sites, let alone beer sites that were female-focused. I am continually amazed at all of the great beer blogs and beer bloggers out there. And the number of beergeeks on Twitter? Insane! I love this community of beer lovers, and I hope to grow my beer blog along with it.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

At the time that I started Hurra Bier, I decided to completely dive in to the world of beer and soak up all the knowledge I could. I got a part time job at The Brickskeller, run by Dave Alexander and his wife Diane, which is a DC Beer Scene institution. I read everything I could get my hands on about beer, and started buying tons of stuff I’d always been meaning to try, but hadn’t yet. The blog was another way to surround myself with other beer people, and share experiences.

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

There is a late 1930’s German advertisement, referred to as “Hurra Bier!” that I came across, but haven’t been able to find any artist information on. Apparently this is a common problem with old advertisements that end up in the art world, but in any case this image is now owned by Getty Images. There are so many pictures of all kinds of women used in beer advertising, but this one is definitely my favorite. I love the image of the woman holding her beer steins up high and proud. She’s not a scantily clad beer bimbo, she’s not a cranky old prude — she is a youthful and enthusiastic woman who clearly loves her beer. That’s exactly the kind of feeling I want to project with the Hurra Bier website.

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

I just love writing about beer and if someone else likes what I write, then that’s great too. Right now I’m focused on the “Women In Beer” interview series (of which The Beer Wench is an esteemed member, I might add!). The goal with this interview series is to highlight some of the awesome women in the beer world and their contributions to the business and to the community as a whole. Nothing against the fellas of the beer world, though! I am an equal-opportunity beer sharer, and love chatting with both genders about all things beer.

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

I’ve met some amazing people! Recently, I interviewed two of my favorite beer celebrities, Hallie Beaune and Christina Perozzi, amazing beer educators and authors of The Naked Pint. Today I get to interview Kim Jordan, CEO and co-founder of New Belgium Brewing Company — how cool is that? I’ve met interesting beer writers, like Stevie Caldarola from Basically Read and Tammy Tuck, who writes for the Lagerheads in DC Citypaper. The beer world is the ultimate collaborative community. Everywhere I look there are great people who are passionate about beer.

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

Hmm…that is a tough one. I like dcbeer.com for local event information, Beerforchicks.com (check out the Barley’s Angels section!), and yoursforgoodfermentables.com for some well-written beer news and opinions.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

I’m sure everyone who answers this question for you has a tough time deciding, and it’s no different for me! Saison is one of my very favorite styles, and so is Chili beer, though the two couldn’t be more polar opposite. They each require a very different beer drinking mood. And while some folks might like a sweet dessert after dinner, a bit of chocolate or a slice of cheese, I’d trade them all for a delicious barleywine. One of my all time favorite barleywines is the RedHook Treblehook Limited Edition 2009. WOW.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Again with the tough questions! Well, as mentioned before, I love Lucky Labrador out of Portland, Oregon. They have a really special thing going on up there, and even better that they have a dog run where you can let your pooch roam while you sip the suds.
Another favorite is definitely Diamond Knot Brewing out of Mukilteo, Washington. Oh man, their Industrial XPA is enough to inspire beery dreams about 80 IBU’s of mouthblasting deliciousness!

And probably Brooklyn Brewing, because I think they’ve got a well put together brand of great standards and fascinating special release brews. The Brewmaster’s Reserve Cookie Jar Porter? Brooklyn Sorachi Ace? Brooklyn Blast? All insanely good beers. And Garrett Oliver is super handsome, too, so I might be a little bit swayed by that. Can you blame me?

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

The dedication to community involvement that New Belgium Brewing brings to their workplace is inspiring, and I imagine that would be a wonderful place to work. In talking with Kim, she strikes me as a very grounded individual who works well with her colleagues, and everyone wants that from a boss. But moving westward, Russian River Brewing Company makes beautiful beers in one of my favorite areas of the United States, and the reputation that precedes them is well-deserved. Can’t say I’d mind being part of that, either!

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

Yes, but I’m a newbie. I love trying new recipes in cooking and in brewing, and have had relatively few (knock on wood) absolute failures in both. It’s an evolving education, and I love the process.

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

Not yet. Cicerone is my current goal, but my day job is pretty demanding and not at all related to beer, so for right now this is still on the list of things to do.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

The New York Times recently published a recipe for Sautéed Whiting with Lemon Cream Sauce, paired with a Belgian. Here’s the link in case anyone wants to try it.

I served this with Leffe Blonde and it was a beergasmic experience. I’ve made many “good” dishes before, and only a handful of astounding dishes. This one falls in to the astounding category. Trust me – next time you want to cook for a date, this is your recipe. You can thank me later.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m an Attorney Recruiting and Professional Development Administrator for a global law firm. I work with attorneys to support them in their on-going development and to bring new attorneys in to the Firm. I’m surrounded by really intelligent and hard working people, and even in this tough economy they always seem to maintain a can-do attitude — these folks work very hard, but they are passionate about their chosen path. It’s inspiring.

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?

Ah, good question! I’d love to have a career in the beer industry, but haven’t figured out exactly what that looks like yet. Maybe I should call up my old high school guidance counselor… Until then, I just keep talking to others who work in the beer industry, and asking them questions, hoping I’ll figure out a plan that fits me well.

3. Are you married? Children?

No kids, and recently engaged. My fiancée loves a good hoppy IPA, so I think I’ll keep him.

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

I’m a six-time marathoner, though these days my knees have instructed me that half-marathons are the new thing. I love to travel and am in the midst of planning another stellar beer journey, details coming soon! I love live music and supporting independent radio, like kexp.org. And I’m kind of a spreadsheet geek. I ♥ Excel. Cool hobby, right?

Off The Beaten Path

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

Probably a Saison. They’re refreshing. upbeat, blonde and friendly with just a little bit of earthiness thrown in. Answering this question is cracking me up.

Oooooh, how suspenseful! Love the beer drama as it unfolds! I’d kiss my true love goodbye, eat a fatty steak, and savor a Clipper City Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale. Then I could die a happy woman.

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?

The Beer Wench, as crafted by yours truly, is a Belgian Wit. It’s unfiltered, spicy, lively with carbonation, and crisp. Just like Ashley. I’d add extra citrus zest.

4. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Everything is better with bacon!!

SPECIAL THANKS TO DEVERIE FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS TO CHICKS IN BEER!

Featured Beer Blogger: JOEL MAHAFFEY

Wenchie — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:40:14 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: JOEL MAHAFFEY

AUTHOR OF: MAINE BREWS

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Joel Mahaffey
Twitter handle: @mainebrews
Name of blog: Maine Brews
Current location: Orono, Maine

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

All over the place. My father was in the Navy, so we moved every 2-4 years. I spent most of my time in the Mid Atlantic area.

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

I played soccer most of my life, and especially enjoyed playing in college.

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

I was pretty young when my dad let me sip the foam off his beer, that was the first taste I ever had. I was an upperclassman in high school when I had my first beer all to myself. It was a Coors Light, and was pretty forgettable.

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

(See above)

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 Penn State, worked my way through 4 degree programs before graduating with a BA in Integrative Arts, focused on multimedia design.

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.”

What was your first craft beer epiphany? Recall as many details about it as you can:

My first real beer was a Sam Adams Cream Stout. It was like no other beer I’d had up to that point, and it changed my outlook on what a beer was capable of delivering. Until that day, beer was a light fizzy drink that could give you a nice buzz. Sam Adams Cream Stout was rich, chocolatey, roasty, and I wanted to know how, why, and why more beer didn’t taste that good.

Beer Blog Background

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

I’ve been writing for about a year.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I decided to write a blog to help me document lessons learned in converting from extract homebrewing to all-grain homebrewing.

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

I named it Maine Brews to make it easy for people in my area to find it. There’s not much for Maine homebrewers as far as internet resources (except the Maine Craft Beer Trail)

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

I’d like it to continue to grow, along with my experience, and to perhaps get participation from other homebrewers in my area.

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

I’m currently participating in a project called “Know Your Brewer” where we interview craft brewers and profile them on that blog. I’ve gotten to interview Jason Perkins at Allagash so far, and that was really cool.

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

HomeBrewTalk is my favorite resource for homebrewing. I also enjoy several blogs, but the Twitter folks I interact with are my favorite daily resource.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA, Stout, Strong Ale

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Stone, Dogfish Head, and Sierra Nevada

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

It’s a tough call, but I think I would have to say Dogfish Head. I like their beer, their commitment to using quality ingredients, and Sam seems like a really down-to-earth guy.

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

I haven’t brewed any beers that are really crazy out there — my current goal is to find some recipes for beer that tastes like an 8% beer, but is more around 4% — its going to be a challenge.

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

IPA and Thai Coconut Curry.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Web Developer

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’d like to have Zane Lamprey’s job, traveling the world and getting paid to learn about different regions by way of the local watering hole. It wouldn’t be a forever job, but it would be fun for a little while.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married with two dogs.

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

Music. I can’t go a day without music, its a significant part of my life.

Off The Beaten Path

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

A big malty scotch ale. Not to be taken lightly, but smooth and complex at the same time.

2. 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?

A well-hopped american wheat. Light, hazy, with a nice crisp finish.

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

The ability to detox and reverse the effects of alcohol at will.

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

Over-consumed to a great degree one night in college. I have to protect the details, but I’m glad I don’t do that anymore.

5. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I’ve been vegetarian for a while, but I don’t remember feeling strongly one way or another the last time I had it. I like Baco’s though, does that count for anything?

SPECIAL THANKS TO JOEL FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: SEAN AYLING

The Beer Wench — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:47:19 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: SEAN AYLING

AUTHOR OF: THE SOUTH STREET SHED BREWERY

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Sean Ayling

Internet nickname: Seanipops

Twitter handle: seanayling

Name of blog: The South Street Shed Brewery

Current location: Whitstable, Kent, UK

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, lived in Mauritius for two years (my father was in the armed forces) before moving to Whitstable in 1975.

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

Cricket. Now I realize that many of your readers will think I’m talking about an insect but it is a game not unlike baseball inasmuch as it is about a bat and a ball but it is a very cerebral game. I think of it as a game of chess but more physical. I still play even at the age of nearly 43, the team I play for is in a village league, we are called the Exiles at Bridge and our motto is “Ludus Finivit Ergo Bibamus” (the game is over therefore we drink).

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

At home, 12 or 13. In a pub 14.

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

It was probably in the East Kent pub in Whitstable and it was called Hurlimann Lager. In Whitstable it was often referred to as “Hooligan” because people had a knack of waking up in the cells after a night on the lash. Interestingly I later found out that Albert Hurlimann was an expert on yeast. I later went onto Charrington’s IPA and Courage Directors, Gales HSB and Bishop’s Tipple.

5. Where, if applicable, did you go to college? What did you study? What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?

Indeed, if applicable! I was asked to leave my local school (well invited not to come back!) and left with an O level in English and a CSE in Maths. I later studied as a mature student at Canterbury College of Technology where I got an A at A level English and won the College’s outstanding academic achievement award. The only sport I’ve ever been any good at was cricket but I also enjoy watching rugby football.

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:

This one’s easy. I’ve always loved IPA style beers and, a few years ago, at a local beer festival, I tried a beer brewed by Crouch Vale Brewery called Amarillo and it completely blew my mind. I’d first brewed as a 16 year old when my mother bought my father a home brew kit for a Christmas present. My father was on deployment with the Royal Navy at the time so I thought I’d do him a favour and brew his beer for him with spectacularly moderate results!

Fast forward to 2009 and I thought I’d take up the hobby again, convinced that the quality of the kits would have improved and that there would be an excellent homebrew internet resource. Well I’ve been brewing about a year and I’ve done 45 brews so not quite one a week. As soon as I’d got a few kits under my belt I set about making an Amarillo IPA, like most beers it took me a few tweaks before I got it right but actually it was very easy; a Cooper’s IPA kit, a kilo of beer kit enhancer dry hopped with 40g of Amarillo in my wife’s (sterilized) stocking. It’s quickly become my house beer and the one I’m often asked to brew for friends. I’m going to try the same kit with Pacific Gem and, living in East Kent, I have access to East Kent Goldings, which I think is quite cool

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

Yup, learning to aerate wort with a hand blender. Talk about kick starting your brew.

Beer Blog Background

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

A couple of months

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Originally it was to record the achievements of a father and son brewing. He’s sixteen and I want to find a way of introducing him to alcohol in a sensible way. However, like most 16 year olds, he’s not as interested in the journey as the destination. I started keeping a log on Facebook but went over to a blog at the turn of the year.

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

I brew in my garden shed. South Street is the name of the road I live in.

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

It’s mainly an outlet for my writing. I used to be a sports editor on my local newspaper and it’s nice to keep my hand in. I’ve no desire to earn from my blogging, I’m relatively well paid for the job that I do. I hope it will grow into a record of the beer I brewed that was awesome but it’s a warts ‘n’ all blog so when I produce a beer that is “toilet” I’ll write about that too.

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

Meeting and talking to like minded people really. I’m on a couple of UK forums and the community spirit is really good. Doing this interview has also been fun.

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

The Brew-it-yourself forum and Jim’s Beer Kit is where I pick up as lot of tips from like minded brewers, I also read Pencil & Spoon, a blog by Mark Dredge

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA, Porter, Imperial Stout

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Gadds of Ramsgate, Hopdaemon, Crouch Vale.

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

Aside from my Amarillo IPA, I brewed a lovely Elderflower Great Eastern

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

Nope

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Curry with Mild or Porter. If you’re drinking lager, you’re missing the point.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a Sales Rep for a Healthcare company.

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?

Well I’d either open a brewpub or go back to sports journalism

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes and Yes

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

Still love playing cricket, I play the guitar but I’m awful, I like cooking but I’m a complete nightmare to be in the same kitchen as.

Off The Beaten Path

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

Well it’s a close run thing – I really had to think about this, I was going to say Porter because I’m working class, robust and have a keen thirst to slake. But because I love all things Indian (cricket, curry etc.) it would have to be an IPA.

The crappiest piss weak lager I could find, well if it was a decent beer I’d be even more annoyed at dying and missing out on great beers.

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?

Well, I think Wench is quite a sexual word. Wench conjures up the buxom Shakespearian pear shaped lady for me. So I’d be looking for an old ale with a lot of (ahem) “front”. I’d be looking for roasted malts, big flavour and super silky soft mouthfeel. Someone once said to me that an Imperial Stout slipping down the throat was like “expensive silk underwear slipping down a smooth pair of thighs” (their quote not mine). So, Imperial Stout it is then.

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

Boring I know, but fly, who wouldn’t wanna fly.

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

I am the antithesis of crazy, I’m so safe it’s beyond boring. I once forgot to put my seatbelt on for the first 100 yards of a car ride.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It ceases to be crispy if you drop it in your beer

SPECIAL THANKS TO SEAN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!!

Featured Beer Blogger: J. WILSON

Wenchie — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:35:01 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: J. WILSON

AUTHOR OF: BREWVANA

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: J. Wilson
Internet nickname: I’m sometimes called Izzy
Twitter handle: @brewvana
Name of blog: brewvana
Current location: Adams County, Iowa

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I moved around a lot as a kid—Texas, Tennessee, Nebraska—but home base was always in Southwest Iowa, and I graduated from a little town called Villisca.

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

Mostly baseball as a kid, and a little basketball and golf. I got into cycling in high school, but haven’t ridden seriously in years. Somewhere along the line, rock climbing emerged, but hiking has always been the real constant.

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

The occasional sip as a youngster, the occasional beer but a few years later.

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

Because there was the occasional sip here and there, it would either be no story or a shift to the story of my first session, which was probably in junior high with my parents foolishly leaving me behind while they went on a camping trip. My friend and I had been skimming beers out of the fridge for many months, as well as hard stuff, a variety of whiskeys, vodkas and schnapps that we mixed altogether in Pepsi bottles hidden in our closets. It was one of those deals where we both told our parents that we were staying at the other guy’s house.

Brand? Probably Bud Light. I also remember pear schnapps and Black Velvet. Later, in high school, we were quite devoted to Milwaukee’s Best Light.

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 the University of South Dakota. I was a theatre major for the first seven days, and then switched periodically until I settled in on English. I partook in drinking beer in college, worked a lot, and did some work with the student newspaper.

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:

Perhaps a quote from a past blog post would answer this one: “In college, getting into coffee and cooking in restaurants got me more tuned into flavor, so I started to show interest in a better beer. Ale seemed an illusive entity. I tracked one down here and there, though a college budget doesn’t allow much of that. I took an advanced public speaking course, and that’s where the light bulb flickered more brightly. One of my classmates did a demonstration speech on homebrewing. While my cheesecake speech wowed the class, his inspired me to strive for a new hobby as soon as I graduated and got a “real” job.

That’s what happened. I moved to the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona to teach, hit the homebrew shop in Flagstaff and began brewing right away. It was a German Altbier, and though I forgot to add the hops, it was bottled glory. Like every first homebrew.

My early commercial transition beers included the likes of Bass and Newcastle. And sampling at brewpubs revealed the beauty of stout. No more cheap beer. It was an exciting time. My inborn predisposition for loving beer was one thing. But it was choice that brought me Good Beer.” Here’s the link to the whole post: How Did It Start

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

Yeah. One: Belgian beer in general; and Two: Flanders Red. I was first exposed to these at my old North Carolina homebrew club, CARBOY. Life has been better since.

Beer Blog Background

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

I’ll hit three years in April.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I was transitioning out of a beer job and away from my homebrew club to what I figured would be the beery wasteland of Iowa. I wanted something to stay connected to the beer world, to challenge both my beer life and my writing, and I wanted to make it a point to have something positive going out into the beery clutter. I felt like I could accomplish that.

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

It felt a positive play on words, incorporating beer into the definition for nirvana: an ideal condition of harmony beer and joy. It seemed to sum up a better way of living.

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

Fame, riches and glory. Failing that, having it help me to source good friendships, the eventual book or two, a TV show and some work as a beer/travel writer wouldn’t be bad.

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

I don’t know. No offense, but that question feels goofy. But to answer it, I guess I’d say that it’s satisfying to have unsolicited samples show up on my doorstep. It’s cool to meet folks, professional brewers even, who know and read the beery ramblings of some regular guy who writes in a farmhouse just north of tiny, little Prescott, Iowa. It’s cool to get emails or comments from across the country, as well as Belgium, England, Australia, Hungary, etc. I’ve made good friends—some whom I’ve actually met.

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

I’m a fan of Jonathan Surratt’s Beer Mapping Project, Ron Pattinson’s Shut up about Barclay Perkins, and have always been connected to Boak and Bailey. I also enjoy the photography on Beer and Nosh, as well as Beer at Joe’s and beernews.org—you knew three was too small a number to ask for. There are a lot of other good ones.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Pretty hard question…trying really hard… I’ll just say Flanders Red, the porter/stout family and wee heavy and know I’m being incomplete.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Pretty hard question…let’s try Unibroue, New Glarus and I don’t freaking know. Dogfish Head? Too many great breweries out there for this list to be for real.

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

Another tough question. I’d have to believe in the both the beers and the people. I like Dogfish Head in that regard. To that I’ll just add Sean Wilson’s Fullsteam and The Drinking and Writing Brewery, both which aren’t even open yet, but I’m sure other people could woo me. Certainly other beers could…

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

Yes, I’ve got a coconut schwarzbier fermenting right now. I’ve done some fun Belgian stuff, barrelly stuff, sour stuff.

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

I’m BJCP Certified.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I’ve said before that RIS and roasted marshmallows are pretty good, but loving both beer and food, the possibilities are so endless.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Editor of a small weekly newspaper.

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?

A beer travel show wouldn’t be a bad thing to host…

3. Are you married? Children?

Yep, with two boys.

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

Hiking and camping, music, cooking

Off The Beaten Path

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

Belgian dubbel, I guess because I’m complex and delicious.

Rodenbach Grand Cru, because it’s freaking delicious.

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?

Seems that should be a real palate punisher, and I just think of the bitter variety over the thought of deeply sour. So I’d pack in the hops something fierce.

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

You sound like my boys. I guess I’ll just say super strength, with a little Jedi jumping ability thrown in.

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

Mistakes have been made far worse than jumping off of cliffs and out of airplanes and driving demolition derby cars and car surfing and drinking far too much. But I’ll just mention these.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Bacon’s importance can’t be overlooked. That’s the short answer.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JAY FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: LARRY MCINTOSH

Wenchie — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:07:24 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: LARRY MCINTOSH

AUTHOR OF: MADHOUSE LARRY’S BLOG & USA BEER TRENDS

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Larry McIntosh
Twitter handle: @madhouselarry @TheMADHouseAds @USABeerTrends
Name of blog: madhouselarry’s Blog & USABeerTrends
Current location: Austin, TX

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

East Point, GA, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, St. Petersburg, FL, Alexandria, LA

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

Football, soccer, baseball, track, surfing, water skiing growing up. Mostly water skiing and soccer in college years. Now, mountain and road cycling, snow skiing, and living vicariously through my kids’ sports.

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

I don’t recall. I remember sneaking sips as a kid in Atlanta (1960s). Carlings, Falstaff and such. My first clandestine whole beer consumption may have occurred in Ponte Vedra (1970s). I was 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?

There was this big, pro tennis tournament going on during the day at the country club. That evening, some of the surf rats I hung out with mentioned that the beverage people forgot to lock up a cooler with a few beers in it. We partook. I think it was Budweiser. We snagged the 3 or 4 beers left and went over to the golf course to drink them. No buzz, but some of the best and loudest burps we had ever produced. I’m sure we woke up the alligators in the lagoon.

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 test-drove Auburn for a couple of quarters. That didn’t quite work for me (or them). While back at home, helping my grades recover through intensive study at Louisiana College, I worked as a DJ at the only local FM rock station. That got me interested in communications.

A friend was at The University of Texas at Austin and suggested I look at their communications department. One visit to Austin was all it took. Fell in love with the town and the school had the stuff I was looking for.

My degree is in Radio-Television-Film. Activities while at UT included beer, water skiing, motorcycles, and hitting the live music venues. I mean, it was hard to resist a town where you could go to a club, pay a $3.00 cover, and see The Fabulous Thunderbirds and maybe that Stevie Ray Vaughn kid, too. Yeah.

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:

Did I mention I managed a liquor store my last year or so of college? The beer selection when I started consisted of Bud, Miller, Lite, Coors, Coors Light, Pearl and Lone Star. I slowly started building the selection by adding popular imports of the time (Guinness, Harp, Heineken, Becks, Carlsberg, Fosters, Corona, etc.). Once we had those in place and selling, we began adding the stuff no other stores carried.

Samuel Smith’s, Old Peculiar, Old Nick, Dortmunder, Pilsner Urquell.

The beer guys knew any time they brought a new beer into the market, I’d be willing to give it a shot. When we opened out second location, we had an eight-door cooler. I stocked that puppy full of imports and hard to find (in our region) American beers. Everything from Blatz and Hamm’s to Jax and Olympia.

Then we started seeing real craft beers pop up. Anchor Steam was one of the first “craft beers” we brought in. I found that the beer customers would almost always try the new stuff. Everyone liked to experiment. A trend we still see today out there in the Beer Nation. This was in the early to mid 80s. Not a moment, but a moment in time.

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

I guess the second coming of craft beer for me was when Texas laws changed and brewpubs began sprouting up in Austin. That first wave was cool. I loved going to Waterloo Brewing, having a burger and a beer, and smelling the beer being brewed. Pretty much re-lit the fire for me. I started homebrewing around this time, too.

But, the latest version of my craft beer love affair began about ten years ago. I go to Durango on business regularly and really grew to love the beers from there – Steamworks, Ska, Carvers, Durango Brewing, Pagosa Brewing. I’m always comparing them with the excellent beers brewed here in Central Texas – Independence, Live Oak, 512, Uncle Billy’s, Real Ale, Freetail Brewing, and others. Now, we have even more little breweries ready to crank up here. Exciting times for a beer nerd like me.

Beer Blog Background

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

Just started both this year. The madhouselarry’s Blog talks some about beer, and some about my business, and some just plain random stuff. I started USABeerTrends to gather and deliver informal information regarding craft beer, the people who buy and drink it, and the folks who make it.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I was looking to do something different than other blogs. Whereas I read a number of blogs for their beer reviews or find out what’s being released, USABeerTrends is set up to deliver the opinions of others – to help us understand what the Beer Nation is thinking.

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

The URL was available. It’s that simple.

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

In the end, I wouldn’t mind monetizing it, though I don’t ever see it being a moneymaker. Maybe if it’ll pay for an occasional round of beer … Other than that, I’m hoping to help brewers understand better who their customers are and who potential customers might be, and maybe help the brewers make more informed decisions about what they are going to brew or what market they may next enter.

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

Free beer! That’s always cool. I think hooking up with a bunch of Twitter-beer geeks at GABF this year was most excellent. You “meet”, talk, and make friends with people from all over the country, and that’s pretty cool. Through blogging, I’ve met fellow beer buddies TheBeerWench, Hookonwinter, ChipperDave, BeerTownAustin, CraftAustin, TeecycleTim, BeerTodd, and others.

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

Hard to say. I enjoy Charlie Papazian’s stuff, Wenchie is always entertaining, Dave is loaded with Colorado brew info, Tim does good stuff with Beer Runner, Beer at 6512 keeps me in the Durango loop, BeerTownAustin is great with local Austin stuff, PJ always has something interesting to say (Starting a Brewery), and on and on.

Beer Talk

1, What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA, Porter, Stout.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Right now, probably Oakshire, Left Hand, 512

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

Oskar Blues looks like a fun place; Ska Brewing has a great new facility and they have a great vibe; 512, Independence, Live Oak and Real Ale here in Central Texas each offer unique opportunities to learn; Dogfish Head is always pushing the envelope and does a great job of self promotion. Any of these would rock.

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

Yes. Most interesting was a failure, an oaked chocolate porter. Not sure where it went haywire.

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

Nope.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I’m old and simple. Beer and pizza or a burger – that’s heaven for me. Doesn’t really matter the style.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m the Warden of The MAD House, a small advertising and design shop that concentrates on building brands that bring enjoyment to life. We like to help businesses that cater to our passions. So, water and mountain sports, resorts, CRAFT BREWING (Hell-lo!), cycling, food, blah, blah, woof, woof.

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 would own bar on the beach in Tahiti because there is sun, surf, and the women don’t wear no brassieres.

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes, 26.5 years. A 17 y.o. son, and a 12 y.o. daughter.

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

Well, if you read my blogs, you’ll see I’m not much of a writer. I do enjoy mountain and road cycling, homebrewing, family, snow skiing, and really bad photography.

Off The Beaten Path

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

IPA I’m bitter, but I smell good.

Today’s choice (which would be different from yesterday’s or tomorrow’s) would be Great Divide’s 15th Anniversary Wood Aged Double IPA, if any were left.

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?

Having seen the Wench in action, it would have to be smooth, but in your face all at once. A session brew, I think, with the power to last, but complex enough to surprise with every sip. It would have to remain calm in a cab stuck in Denver traffic, and then not get over-carbonated downstairs at the Rock in the company of Sam Calagione. Say no more.

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

First, I’d need to fly. Then the power to be invisible. Of course, the power to drink as much beer as I want while maintaining a blood alcohol level that is still legal would be cool.

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

(Disclaimer. Of the list of things I showed my lawyer, these are the only two he’d let me talk about.)

As a kid, unintentionally jumped a tugboat wake in the middle of the night in a friend’s overpowered Boston Whaler. Three of us were buzzing along about 40 mph in the middle of Tampa Bay way too late at night when the horizon suddenly went dark. Next thing we knew we were airborne. Way airborne. Engine screaming, us screaming. The boat torqued over to the right in the air and landed on its side and almost went over. The kid on the right side got soaked. All of the stuff in the boat flew out. We looked back and realized we’d hit the huge wake from a tugboat that was cruising out to the Gulf. Now, this is the kind of stuff we would normally do during the daylight hours – on purpose. At least then you can gauge speed, wake height and such. Oh, and you know where the wake is. Good times.

Either that, or, as a 12 year old, trying to surf on 10 foot East Coast storm waves with a 5’4″ beater of a surfboard. Back then, a big day was chest high. These puppies were double overhead plus. I had no business being out there, got caught inside when a big set rolled in and got worked by 4 waves in row. Had an intimate conversation with God as I bounced across the bottom in darkness asking him to please turn the washing machine off. When I finally popped up, the set was done. A buddy who was wisely paddling in grabbed my raggedy ass, stuck me on the front of his board and helped me in. We just sat on the beach the rest of the day and watched Mother Ocean go off. Next day was chest high and glassy and I was back at it. Ahh, youth.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Bacon tastes good. Pork chop tastes good. Bacon wrapped pork chop tastes real good. I like me some bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO LARRY FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: DAVE CRISAFI

Wenchie — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:28:58 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: DAVE CRIFASI

AUTHOR OF: SOUTH FLORIDA BEER BLOG

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Dave Crisafi
Twitter handle: @SFLbeerblog
Name of blog: South Florida Beer Blog
Current location: Miami, FL

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Maine and Massachusetts. I moved to Florida in ’95 for college and have been here ever since.

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

I played peewee football till sixth grade and played baseball from as young as I can remember until my freshman year of high school. I stopped playing because I couldn’t stand the group sport aspect of it. I didn’t understand why I had to run when someone else was late.

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

I had my first beer when I was 14 and didn’t like it at all. After that I didn’t drink again till I was 25. My first beer after then was Lindemans Framboise. I needed something fruity to introduce me to the goodness of beer.

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

Well the first beer I had when I was 14 was nothing exciting. A couple of friends and I got some beer from someone’s brother and drank it in the woods. It turned me off from beer for a long time. I may have thrown up from it.

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 college at Full Sail in Orlando, FL for sound recording in 1995. I’ve recently gone back to school and am now taking classes at Miami Dade College. I’m studying business at the moment but it may change before I’m through.

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 was a Lindemans Framboise. It was the first beer I had after swearing off beer for 11 years and it changed what I thought beer could be. It opened me up to trying other beers and I decided to give beer a chance again. I did hit some road bumps along the way with beers that I wasn’t quite ready for yet but that first Lindemans Framboise made me push through and keep trying.

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

I have beer epiphanies all the time. Just from the different recipes that people come up with, to how different breweries run their businesses, to the stories behind the making of a beer. It all blows my mind constantly. The one beer that I think truly threw me for a loop though is unfortunately one that I don’t know if I will ever see again. It was Allagash’s Gargamel. I had this beer a few days before I went to Savor in D.C. and even after having some of the best beers in the world I still thought no one else came close to it. Tart fresh fruit with a great graham cracker finish. Never tasted anything like it before or since.

Beer Blog Background

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

I started the blog in May of 2009. So for about 8 months.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I had joined Twitter in April of 2009 and would always tweet when I was somewhere that had good beer. My wife made the suggestion that I should start a blog so that more people, other than my 10 friends on Twitter, would know about these places. So, I owe it all to my wife.

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

I’m not very creative and I live in South Florida and it was a blog about beer. If I could have imagined people would start to read it, I might have put more thought into it.

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

My hope with the blog is to help get more people in South Florida to try different beers instead of the macro beers that are constantly pushed here. If more people buy craft beers that means it will be easier for me to get them. I also would like to someday get a job in the beer industry and hope that this blog will be a way to help get my foot in the door.

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

I was very graciously sent a bottle of Utopias from Sam Adams. I couldn’t open the box fast enough and couldn’t believe they had sent me as a gift. I still send them thank you emails weekly.

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

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA’s, Quads and Barley Wines.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Dogfish Head, Allagash and a tossup between Avery, Stone and Rogue for third.

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

Hmm…this is a tough one, so many breweries do things that I like business-wise and with the beers they make. If I had to choose one I think I would have to go with Dogfish Head though. The people I have met from there always seem very happy and the beers they make are always amazing.

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

No. One of my new year’s resolutions is to brew my own beer in 2010.

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

No certifications yet. Been studying for the Cicerone.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I don’t really have a favorite food pairing but I do enjoy cooking with beer. My favorite thing to cook with beer are mussels steamed in a nice hefeweizen with a good piece of crusty bread to soak up the juices.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Right now I work part time assisting a wedding photographer.

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 would work for a brewery in some sort of marketing aspect. I would love to help spread the word about great beer.

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes, I’m married but no kids.

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

I love movies and music. I enjoy going to concerts and I like to cook.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I would have to be an IPA since people already think I am quite bitter. But like an IPA, I also have a sweetness underneath it all.

It would have to be an Allagash Gargamel. It would also keep them busy looking for it.

3. If I contracted you to brew a beer (or design a beer recipe) called “The Beer Wench” — what style would you choose and what, if any, extra ingredients would you add?

From reading your site I would have to say you sound a little wild at times so I would think brewing a lambic with wild yeast would be appropriate.

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

I would like to be able to fly. I have lots of places I would like to visit and not enough money for flights to all of them.

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

Traveled the world with rock, metal, and punk bands and I made it out alive.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Most of my thoughts are on bacon. I’m trying to see how long I can go this year without having any though. Made it so far but it is a strong draw I don’t know I can keep away from for too much longer.

SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVE FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: SEAN NORDQUIST

Wenchie — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:58:43 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: SEAN NORDQUIST

AUTHOR OF: AND BEER FOR THE DADDY

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Sean Nordquist
Internet nickname (if applicable): Beer for the Daddy, JediNord, PirateNord
Twitter handle: beerforthedaddy
Name of blog: And Beer for the Daddy
Current location: St. Petersburg, FL

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Los Angeles, CA

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

Soccer, Ice Hockey, Beach Volleyball, Lacrosse, Martial Arts

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

I really can’t remember. It was probably something terrible and I stole it.

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 grew up in a wine household, so beer was never around except if we went somewhere that had it. I probably stole my first few beers thinking I should like it, but I never did until I was in high school and tasted Guinness for the first time.

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 Sonoma State University from 1990 to 1992 and was involved in music (I sang in the chamber choir), intramural sports (I captained my indoor soccer team), and creative writing as well as playing on the Lacrosse team. I left after 2 years and moved to Florida, then moved to Prescott, Arizona and finished my undergraduate there. While living in Prescott, I was involved in a lot of outdoor activities like rock climbing and backpacking.

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:

The door to craft beer opened for me the first time I had a pint of Guinness Stout on draft at a local pub in Rohnert Park. I realized there was so much more that beer had to offer that I had never imagined. I went crazy for beer at that point, trying every micro- and craft beer I could get my hands on… which was a lot.

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

My first visit to a brewery was to the Anchor Brewery and the tasting room opened my craft brew eyes evern further to the wonders of FRESH beer, as well as the amazing things craft brewers are.

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been writing AND BEER FOR THE DADDY?

Less than a year.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Brian Yaeger’s book “Red, White, and Brew”

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

Well you see… The phrase “Beer for the Daddy” might seem like an odd one to some; to others it’s a no-brainer. But the origin – at least in this case – comes from flightless birds, parental responsibility, and the mouths of babes.  In 2005, a documentary film called March of the Penguins was released to critical acclaim, becoming the second-highest grossing documentary film of all time (the first being Fahrenheit 9/11).

It is the story of the emperor penguins of Antarctica, and the difficult conditions they live and survive under. Beautifully filmed and wonderfully narrated by Morgan Freeman (in the American version), viewers are treated to a stunning and moving experience unlike any other.  And as far as this blog goes, none of that matters.

You see, we (my wife and sons and I) rented March of the Penguins later that year and watched it together. We loved it. The story was engaging, the images were brilliant. We got to the part where the male penguins were huddled together protecting the eggs. The females are off on their epic journey to feed and then travel back to regurgitate for their newborn young that the father’s are now caring for.

The narrator says something along the lines of “and the mothers arrive back with the fish for their babies.” Without missing a beat, my youngest son – age 3 at the time – said very matter-of-factly “…and beer for the daddy?”

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

Initially I started Beer for the Daddy because I love beer, and I love writing. It seemed a natural thing to do. Then I realized the potential of building a portfolio of articles that will lend me some credibility as a writer, as well as in the “beer crowd”.

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

I have since found that said crowd is an awesome one and am happy to be a part of it!

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

Well, I separate the blogs from the sites, sicne I think they fill different niches.

Blog 1: Drink with the Wench – no, not just kissing up, but I genuinely enjoy the style and fun of what Miss Routson does.

Blog 2: Brewed for Thought – Mario has a down to Earth style I enjoy, and he is also a husband and father, which I can relate to.

Blog 3: Beer Odyssey – Brian Yaeger is an old friend and the inspiration for me turning my writing direction to beer. I enjoy his sense of humor and admire his knack for travel and beer-venture.

Site 1: Beer Advocate – My go-to site for beer research.

Site 2: RateBeer – My second go-to site. I just knew about BA first.

Site 3: Cigar City Brewery – The best local brewery in Tampa Bay, and I love their beer.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA, Pale Ale, Stout

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Cigar City, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada

If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why? Well, I would love to work at Cigar City, since it is local, but if I could work for ANY brewery, it would probably be Stone or Anchor. I love all of their beers, and I miss the California coast.

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

I have been homebrewing for nearly a decade now. The most interesting I have every brewed is probably my latest batch – and I have no idea how it is going to turn out, but I am excited. It is a porter with rum added to the boil.

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

Not yet…

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

A good, crisp pale ale with a light and flaky fish and chips is just heavenly.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

IT Support Manager

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?

Own and operate my own brewery. I would also love to be able to finish my novel.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married 12 years and I have 2 sons.

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

Reading, music, cooking, and travel.

Off The Beaten Path

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

A good session-able Pale Ale.

Cigar City Humidor Series IPA

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 would have to be something strong and surprising with a serious kick, but with a light and pretty appearance. So maybe something along the lines of Dogfish 120…

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

Telekenesis

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

The “Duffield Death Hike” in Joshua Tree many years ago…

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Bacon is the follow-up proof that god loves us and she wants us to be happy.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SEAN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!