Drink With The Wench » Beer Blogger Interviews

Featured Beer Blogger: SCOTT ANDREWS

The Beer Wench — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:21:14 +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!

INTRODUCING: SCOTT ANDREWS

AUTHOR OF: THE BEER SNOB

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Scott Andrews
Twitter handle: @the_beer_snob
Name of blog: The Beer Snob
Current location: Spring Hill, TN (30-45 minutes south of Nashville)

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the land of sand and cacti, Yuma, Arizona. If you visit there, you’ll see postcards everywhere that describe Yuma as something like, “150 miles from water, 2 miles from California and 2 feet from hell.” Yes, it’s that hot. Bad burns from touching the metal parts of seatbelts during summer are not uncommon.

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

I played baseball during 5th and 6th grades in a city league. I think we were the worst team both years, thanks to me. I broke my nose during preseason practice my 2nd year, which is probably why there wasn’t a third year!

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

I may have tasted a sip at some point early on but I think I was about 17 when I had my first full beer. I was let go from a telemarketing job after just a week, so I decided to go get a six-pack of Bud (well, have someone get it for me) and drink it down. I drank it all at home and promptly vomited it back up. Too much beer all at once, or the first sign I was destined to be a beer snob? You decide!

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 school in Arizona for about a year and a half, Arizona Western College. Those were my party years. The intent was to study accounting but I never took a single accounting class. I did theatre here.

Not long after moving to the Nashville area, I ended up at what was then Nashville State Technical Institute for graphic design while I worked full time doing graphic design. Now I am at Tennessee State University studying engineering, graduating, finally, in December 2010.

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:

I don’t think I had a huge, lightning strike craft beer epiphany, but a smaller gradual epiphany. I had decided for some reason to try Young’s Double Chocolate Stout and realized beer could taste like chocolate and coffee and it was amazing! I believe it was winter, and I was enjoying this with a wood fire burning in the fireplace, and I realized the seasonality of beer, the diversity of beer, and how the setting can influence the taste and enjoyment of a good craft beer.

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

My additional beer epiphanies have revolved around developing a taste for different flavor profiles or styles of beers. The first time I tried Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale, for example, I didn’t like it. I didn’t know it at the time, but it was the hoppiness I didn’t like. But one day, probably several months later, I finally had a hoppy beer that had prominent citrus and grapefruit in the nose and palate, and I learned to love the hops! I had a similar moment when I tried Biere Du Boucanier and learned to love a good sour beer.

Beer Blog Background

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

I’ve been writing the blog (first at http://thebeersnob.wordpress.com) since January of 2007

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I had, at this point, begun dipping my toe into the pool of craft beer but was trying so many different beers, I never remembered what I had or hadn’t tried or had or hadn’t liked. So I started the blog as a way to keep track of what I had tried and what I thought about them. It was only meant as a journal for me to keep track of my experiments in beer.

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

It just came to me, I guess because in my early experimentation with craft beer I quickly became vehemently a craft beer guy, absolutely snubbing Bud, Coors, Miller, etc., although I really had no beer knowledge or experience at that point.

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

Although I started it for my personal benefit, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I hoped to make money with it someday. But in addition to that, I’d love to become a well respected source to which people can turn for reviews of beer. I’d also love to turn some people on to craft beer.

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

I think the coolest thing is getting to attend, free of charge, a beer dinner at the Opryland Hotel, hosted by Linus Hall of Yazoo Brewing Company. The meal was amazing and the beers paired extremely well with the food, plus I ate a meal and drank beer with Linus Hall. I was one of only 12-15 people who were in attendance!

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

I don’t actually have much time to spend looking at other sites…I am working full time and in school full time, so I barely find time to update my blog. But here are three I look at:

To find out what’s available in the Nashville area, I like to visit http://nashvillebeergeek.blogspot.com. He always has the latest on what new beers are available here or are coming soon and writes well.

I usually end up at beeradvocate.com and ratebeer.com a lot as well. Usually it is a result of googling a beer’s ABV if it’s not on the bottle or looking to see what others thought about a beer I just reviewed. I avoid other reviews like the plague when I am about to do a tasting of a specific beer, but I like to read other reviews after the fact to see what flavors others picked up.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

I’m a malty sort of guy and my favorite styles are always changing, but stouts and porters are usually two of my favorites. The other favorite would alternate between nut brown ales, IPAs and Belgian.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Hands down, Dogfish Head is my favorite. Samuel Smith would have to be my second favorite. The third is more difficult. It would be a toss up between Young’s and Rogue.

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

I would love to work with or for Dogfish Head, not only because they are my favorite, but because they are so imaginative with their beers and so willing to take risks and try new things.

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

I would love to get into home brewing but simply don’t have any time right now. Maybe after I graduate in December!

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

I don’t currently, but I definitely want to get as many certifications as I can, to add credibility and expertise to my blog but also to increase my beer knowledge for my own benefit

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I don’t often pair beer with food, oddly enough, because most of the time when I drink beer, I am trying something new which to review, and don’t want to taint my palate. I love the way, though, a good hoppy IPA cuts through a rich meal and cleanses the palate.

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 would work as a biologist studying trout in the Smokies and other aquatic creatures and their environment. I love trout, especially brook trout, and the mountains and would love to spend my life helping preserve their natural environment and studying them outdoors on a creek.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married 13 years in October of this year, with two of the most beautiful daughters you have ever seen, 6 and almost 4

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

I don’t have much time for hobbies really, but some of the things I enjoy that I would like to do more is European travel, fly fishing, hiking and camping and visiting art museums, especially Renaissance and Byzantine art

Off The Beaten Path

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

I would be a a stout or a porter, I think….dark and malty and most appropriate for winter and a roaring fire.

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?

At this moment, I think I would say Pliny The Elder, only because I have heard so much about it, never seen it, and have even seen it called overrated. I’d like to judge that for myself.

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?

Since I don’t do any homebrewing and don’t know you that well, I think I would do a blonde ale but aged in a whiskey barrel for an extra little kick

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

I would want to be able to fly, like most other people I’m sure. But mostly because I would love to visit Italy again and this would be the cheapest way to do so. I’d also want to be able to breathe underwater so I could just lay for hours at the bottom of a mountain trout pool and just watch the trout go about their lives.

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

I’m drawing a blank here….I really haven’t done too many crazy things.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Very tasty choice of meats, but best served thick and extra crispy (not burnt). Nothing worse than floppy bacon!

SPECIAL THANKS TO SCOTT FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: MICHAEL BUSSMANN

The Beer Wench — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:28:34 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: MICHAEL BUSSMANN

OF THE

NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY BLOG

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Michael John Bussmann
Internet nickname: JUICEBOX
Twitter handle: @carnie_NBB
Name of blog: New Belgium Blog
Current location: Fort Collins, Colorado

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

St. Louis, Missouri

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

I was a hockey player from youngest days until my hips hurt to much to play anymore.

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

13 maybe. I was pretty young

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 an empty lot between a Catholic school and the mall in my hometown, you could get there by walking through the mall’s parking garage and over a small fence. We used to hang out there a lot and drink and try to make out with the girls who had lowered their standards enough to hang out with a bunch of dudes in an empty lot between a mall and a Catholic school . I think we drank Natural Light and I remember it being really warm and good.

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 Regis College in Denver. I studied English and Philosophy and played some hockey. I also had show on the college radio, it was fun but I think I played the same 15 songs every week.

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 Fat Tire (and Old Cherry) in 1996. I just moved to Denver and into the dorms and there were a bunch of guys from the upper Midwest on my floor. They all played this card game called Eucker (not sure how to really spell it and spellcheck isn’t helping). It’s really complicated and I never truly learned the rules and it always made me mad when half way through the hand everyone would throw their cards down on the table and you were just supposed to know what to do. But when I first started playing with these guys they were drinking Fat Tire. I was from St. Louis and if you didn’t drink something from Anheuser Busch they sent you off to live in Kansas City so this was mind blowing, it was unlike anything I’d ever seen or tasted, this beer was darker than anything I had ever experienced and tasted so much different, bolder, better. I played cards with these guys for like three weeks while never really learning how to play the game because somebody kept bringing Fat Tire or Old Cherry and that was enough to keep me interested. But after three weeks or so of pretending I knew how to play and drinking new and tasty beer I showed up to the game and saw that there was beer in a 30 pack and I was like “yo, where’s the Fat Tire” and they mumbled something about how it was expensive and how I never seemed to be chipping in on the beer so we were stuck with this. I never played Eucker again.

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

I have craft beer epiphanies all the time, pretty much every new style or brewery that I try there is something about it that is remarkable. You can find so many nuances and so much liveliness in beer, I love trying new beers.

Beer Blog Background

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

Since June (or July?) of 2008. At the beginning of the Tour de Fat season my first year at New Belgium.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

New Belgium asked me if I had any interest in writing for the Brewery and if I could commit to doing it. I had been doing other blog type writing for a while so it seemed to fit, and besides they were going to pay me for it, so who could ask for more.

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

I didn’t choose it, but the title does make a lot of sense.

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

Personal goals for the blog… To just keep on enjoying the process. And maybe for the blog to be bookmarked on Burt Reynold’s favorite’s list.

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

I think it’s knowing that I get to make real connections with people. Like the other day my co-workers and I in the tasting room were celebrating another awesome made up holiday called Formal Friday. We all came to work in formal wear and I put it up on the blog (and Facebook and such) and a couple came in to drink some sippers of beer all gussied up, dressed to the nines. That was cool to know that I inspired a little fun in some people’s day.

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

drunkcyclist.com (not really a beer blog, but a blog that is beer fueled).
2beerguys.com
drinkwiththewench.com (shameless brown-nosing)

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

anything sour
pilsners
pales

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Russian River, Deschutes, and O’Dells

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

New Belgium. It’s like a dream here, everyone loves their job and there is beer everywhere. (but since I already work here it is a bit of a loaded answer).

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

Not a homebrewer.

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

I am a Cicerone Certified Beer Server, and I have the pin on my lapel to prove it.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

An IPA and a bag of BBQ chips, or, a wheat with hot dogs and yellow mustard. Both great, both my favorite.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I work in the Liquid Center at the New Belgium Brewing Company. It’s our tasting room, I slang tasters of beer and give tours, as well as write NBB’s blog and do a fair bit of social networking for the brewery.

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?

Did you ever see the movie “Roadhouse”? Patrick Swayze’s character is a “cooler”. It’s sort of like a bouncer, but way more awesome. I think if I could change careers without limitation I would want to be a cooler like Patrick Swayze in “Roadhouse”.

Or maybe a fireman.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married to a wonderful and (very) understanding woman named Megan O’Brien.

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

I like to ride bikes, a lot. I also have taken a serious interest in shaving, you know the badger hair brush, hot water, the balms and salves. I also like drinking gin in bars and listening to live music.

Off The Beaten Path

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

A pilsner. I am kind of tall and I know a few good jokes.

This is a tough one, but I bet it would have wild yeasts and smell a bit like a wet goat. Or maybe a can of Natural Light, just like in that lot between the mall and the school, things tend to finish like they started.

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

I’m not sure, but it would have to pair well with social media. Does a helles’ go well with Twitter?

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

Invisibility, and yes, things would get weird.

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

I have done a lot of really dumb shit in my life, but the craziest thing was probably the most out of my control. 10 days after my 30th birthday I had my right hip replaced. Bad luck and some rough, physical years lead to the demise of my original joint. Everyone says “but you’re so young” and I always politely respond “I know, but what are you going do?”. The worst part: airport security.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Best served with whiskey.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MICHAEL FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: STEPHEN RICH

The Beer Wench — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:48:35 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: STEPHEN RICH

AUTHOR OF: DEFINITION ALE

Beer Blogger Interview

Full Name: Stephen Rich
Nickname: Steve the ProfessionAle
Twitter Handle: @DefinitionAle
Name of Blog: Definitive Ale (transitioning to Definition Ale)
Current Location: Toronto Ontario

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in London Ontario, and moved to Toronto for University.

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

I played competitive baseball for 14 years, then played high school and varsity Football.

3. How old were you when you had your first beer? The first beer I ever had was most likely not a memorable one. London is home to the Labatt Brewery, and as such the city was filled with commodity-grade beers. I do remember though when I enjoyed my first real beer. I would have been in 2004, and I had stumbled into Beer Bistro in Toronto quite by chance. The bartender recommended to me the Schnieder Weisse Aventinus, and it changed me forever.

The first beer I ever had was most likely not a memorable one. London is home to the Labatt Brewery, and as such the city was filled with commodity-grade beers. I do remember though when I enjoyed my first real beer. I would have been in 2004, and I had stumbled into Beer Bistro in Toronto quite by chance. The bartender recommended to me the Schnieder Weisse Aventinus, and it changed me forever.

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

I studied Business and Finance at Ryerson University. We had no football or baseball team to speak of, so my activities mostly involved weights and a gym.

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:

I went through high school assuming that I was drinking great beer – I was drinking the higher end commercial beers and imports expecting that this was as good as it gets. Then, it took just that first sip of Schneider-Weisse Aventinus in 2004 and I was changed forever. I had no idea you could enjoy flavor like this from beer. The Aventinus, and the beers that followed it opened my palate, my mind and my heart to a spectrum of flavors that I didn’t even know existed!

I went to see a movie on a Tuesday night with some friends. After, we were looking for a place to grab a beer. We must have passed 3 or 4 closed restaurants and pubs before we stepped into the recently opened (at the time) Beer Bistro. The Bar Manager and Part Owner, Dayna, was working, and charmingly enchanted us with stories of amazing beer. The first beer she served me was the Aventinus, and all of a sudden my –mouth and soul was filled with a rush a complex flavors that I had never known. This was a remarkable beer. Little did I know (until later that night), that there were hundreds, even thousands of beers that can do exactly that!

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

It was a miraculous thing for me in 2004, the first time I ever tried an Innis & Gunn; I was enjoying a beer and a meal at my favorite restaurant and beer bar in Toronto, the Beer Bistro. At the time I was just getting into real beer, and the Beer Bistro was the catalyst for that new found passion (obsession). Around then I was just beginning to learn the differences between mass produced commercial beer and craft made beer; there was really no better place for me to do that either.

Then one night not unlike any other a beer caught my eye on the expansive beer menu called Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer, which explained that it had been aged in previously used oak whisky barrels. Now, while this may sound very commonplace these days to the avid beer connoisseur, in 2004 oak ageing was still very fresh, and to me it was exceptionally exciting. There wasn’t really a question in my mind; I really loved whisky, so I had to try this beer.

If the Beer Bistro was the catalyst for my ascent to beer appreciation, then the Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer without a question was my guide. The first time I enjoyed this beer (and still every time) it absolutely floored me! I was then beginning to learn about and appreciate all the flavors that beer could posses, and the Innis & Gunn came along and just swept me off my feet! I was speechless, even still I am in awe of how delicious and fantastic this beer is. In fact, I have spent the last 6 years introducing my friends to Innis & Gunn and explaining to them why it is so exceptional – and have easily converted commodity-grade beer drinkers into real beer aficionados! Thanks Innis & Gunn!

Beer Blog Background

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

I left my job in Finance with a Mutual Fund Company in February 2010, and since then have began my career as a beer journalist operating my blog.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

One of my original inspirations was Ken Woods, the owner of the Black Oak Brewery in Toronto. Ken had spent much of his life as a corporate accountant, but one day realized that he hated it, loved beer, and decided to open up a brewery; one of the breweries that taught me about what craft beer truly is. Ken inspired me to make this move now, rather than waiting until I am 50.

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

For a long time my brother and I have dreamed of what we would name our brewery if/when we open one. Many names had floated around, but Definition Brewery is what stuck. We knew we wanted to brew real, craft, unfiltered and unpasteurized beer – sort of defining what beer should be. So the name made sense, without being too arrogant (we hope). Definitive Ale was to be the name of the blog, hence allowing people to come and explore the definitive role that beer can play in everyone’s life. The transition from Definitive to Definition is purely for branding purposes.

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

My goal is to share my passion and enthusiasm for real beer with everyone who is sick of settling for the ordinary; people who are tired of having expensive ad campaigns force feed them mass produced, commodity grade beer. I am using Definitive Ale as an outlet for my creative beer juices, and to help me build content and improve my skills. I’d like to contribute to beer, and food & drink magazines, even cigar magazines on how to properly pair beer with cigars. I’m also looking for the opportunity to host a show about real beer.

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

Since blogging, slowly but surely craft brewers in Ontario, and even some from the United States have begun to send me beer to review for them. I mean, this is every beer bloggers dream; to have your favorite breweries voluntarily send you beer! The first time I opened my mail box to a package of beer from the Stone Brewery was one of the happiest days of my beer career!

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

The three beer sites I am absolutely on the most are BeerNews.org, Daily Beverage News (which is not specific to beer, but covers all beverage industry related news), and The Bar Towel, which is an Ontario Craft Beer new forum.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Top three favorite beer styles is a crazy tough question! Damn. Ummm.. Ok. Rye Beers, Milk Stouts, and Weizen Bocks if I haaaaddd to narrow it down Or a Quadrupel. Or Oak Aged Beers… Done..

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Again, this is a crazy question. But if I could drink beer from only three breweries it would be Innis & Gunn, the Stone Brewery, and Het Anker (Gouden Carolus). I really have to point out Unibroue, Dogfish Head, La Trappe, Ommegang, Schieder Weisse, Dieu Du Ciel, and North Coast Brewing .

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

I would love to work with the Stone Brewery. I love their philosophy on brewing, how they operate their business, and the type of creative and unique adventures that they involve brewing in. I’ve not seen a more beautifully brewery and brewpub either! I love the fact that they have old vintages of so many of their beers, and that they are so involved in the craft beer community. And most of all, I love all of their beers! Hire me Stone!

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

I am a homebrewer, and some of my most interesting recipes I will not divulge on the internet before I can bottle and produce them myself But my last batch of beer was a Peculiar Ale brewed with allspice, whole cloves, stewed pears, roasted almonds, and was dry hopped with Williamette and Saaz hops. It is called Manifest Destiny, and was the first brew since I began this new career.

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

I am right now studying to get the BJCP certification, and one of Siebel’s programs may become an option for me in the near future.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Ok, to be consistent with the first two favorite questions, I will list my favorite three homemade food and beer pairings: 1) The Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer with Slow Smoked Beef Ribs. 2) Gouden Carolus Cuvee van de Keizer Blauw with a Tripple Chocolate Cherry Trifle. 3) Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA with Steak and Roasted Potatoes.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I am a Freelance Beer Journalist and Beer Consultant. Beer journalism is what primarily consumes my time, however I also host and organize beer tasting events, beer schools, cooking with beer classes, and consult to restaurants to improve their beer menu.

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 host Top Gear with my Roommate and best friend. Top Gear is a BBC Car TV Show, and is the best in the business! I love beer, almost more than anything. But my first love was cars. The three Top Gear Hosts get to drive the best cars in the world, in the most extravagant places under the most ridiculous circumstances! It would take much more moola for me to buy all the cars I want than it would to buy all the beer I want. This way I get the cars for my job, and I’ll pay for the beer!

3. Are you married? Children?

I am single with no children.

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

As mentioned I am a huge car buff. I am also obsessed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, I love baseball, cooking, working out and bodybuilding. I love whisky, cigars, jazz, classic rock, and dinosaurs.

Off The Beaten Path

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

Facebook just asked me this question, my result: “Trappist Westvleteren 12. A Quadrupel. It’s open to debate, but the consensus is that you’re the best beer in the world! You’re reputation is big, but you don’t act like it. You are a rare classic breed that is admired; few can live like you do”.

Given the remarkable stature of this beer, I would hardly argue with Facebook’s authority over the matter. Although, I would say a Quadrupel is accurate. Not only is a Quad among my favorite beer styles, but I am strong, complex, spicy and rich, yet soothing, warm and elegant.

I would ask for the Double Magnum of Gulden Draak that has been sitting in my cellar since 2006. By now is it at least 4 years old, and has hopefully built the most beautiful bouquet of flavors and aromas. I am saving it for only the most momentous of occasions, but if I have to go, I’m going to have to take it with me… All 3 liters of it!

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 would be a big spicy and herbal Belgian Style Saison, leaning towards a Tripel. The mash would be designed as a Tripel would, but the boil would be my caldron to work in some real spice. Sassafras root, nutmeg, white pepper, star anise, mint, cane sugar and sage would all find their way in there at some point. Primary and secondary fermentation would be facilitated by a Belgian Yeast Strain, but the final fermentation would happen with a lager yeast at warm temperatures in a wide open vat – like a steam beer. Wild yeasts would build lush and complex earthy tartness, and build on the power of the spices and herbs. Finaly, the beer would rest in Lagavulin and brandy barrels for 3 months, being dry hopper for the last 2 weeks. They would be blended and bottled in 750ml corked and crowned bottles. Enjoy!

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

That’s easy, I’d be Superman – he has all the superpowers. The only thing he is lacking is the ability to read people’s minds. But he doesn’t need to, because he’s the man.

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

Quit my steady job with a Major Finance Firm to drink and write about beer. So far I’m still kickin’ it.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I love bacon. I want to brew with bacon. Who doesn’t love a Marzen? I’ve marinated beef ribs in bacon fat, roasted a turkey wrapped in bacon, stuffed a chicken with it, and next up is a desert.

SPECIAL THANKS TO STEPHEN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: STEVIE CALDAROLA

Wenchie — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:00:28 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: STEVIE CALDAROLA

AUTHOR OF: BASICALLY RED

FOUNDER OF: LADIES OF CRAFT BEER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Stevie Caldarola
Twitter handle: @BasicallyRed & @LadiesOCB
Name of blog: Now that the Ladies of Craft Beer site is up, BasicallyRed: To Be Read, Basically, my old blog, will be folding into the BasicallyRed tab there as a “From the Editor” column of sorts. I also write for Mutineer Magazine’s blog.
Current location: New York, NY

Background “Snapshot”

Where did you grow up?
St. James, Long Island, NY
What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond?
I’ve always been a pretty active girl- growing up I went to a dance school where I took tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, etc. In middle school and high school I played volleyball. At college, I became a member of the hip hop squad and the step team. After college I went back to volleyball, playing on recreational indoor and outdoor leagues. Recently, I have both played and refereed flag football for the New York City Social Sports, a great and fun organization where you play sports and then the teams go to the bar afterwards to socialize and meet each other. NYCSSC just started volleyball as well so that could be trouble!
How old were you when you had your first beer?
That depends on what qualifies as my first “beer”… I had my first ever Budweiser at 20. My first ever craft beer experience was at age 24.
If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer? Where did you have it? What style and brand was it?
I’ll go with my first craft beer, since that’s what I really remember. The guy I was dating at the time brought me to his local bar and convinced me to give beer a second chance (I was refusing to drink beer at the time since I hated the “taste” of Budweiser and thought all beer tasted that way.) He bought me a pint of Magic Hat Number 9.
Where, if applicable, did you go to college? What did you study? What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?
My undergrad college was Adelphi University, where I received a BFA in Theater Design/ Technology with a focus in Lighting Design. I also minored in Photography and was a part of the Honor’s College. While Theater and work took up most of my time, I was a part of the hip hop squad and step team.

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 craft beer epiphany was at a beer tasting at a place in New York City called the Village Pourhouse. The class was focused around Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and included a sampling of six brews by them. The last brew that we tasted was the newly released Torpedo Extra IPA- I had never had such a hoppy beer before, and it was love at first sip.

I have had so many craft beer epiphanies in the past year that I would spend an entire year describing them all to you. I almost feel that every time I take a sip of a new beer, I have an epiphany, whether good or bad, big or small. That’s what I love about craft beer- I’m always learning- always trying new things.

Beer Blog Background

How long have you been writing your beer blog?
Since late February of this year
What inspired you to start writing your blog?
I’ve had a blog for about a year now, but could never really figure out a niche that I was passionate about and could write about. I tried many different topics but nothing seemed to fit right. After my “craft beer epiphany” I started to chat about beer more on Twitter and somehow found this beer voice on there called “Hoptopia”. Upon asking Lee some questions and having random chats about beer, as well as checking out his site and some other beer blogs, I decided to give beer blogging a try. The rest, as they say, is history…
Why did you chose the name of your blog?
It was actually a pre-existing name. I used to say “basically” a lot and I have red hair. My dad has always called me “Red”. It just seemed to fit and show my personality as well as be a cute little play on words. People probably don’t know this, but the by-line of my blog used to read, “I’m just a girl spouting my truths”, but I changed it to the current line “I’m just a girl tapping my truths” to make it more beer appropriate- you be the judge!
What are you personal goals for your blog? What do you hope to achieve with it?
My personal goal for the blog is to write what I feel and love what I write. I want to be able to inspire people to talk about craft beer the way I was inspired. The point of what I am doing is to write about beer in a style that is easy for readers to understand and relate to- it is why I often compare beers to easily accessible and popular foods. One reader sees that 21st Amendment’s Monk’s Blood tastes like Black and White Cookies and absolutely has to try it, even though he has previously sworn off beer because he hates the way that fizzy, yellow beer tastes. Said reader tries the craft beer, loves it, and then moves on to another craft brew. He is hooked, and tells all of his friends. The result is spreading the word about this amazing and delicious liquid. I’m of the mindset that beer is a social advocate for us, seeing as how it is often a helpful medium for loosening up and enjoying social situations. Why shouldn’t we be social advocates for it?The Ladies of Craft Beer site is another example of a forum to advocate craft beer. The site is dedicated to women teaching other women about the wonders of craft beer, however, men who support our cause are more than able to come along for the ride. The site is just about to launch with 11 contributors not including myself. These women are shining examples of craft beer advocates and stellar women in general. I cannot wait to see what we can achieve!
What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer blogger?

Writing for Mutineer Magazine has been pretty rocking- it’s a great group of people with a lot of really informative and interesting things to say. I’m a fan of wine and coffee too, so I love to read all of the articles. I feel like I’m becoming a wealth of knowledge on all things liquid!

The coolest thing that has happened to me as an offshoot of being a beer blogger was the opportunity for me to start a beer advocate group called the Ladies of Craft Beer, which is a national group of women who are dedicated to educating other women on the world of craft beer (and the group that inspired the above website I was speaking about). The really exciting thing about this group is the amount of support we have received- since April alone we have gathered about 1,425 followers on Twitter and 1,135 people have liked us on Facebook. Women are definitely under-represented in craft beer, mostly due to the misconceptions that are out there about beer. What women don’t understand are the many various tastes and styles out there in craft beer land, and at least one is bound to fit your liking. On our sites, we encourage women to talk about beer and ask each other questions while also putting together beer meetups and events for tastings and social fun. It really is a great tool and I’m hoping it will expand even further with our new magazine-style website.

We also have set up our launch event during the Great American Beer Festival. It is called the Beer for Boobs Brunch and it will be held at the newly opened Freshcraft Restaurant and craft beer bar four blocks from the convention on Friday morning from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Tickets are $20 (they include a full buffet style brunch) and half of the ticket price will go to breast cancer awareness. There will also be discounted pints (proceeds of which will go to breast cancer charities as well) and raffles for brewery swag. We’re 82% sold currently and the group of attendees consists of many great faces in the craft beer industry- this mix and mingle event is not something to miss! It’s so amazing to see how much the craft beer world is not only willing to, but WANTS to give back to the community and support causes. Beer people definitely are good people.

What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?
Beernews.org is a great resource for the newest craft beer happenings. Hoptopia.com started it all for me and is a growing quick reference review site that is user friendly and super informative (plus he’s got great IPhone and Droid apps which are handy when you’re trying to pick a brew at the bar!) New Brew Thursday and HopCast’s sites are tied for third- both of their webcasts are fun to watch and chock full of information.

Beer Talk

What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?
Rauchbiers have recently become my number one- there’s something about that super smoky, burnt flavor that I love. Thick Russian Imperial Stouts are a close second, as I’m a huge fan of the sweeter, heavier beer. The newly emerging American-style India Black Ales are also a favorite- I’m loving the mixture of extreme hops and darker malts.
What are your top 3 favorite breweries?
Dogfish Head for their flavor experimentation; Cigar City for their crazy cedar-aged series, which I have yet to try but think may be the coolest thing on the face of the planet (I love cigars, in case you couldn’t tell); and BrewDog for their fun approach to beer and super silly beer videos (plus, James is wicked cute!).
If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why?
This is a hard question because I think I’d work for and with ANY craft brewery if I had the chance (and someday I want to start my own!) If I had to pick one, however, I’d say Dogfish Head, because I’d love to pick Sam Calagione’s brain.
Are you a homebrewer? If yes, what is the most unique and interesting beer recipes you’ve brewed as a homebrewer?
I am now a homebrewer as of two weekends ago! It was such an exciting and frustrating day, my first brew day, where I brewed a Belgian-style Black IPA. (“Why not?” I said. “Go big or go home”.) I’m calling it “Pain in the BIPA” and so far, it smells delicious. How it tastes, on the other hand, is yet to be determined…
Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they?
I do not have any certifications yet, but have been slowly learning about BJCP and Cicerone. I have a feeling that those certifications may be sought after in my very near future.
What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
I’m not stellar at pairing food and beer, but I’d probably say that my favorite so far is a really good homemade veggie burger (usually spicy and peppery) with an IPA with a little bit of malty sweetness, such as Union Jack by Firestone Walker. I’m getting more into cheese lately, though, and nothing beats a good crystallized cheese (i.e. aged Parmesean) with a robust rauchbier or imperial stout.

The Personal Side

What is your current day job?
Sales
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 want to work for a brewery and learn to brew on a commercial scale so that I could eventually open my own brewery/brewpub.
Are you married? Children?
Not yet, but I am a very lucky lady with a great man in my life.
Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies?
Craft beer has, luckily, taken over all of my spare time. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Off The Beaten Path

If you were a style of beer, what style would be an why?
I would be a Black IPA (sorry, American-style India Black Ale), because I like to incorporate a little bit of everything but still have my own flavor and style.
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?
Oh man- that’s a toughy. Probably Goose Island’s Bourbon County Coffee Stout because it is decadent and delicious and at 13% ABV, one 22oz bottle makes you feel better, no matter what…
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?
Bacon, bacon and bacon! You and I are bacon-loving sisters, and I love that, so I would pay tribute to you with a bacon beer- I wonder how bacon would go with hops…
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
I would want to be a comic book character like Scott Pilgrim. If you haven’t seen that movie yet- go see it now. However, I’m pretty happy with how my life is right now without super powers, but there certainly are some days where I wish I was a comic book character who could just punch someone out and have one of those fun looking sound word bubbles come out… “BAM!” “BIFF!” That would make me feel better two-fold!
What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?
If I told you, then I’d have to kill you…
What are your thoughts on bacon?
Yes, please!

SPECIAL THANKS TO STEVIE FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Bloggers: GREG KRSAK + MATT SNYDER

The Beer Wench — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:55:58 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: GREG KRSAK + MATT SNYDER

AUTHORS OF: KSW BEER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Greg Krsak / Matt Snyder
Internet nickname: Our Xbox Live gamertags are “Platypus Friend” (Greg) and “Snydiggity” (Matt)
Name of blog: kswbeer.com
Current location:
Matt: Portland, OR
Greg: Lake Oswego, OR

Greg

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Matt: Eugene, OR.

Greg: I grew up in three different stages, I think. I was raised in the Mercer Island, WA area, with just enough of both parents to get a solid handle on life ethics. Eventually, I joined the Navy and grew up a little bit more, in a few different areas. I’ve finally settled in the Portland, OR area and think that truly “growing up” is always just out of reach. Growing up is understanding that there will always be people wiser than yourself, at any point in your life.

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

Matt: High school & College Swimming; Ultimate Frisbee. Living in Portland I’ve played in the Kick Ball league a few times.

Greg: I’m a high school dropout, and have my GED. Growing up, my “sport” was basically sitting around and taking recess in the library, reading books on computer programming and getting excited when I had the chance to get on one of the school computers. For a few years in middle school, I was the nerdy JV wrestler who didn’t understand the proper athletic mindset and wasn’t very good.

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

Matt: 21.

Greg: I actually waited until I was 21 to start drinking; although, my Dad did let me taste a few “Beer” beers and a sip or two of Rainier.

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

Matt: At a frat party, as a guest, and there was free Keystone light. I didn’t even like it back then, but drank some to be social.

Greg: It was a quest for the beer that tasted the least like beer. I turned 21 while I was stationed at the submarine base in Kings Bay, GA and fortunately, was not out to sea on the day of my birthday. I ran over to the mini mart they had there and found a six pack of Bud Light Ice, which I assumed did not have much flavor; I started drinking that with chips and salsa, in my barracks room. Those were some good memories.

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

Matt: Linfield College in McMinnville, OR. And I stumbled into becoming an Accounting Major. As far as activities went I was on the Men’s Swimming Team and was in the Ultimate Frisbee Club. My college roommate also ran the student activity center so there were a lot of trips to go skiing, rock climbing, swing dancing, etc. To pick up a little cash I had a few jobs in college, but mostly lifeguarded at the pool.

Greg: I actually never went to college. I worked with ballistic missiles, on Trident submarines. It all sounds cool, until the realization sets in that you’re going to be staring at a launch console all day that you can’t really touch; there was no reading, or doing anything fun for six hours out of an eighteen hour watch rotation. There were interesting parts, though; I got to do a lot of targeting and some computer work, and a little bit of missile maintenance (Seeing a nuclear bomb for the first time was pretty cool). For me, the Navy was my college. It was my opportunity to leave home and explore the world, but still have my supportive family in close contact every once in a while. I think, compared to college, the Navy probably has advantages and disadvantages in preparing you for “real life”, but it all averages-out in the end. If you’re passionate enough and certain enough about your career choice and you have the right social skills, you may discover that the military is an equivalent option.

Matt

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:

Matt: I had been brewing with a friend for a few years then he moved to Denver and took all of our mutually purchased brewing equipment. (The jerk, and I don’t even think he’s brewed since). At the same time Greg said he wanted to start brewing. Our first batch (an Old Ale) turned out pretty good, and Greg entered it into the State Fair, (when it was still legal in Oregon), and we won second place in our category! I had been brewing for a few years but it was the first independent acknowledgement that our homebrew wasn’t that bad. It was a great feeling.

Greg: Alaskan Amber, at the bowling alley, on base. I remember how dark I though it was, and that it was a relatively bold step up in my beer experiences. A couple of years later, my submarine got transferred to the west coast and I had the chance to visit my first brewpub, which was this little place called “Silver City Brewery” in Silverdale, WA. At the time, they had a beer called Fat Bastard which I though was pretty intense, and therefore good; although, I can’t remember what it tasted like anymore. After I finished my final patrol, left the Navy and moved to Portland, I went to Rock Bottom’s brewpub and slipped few more notches toward beer geekiness. I still didn’t understand what any of their beer styles were, or what the difference between a lager and an ale was, but I kept coming back and it was really the gateway for me into the craft beer scene.

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

Greg: I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of them, but the Northwest has this company called McMenamins that opens up large and small pubs and brewpubs in different, unique buildings and locations. They have a lot of creepy paintings and artwork everywhere and I always thought that was a little weird, but they are very popular and their beers have had a notable influence on me. McMenamins Ruby Ale is one of the most under-appreciated beers that I’ve ever tasted, and is always near the top of my short list of favorite beers.

Greg

Beer Blog Background

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

Matt: 9 or 10 months.

Greg: Yeah, it’s been pretty fun. What do you folks out there think?

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Matt: Greg bought the URL address and started typing.

Greg: Well, It was all about the mediocre answers to all the questions I’ve had over the years. You can literally find the same, cut and pasted answer on multiple sites for the same stupid question. All I want to know is a “real person” answer to what Centennial hops are bringing to the flavor table… and why can’t anyone give me an answer that isn’t “It’s a supercharged version of Cascade”? With a lack of formal schooling, you have a heavy reliance on self-education in your life, but the Internet has been seriously letting me down for the first time, at least when it comes to really learning some of the details about beer. Frustration and disappointment are powerful motivators, and I’d like to think that I’m putting that to good use by putting some good info out there.

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

Matt: I had a marketing class while getting my MBA and I needed a name for our brewery. We thought of Krsaksnyderweizen one afternoon then shortened it to KSW and it just stuck.

Greg: It was a play on both of our last names: “Krsaksnyderweizen”, pronounced properly with a thick, German accent and lots of exclamation marks (Ker-sak-schneider-visen!!). We thought it was a funny, beer-sounding name.

Matt: We may have been drinking at the time.

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

Matt: Teach a little, entertain a little. I think people get more out of the micro brew experience with a little knowledge.

Greg: For sure. I’m on Google Analytics every day, and I always am humbled by a +1 to the site visit count.

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

Matt: There has only been ridicule and scorn to date.

Greg: Being interviewed by you is actually the coolest thing that’s ever happened to us!

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

Matt: The beer calculators for home brewing. http://beercalculus.hopville.com/recipe and http://www.beermath.com

Matt

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Matt: That’s like asking “What’s your favorite movie genre?”; it depends on what I’m in the mood for. But I’m always in the mood for an English IPA, American Pale Ale or a Dunkelweizen.

Greg: Imperial IPA (Stone Ruination), Saison (Boulevard Saison Brett), and Standard American Lager (Pabst Blue Ribbon).

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Matt: I haven’t been on too many brewery tours but: Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, OR; Rogue Ales, Newport, OR; New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO… All have a great feel to them.

Greg: Deschutes, Stone, and Vertigo. Goose Island, Dogfish Head, Caldera and Harviestoun get an Honorable Mention.

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

Matt: I really like the green/sustainability initiative and story that New Belgium has, but I would have to pick Rogue for “corporate culture” plus I like their beers a little better and they’re more local. In one of Rogues job postings it said, “we don’t have an HR department and we don’t accept bull sh** from our employees” (only slightly paraphrasing).

Greg: It would probably be Vertigo. I’ve met both Mikes on a couple occasions, and they’re stand-up guys. I really wish both of them the best, and I admire their story and their dedication to brewing. They haven’t forgotten what it’s like to be normal beer drinkers and good friends, even if they don’t know you very well. They brew consistent beer with humble equipment, and it’s becoming pretty popular. Keep an eye out for the name.

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

Matt: Of course.

Greg: I don’t usually mention that to people who I don’t already know are interested in homebrewing. Some of the more objective aspects to brewing I prefer to keep separate from my drinking life.

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

Greg: We’ll get back to you on that in two or three years, when the BJCP actually has room in a Portland or Seattle testing location. Matt and I have gotten some pretty lame scores from BJCP-certified judges on beers that we and our friends really liked a lot. So we think beer should truly be drank and judged by everyday consumers, and sometimes (but not always) focusing on the certification process gets in the way of being an everyday consumer. We think we understand beer well-enough to make it and review it the right way, and we try to minimize excessive formality.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Greg: Lots of beers go with lots of foods. For me, I usually think: “What do I remember not going well with this, last time?” …One example of that is IPA and bleu cheese, in my opinion. It’s just that the reality of beer and food is so situational for me, and I think for a lot of people if they really thought about it. If you asked me “What’s your favorite event, friend, beer, glassware, room, smell and bank account balance?” then I may be able to give you a spot-on answer. To be considerate and answer your question, though, I do really like Foster’s Lager and Top Sirloin. But the reason for that is mainly due to happy memories associated with the experiences I’ve had at Outback Steakhouse.

Matt: I don’t pair food and beer. There is only beer.

Greg

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Matt: I’m in the dangerous and sexy field of accounting.

Greg: I’m doing contract work for Intel right now. I work in their LAN Access Division, and do a lot of playing around with network cards and prerelease server hardware. I really enjoy my job, but a more detailed description would probably flunk me from this interview.

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?

Matt: Professional kite boarding instructor. It’s something I’ve wanted to try and it looks like a lot of fun.

Greg: I’d marry my girlfriend, have kids and be a stay-at-home, full-time Dad.

3. Are you married? Children?

Matt: No and no – I’ve been told that I will live in righteous loneliness the rest of my life.

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

Matt: I still play a little Ultimate Frisbee, I try to run every now and then. The latest thing I’m (we’re) trying is building a homemade keg-o-rator. I’m also optimistic about getting my golf game into the double digits.

Greg: I write computer programs, tinker with electronics and microcontrollers, and generally learn new things. In the winter, I’m pretty into snowboarding; I ride Mt. Hood as often as I can.

Matt

Off The Beaten Path

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

Matt: Dry Stout (like a Guinness Extra Stout): Dry humor and a bittersweet finish sounds like me.

Greg: My girlfriend likes Fruit Lambics, so…

Greg: I’d brew a Willamette-Citra Double IPA, then I’d leave it for the executioners to finish, and that would be my final revenge. It might even kill him.

Matt: I would ask for a PBR . Then the executioner, who is actually our 3rd brewing buddy, MacGyver, would have made a flash-bang grenade out of the can. Using the grenade as a distraction to get out of the execution room we would all escape when our friends from the ‘A-Team’ land their riding lawnmower-turned-helicopter on the roof where there’s a lot of shooting but no one gets hurt. We would escape and survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a brewing question, if no one else can help, and if you can find us, maybe you can hire Matt & Greg .

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?

Greg: Oh, have you ever had Willamette and Citra in a Double IPA?

Matt: I agree with Greg, it’s very Wench-like.

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

Matt: I guess the power to have all powers would be cheating, so I would pick telekinesis because it would cover the most ground. I would be able to fly, shoot “mind bullets”; and homebrewing would go a lot faster if I could instantly make water boil. Plus, if Greg and I ever got into a disagreement over what to post on the blog, I could tear him apart atom by atom.

Greg: Everyone’s trust.

Matt: Ohhh, good one, very neo-political.

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

Matt: The statute of limitations hasn’t expired on the first so it’s not a good idea to publish in an interview, so the second most crazy thing would be…

Greg: Driving 135 mph on Interstate 90, and then pulling out my cell phone to take a picture of the speedometer.

4. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Matt: As an actor Kevin Bacon’s talent was not sufficiently recognized by the Academy for his work in Tremors.

Greg: There it is.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MATT AND GREG FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: NICK TANTILLOON

The Beer Wench — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:08:31 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

(A few weeks ago I posted the interview with Eugene Kolankowsky of a Tale of Two Brewers. Naturally, as one would expect, a Tale of Two Brewers involves … wait for it … wait for it … TWO Brewers. So here is the second interview in the mini-series!)

INTRODUCING: NICK TANTILLOON

AUTHOR OF: A TALE OF TWO BREWERS

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Nick Tantillo
Twitter handle: @Tantilloon
Name of blog: A Tale of Two Brewers

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Poughkeepsie, New York.

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

I played Baseball in Middle School, but that’s about it. I also fenced briefly in College, but getting poked repeatedly with a 4 foot antenna lost it’s luster after a couple months.

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

18, which puts me in my Freshman year at Lehigh

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

Throughout high school, I was pretty straight-edged about alcohol. On New Years, I’d have champagne with my mom, but that was about it. Lehigh really loosened me up, although I didn’t have my first beer until I was home on Spring Break. My mom always kept some Molsen Amber in the fridge, and as a sort of right of passage we had one with dinner. It really made me feel like an adult (one of those “parent-child” to “friend” relationship transitions.) Molsen Amber is a pretty generic Lager.

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 Lehigh University in Bethlehem Pennsylvania to study Computer Science Engineering. I was only in two official clubs or sports, “The Gaming Club” and “Fencing.” However, there was something going on every weekend. Between the stand-up comedians, musicians, free movie nights, and parties, I kept pretty busy. I also became somewhat of a gym nut; I would have joined “Crew” if it didn’t mean getting up at the god awful hour of 5 AM.

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 friend Curtis raised our standard of beer from Natural Ice (Natty) and Milwaukee’s Best (Beast) to Spaten and Lowenbrau. Although an astronomical improvement, it wasn’t really the eureka moment; we were still drinking low end beer (although the lowest end in Germany is a heck of a lot better than anything from the Wisconsin rice beer syndicate). Strangely enough my group of friends started getting into finer things, including cigars and top shelf (for a short person) liquors.

This, by natural extension started to make us question the quality of the beer we were drinking. I ran into a website called BeerPal.com, which I still consider a great review resource and we started our own Quest for the Holy Ale. We printed out the top ten beers and tried to find them at various shops. What really stood out was #3 at the time, “St. Bernardus Abt 12.” We all split one, and it had the same miraculous effect. We instantly became beer snobs; my personal affinity being for Belgian Abbey Ales.

I still rank that first sip as one of the only times I have sampled mana from the heavens, with a slight hint of ambrosia from the gods. For whatever reason (maybe it was just a good bottle) I haven’t quite reached that flavor Hyperion again, not for lack of trying. That striving desire has lead me down this beer blogging and brewing road: my own personal search for El Dorado.

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

Although this doesn’t deal with any specific beer, I did have an epiphany about craft beer when I started trying to find good beer on vacation. When I lived in Poughkeepsie, I was near a huge distributor called Halftime, which basically had everything I could want. Likewise, when I was in Pennsylvania, we were near Shangy’s.

They sold cases of Rochefort, which should speak to their quality and selection. I took it for granted that these types of stores were everywhere, but that simply is not the case. There are places in this country where you really need to dig to find anything of quality. The epiphany is, some parts of this country might buy good beer if it was more available, but Anheuser Busch basically defines what beer is across whole regions. I never look for a cool crisp taste, I want flavor (it’s only ice cold because it tastes bad warm, good beer isn’t like that.)

Beer Blog Background

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

I started writing for Gene’s blog in March. It’s been great ever since.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Gene started this blog as he became passionate about the science of making beer. I love to write and I love beer, so naturally being able to combine the two means I never run out of material. I’m grateful he chose to include me in this.

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

Gene originally was going to write the blog with another friend, but he didn’t write a single post. Eventually he sort of fell off the face of the earth, but his original intention was to write about beer with a partner.

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

I’d really like to become a published author. This blog gives me a great chance to demonstrate my style and sense of humor while simultaneously encouraging me to delve deeper into homebrewing. I’d really love to find an agent who would be interested in reading my book proposal and sample chapter (for my recently completed humorous guidebook.)

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

We were chosen as Google’s “Noteworthy Blog of the Day” and started getting 500 visitors a day. That was pretty amazing.

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

BeerPal.com
Drink with the Wench
Northern Brewer

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Abbey Ale, IPA, and Christmas Ale

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Dogfish Head, St. Bernardus, and Rochefort

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

I really agree with Sam Calagione’s philosophy at Dogfish Head. I consider myself an off-centered person, and really like their signature styles. If I could learn to brew from one of the great masters, it would be him.

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 still finding my feet and making a lot of mistakes. I have a Red Ale in the primary right now which looks promising.

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

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

You can’t beat good chili and beer. I particularly like Stone Smoked Porter with any type of red meat dish, spicy or not. Although, for anything truely hot, I like Double Bastard. Nothing puts out the fire like hoppy beer.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I work as a Marketing Manager and Technology Advisor for a Fiber Optic retailer.

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 love to be an author, but not a starving one. I could write for hours on end; when I was unemployed I spent joyous twelve hour days on my book. It’s really the financial realities of being a recent graduate keeping me from pursuing it full-time right now.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married yes, children no.

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

I love to cook, especially Greek and Mexican food. I’m really interested in learning the Tin Whistle, although I sound about as bad as a third grader right now. Lastly, I got some leatherworking tools for Christmas; I loved making my King Arther costume from The Holy Grail (for Halloween.) Learning to make leather items seems like it would be a very relaxing hobby. Plus, I just love the smell of leather.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I’d be a Trappist ale, since I love changing people’s perspective on what true beer is. I want to bring about those beer epiphanies.

I’m still chasing down that elusive first taste of St. Bernardus that I had in college. I think that if I was about to die, I’d give it one last shot. I bet it would taste even better.

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

Much like Dogfish Head is resurrecting ancient beer recipes (like Midas Touch,) I’d create a recipe that might have existed in a tavern in the middle ages. They didn’t always use hops back then and were much more creative with their bittering herbs. I’d probably include wormwood and honey, with some spices and fruit.

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

I would want to be extremely lucky; I could have riches if I wanted them, great teachers when I needed them, and no unfortunate or untimely events would happen to me.

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

I had to climb a shaky ladder while wearing a heavy backpack up to the roof of a derelict building to take pictures of a solar installation. It was about 150 degrees up there and there were no railings. I’m not usually afraid of heights, but it was frightening.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Bacon is delicious, but I’m starting to lean more towards the Canadian variety. Nothing beats a bacon egg and cheese muffin on a lazy Saturday morning.

SPECIAL THANKS TO NICK FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: DAN LUX

Wenchie — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:38:02 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

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.

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!

Featured Beer Blogger: ANDREW DUNFEE

Wenchie — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:39:49 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: ANDREW DUNFEE

AUTHOR OF: HIPPO LANE

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Andrew Dunfee
Twitter handle: @adunfee
Name of blog: Hippo Lane
Current location: Denver, CO

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Pickerington, OH. It’s a suburb of Columbus. It was all farms once. There are now two high schools. I think the football coach is gone. They put in some street lights, a few signs, made it real pretty.

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

I played basketball during lunch in high school. Junior year I realized sweat is not hot. 13 years later (aka 6 months ago) I realized, again, that basketball is fun. I now play in a league and shower after the games. They have liquid soap dispensers.

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

Three.

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 think this guy said, “Here, drink this. It’ll put hair on your chest.” I remember a diving board, orange arm floaties, a pool. If that didn’t actually happen, I know there was this time when I went to a bar on the way to go camping. My head was not yet to the top of the stool. People smoked in bars back then, too.

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

Ohio University. I studied business. I wanted to study history. I really dug the Reformation and American Indians classes. I had a band called Loesha the Swan Goddess. We were very white. The last time I was interviewed was with them. It was 2001, I believe. We drank coffee and then beer. I sounded pretentious. How do I sound so far?

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:

I drove west on 270, an outer belt in Columbus, just past I-71 and said, “What smells like geese shit?” I was alone, so nobody answered, but in a minute I saw it: the Anheuser Busch plant.

I’m just being dramatic. I really had a few slow epiphanies at different times. In college, the discovery of Guinness and Newcastle was my first foray into non-yellow fizzy beer. Some of my uncles liked this stuff, I think. There was a brewpub called O’Hooley’s in Athens. I tried heavier pale ales, stouts, and porters. It felt more special, somehow, to drink those beers, but still I mostly drank PBR at the Union.

After college, there was a place called The Elevator (still is) in Columbus. It’s kind of a snooty place, so at the time I was a bit of a beer snob. I learned a little and actually liked the beers; this is when I realized stout is my favorite. But I eventually felt like a douche and switched back to PBR, which seemed nice because I didn’t have to think about it and it was cheap.

Then, over the course of several months when I started to brew my own beer and read the Charlie Papazian books, I got back into craft beer big time. I brewed with a friend. He pushed us to learn as much as possible about the process and different styles. Making your own beer is a great way to distinguish the different flavors and styles and come to appreciate them. After, it’s hard to want just one type of beer.

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

There were some places that influenced me, places with massive selections of beer and a great beer environment: The Brickskeller in Washington D.C. Flying Saucer in Raleigh and Fort Worth. Falling Rock in Denver. Valhalla in New York. Toronado in San Francisco. St. James Tavern in Columbus, OH.

Beer Blog Background

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

I started this site in April, but wrote for brewclick.com for a couple months before that.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Those guys asked me to. They knew I was writing a book, knew how to make beer, and could put down a few. I was confused at first, but got into it after doing a couple posts and meeting some of the brewers. I started to see that there is a story to be told and meaning in this industry, in offering more choices, going back to tradition and stronger local communities. After a couple of months, I wanted to write more often and have the ability to talk about other topics. So I started hippolane.org.

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

That’s not a very nice question. I know; it’s pretty stupid. It has nothing to do with beer, writing, travels, or any of the topics I try to cover. But it’s a nice image, isn’t it?

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

The things I’ve come to care about the most in the craft beer industry are the sense of pride and artisanship that goes into making great beer and the community that exists around local breweries. For many reasons I won’t go into here, I think we need more of that. I hope I can help. I try to tell stories that make people like they want to be there, like they could be missing out. In the case of craft beer, missing out on fun, friendship, pride in community, and a greater range of experiences.

On a personal level, I want to write books and screenplays. I’m working on my first novel, about 5 major drafts in. This blog helps sharpen my skills. In the future, I hope it leads to a better connection with people that might be interested in any book I write. I also want to do non-fiction books about travel, beer, and other (maybe more political) interests.

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

Every time I go out with my friends to see a new place is the coolest thing that has happened. No seriously, that’s lame. Can I take it back? Can you, like, edit this part out?

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

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Stout, ESB, Pilsner.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Great Divide, Stone, Deschutes.

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

Brooklyn. Garrett Oliver seems like he’d be a cool boss; he wears jackets and jackets are cool. There’s a ton of tradition in the brewery, the area, I’m assuming the building. They make fantastic beers.

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

I am. I recently made a gluten-free, sorghum-based beer. After three sips, it went down the drain. My favorite, though, was a hefty imperial coffee stout. I don’t think I answered your question. Can you ask something else?

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

None. I got a certification in Java once. That’s a computer language. I just labeled myself as a dork, didn’t I? Even more so because now I’m saying things like someone’s actually talking back.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I was going to say waffles and a stout or a lambic to be amusing, but in all actuality, that’s probably pretty damn good. A real favorite is Fuller’s ESB with Saag Paneer at the British Bulldog in Denver.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Code monkey.

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 like to be a tailor in a large department store. Because you get to look good all day. I had a job in a dressing room once.

3. Are you married? Children?

Not that I’m aware.

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

I noodle on guitars, garden some, do the weird things we do in gyms, paint, read. I’m a bit obsessed with IMDB. I have a crush on Ellen Page, but that’s not a hobby.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I don’t want to answer this question.

Great Divide’s Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout. Is it okay that I had to look up the exact phrasing and spelling of that beer? It’s over 50 characters long.

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?

An Oktoberfest. A toad’s scrotum comes to mind. Butterscotch. I picture Germany and witches. What am I supposed to say?

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

It would definitely not be to swim really fast. Seriously, what is the point of Aquaman?

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

We started a lot of fires as a kid. We burned circles in the cornfield, threw smoke bombs down chimneys, put sparklers in the back of rocket engines, made hairspray flamethrowers, and did something utterly stupid with shotgun shells and fire; I’ve forgotten the specifics.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Great next to eggs. Terrible in salads.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ANDREW FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS! (GO BUCKS!)

Featured Beer Blogger: JENN PROSSER

Wenchie — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:35:41 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: JENN PROSSER

AUTHOR OF: JENN AND BEER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Jenn Prosser
Twitter handle: @jennandbeer
Name of blog: Jenn and Beer
Current location: Denver, CO

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Denver. I’m one of those proud-to-be-native Colorado types.

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

I swam, played soccer and softball, horseback rode (that sounds odd in the past tense), snowboarded and skied. I sucked at team sports, though.

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

I have much older brothers, so my first sip of beer was when I was a kid — family gathering “ooh, what’s this” type experience, you know… My first real beer was when I was 15.

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

My first beer wasn’t that interesting, but one of my first was during the summer I turned 16. My parents took my brother Timothy and me to Ireland for a two week road trip. Timothy, again, is much older than I and was beyond excited to introduce me to Guinness, which is his favorite beer. One of the first stops on our trip was St. James Gate, the home of Guinness. I looked too young for them to serve me my own beer, but my mam shared her pint with me. A pretty great experience for a teen.

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 did a year at Boston University, but all I really took from that experience was a hatred for their rivals (Boston College) and a passive love for the Red Sox. After that I returned to Ireland for college. I studied journalism at Dublin City University. I played Ultimate Frisbee at DCU, but, again, I suck at team sports. My other big activity during college was a lot of traveling — if you’re going to live in Europe for four years, you might as well take advantage of the really cheap flights to nearby countries.

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:

Usually, I refer to this story as how I lost my beer-virginity, but I suppose “craft beer epiphany” is a bit more appropriate. Being a proud Coloradan, I was well aware of how great our beer scene was, and expected to indulge in it once I turned 21. The beer available in Ireland is, well, really boring and not that good. I assumed that there were beers out there that I would like, but hadn’t really found them.

The winter I was 19, my boyfriend at the time had just turned 21. We went up to the mountains for a weekend with my parents and they said they’d buy him some beer to bring with us. He requested New Belgium’s Sunshine Wheat. My parents let me have a bottle or two of it over the weekend and I really loved it. I didn’t think beer could be that good.

Since then, my beer palate has improved quite a bit and I find Sunshine to be rather…well, tame, I guess, but it will always have a special place in my heart since that’s the beer that taught me that I liked beer.

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

Once I hit 21, I decided that every time I returned to Ireland I would bring back two six packs from different Colorado breweries. My Irish friends would look at me like I was crazy and refer to them as “those weird beers”. I didn’t like a lot of them, they were a little too complex for my younger tastes, but it helped grow my appreciation for the Colorado craft beer scene. As soon as I moved back home, I was ready to try as many new and different beers as I could find.

Beer Blog Background

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

A little over six months now.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I’ve always been a writer. I love writing and I feel lost when I don’t have an outlet for it. Last year my job didn’t involve any writing and I really missed it. I was trying to come up with something that would keep me writing on a regular basis. Lots of people offered me good suggestions, but I knew I wouldn’t commit to any of them. Then, one night I was having dinner at Breckenridge Brewery before the Nuggets/Cavs game (Nuggets won, by the way), my friends suggested I start a beer blog. I knew that my love and interest in beer would motivate me to stick with it.

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

The same friend who suggested I start the blog suggested the name. My mind was somewhat set on that, so I stuck with it.
What are you personal goals for your blog? What do you hope to achieve with it?

I’d love for it to become my profession, but I know that’s a long shot. The opportunity to write books about beer, especially beer travel books, really appeals to me. When I started the blog I had this dream of becoming the beer version of Bill Bryson, but, again, I know that’s a long shot.

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

Anytime I realize that someone is reading my blog, I’m happy. I’ve had beer distributors and breweries contact me. Back in March I had the opportunity to interview the master brewer of Guinness, which was really exciting for a two month old blog. Though I think the best experience I had was when I met someone who knew me through my blog.

My boyfriend, Kyle, and I were at our friends’ party in the mountains. I didn’t know anyone, so I started talking to some woman who had a dog. I mentioned my beer blog and her eyes lit up and she nearly shouted, “Are you Jenn and Beer?” She had apparently found my blog through Twitter a few months back and had been reading it ever since.

The beer blog has also changed my friends’ perception of my love of beer. People now know that if they need to get me something, beer-related gifts are always a good idea. Last week, for my birthday, one of my friends made me the best cake ever.

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

Hmm, so many have been covered by the previous bloggers, that I’m going to try to bring up some new ones.

Road Trips For Beer: Because the only thing better than drinking beer is traveling to drink beer. Plus Gerard is a hell of a guy.
Yesterday, while reading through some of the other profiles, I found Thousand Beer Year. I love his style of writing. And a beer blogger that loves basketball? Nothing beats that. I wish I had come up with the idea of pairing beers to basketball players.
I also love Jonathan Shikes’s Colorado Beer Man online column in the Westword. The Westword is Denver’s “alternative weekly” and I grew up reading it. Jonathan takes their fun style of writing and applies it to random stories about beer, so it’s always an entertaining read.
Sneaking in a fourth, a blog I love but isn’t really active anymore is Denversixshooter.com. It’s run by a guy who also writes for this “hipster-elitist” blog called Donnybrook. Six shooter used to feature a weekly story of someone going out on a six-bar pub crawl having one drink at each bar, with some theme that ties all the bars together. The writing style was terrific and always had a few fun stories about the crazy things that happen towards the end of a drunken night.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

My current summer beer obsession is Belgian-style IPAs — they’re light enough that they’re refreshing in the heat but still have enough flavor and body that they’re interesting. I also really enjoy interesting stouts, such as coffee stouts or chili stouts. There’s a brewery outside Denver that has a javapeno stout, I first tried it a few months ago and I still can’t stop thinking about it. Not knowing what to say for my third, Kyle suggested that I say that “it changes like the weather, which is very often here.”

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Great Divide’s tap room is my home away from home. I love their beers, I love their staff, I love them. Fremont brewing in Seattle is also fantastic. I’ll reserve the spot of my third favorite brewery for the one I haven’t found yet.

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

Great Divide. See above. They’re a great brewery and I think they epitomise a lot of what Denver’s about. Plus they make a point of supporting Denver businesses and other Denver-related causes.

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

Not yet. I keep meaning to start, but haven’t actually gotten around to it. Someday soon… someday soon…

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?

Great Divide does this amazing beer and cheese pairing every month. I didn’t fully appreciate the value of pairing beer with food until I went to one of those. I *really* love cheese and seeing how well it compliments some of my favorite beers… it was like a personal heaven for me.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m currently trying to make it as a writer, so the beer blog is more or less my “day job”.

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’m not entirely sure, which is part of my current lack-of-direction. I’d love to do some sort of marketing or writing for a brewery. I love helping people learn about new beers and watching someone enjoy a beer I’ve suggested they try. If I could turn that into some kind of career, complete with an opportunity to write, I’d be happy.

3. Are you married? Children?

Nope, the boyfriend and dog are enough for me right now.

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

Kyle and I are slightly obsessed with the local music scene. We average 2-3 shows a week and tend to get mocked by our musician friends for going to more shows than anyone. (Anyone interested in catching a small scale concert while in town for the conference, let me know. There’s bound to be something good on.)

I also spend a lot of time messing around with my dog, taking her on bike rides and hikes. In the winter my time’s dedicated to the Denver Nuggets — I go to as many games as I can and watch any of the ones I can’t attend.

Off The Beaten Path

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

Not knowing what to say for this question, I asked Kyle. He said, “A Belgian white. Fun and easygoing, but with some depth and subtle-ness… something you could relax with on a hot day, but could contemplate the intricacies if you wanted.” (He’s going to give me grief when he finds out I wrote that verbatim.) Also, I’m pale and blond so a Belgian white would reflect my appearance somewhat accurately.
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.

2. What beer would you chose and why?

I’m tempted to follow in the footsteps of other bloggers who have suggest beers like Nuclear Penguin. But I think I’d rather go out in style.

Years ago, Kurt Vonnegut teamed up with the folks at the Wynkoop brewery and made a beer based on a recipe of Vonnegut’s grandfather. If I could have any beer, it’d be that one, and right before execution seems like a good opportunity to request it.

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

I’m going to cheat here and say a gueuze. Knowing it’s one of the Wench’s favorites. It’s unique enough that it seems right for her. I might change my mind in November, when I actually meet her, but for now I’ll go with that.

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

Teletransportation. Having spent more hours than I would like to count traveling to and from Ireland, I’d really like to be able to snap my fingers and be wherever I wanted. I don’t know what that would do to the jet lag though…
What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?

I’ll probably come up with something I would have rather said here later, but for now I’ll go with this. When I was 12 I swam the Royal Gorge, which any white-water rafter can tell you is some of the most intense rafting in the country. I fell out of our boat while rafting. Our boat capsized on the next rapid and I had to find my way down the Arkansas river through level five and six rapids. Not especially fun, especially at 12.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I didn’t like it even when I wasn’t a vegetarian. But I did get my sister an awesome bacon-related card for her birthday.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JENN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: BILLY BROAS

Wenchie — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:33:34 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: BILLY BROAS

AUTHOR OF: BILLY BREW

Beer Blogger Interview

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

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

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

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

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

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

I must have been about 15.

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

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

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

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

Craft Beer Epiphany

Every craft beer enthusiast has at least one pinnacle craft beer experience that completely changes ones perspective on beer. I refer to this mind-blowing moment as a “craft beer epiphany.”

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

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

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

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

Beer Blog Background

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

I started in January 2010, so 7 months.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Old ale, Double IPA, and Berliner Weiss.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Dogfish Head, Bell’s, and Great Divide.

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

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

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

Yes! My 400 IBU Double IPA was pretty nuts.

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

No, but BJCP some day.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

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

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

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

2. If you could change your career at this very moment, without any restrictions on what you could do, what would you want to do and why?

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

3. Are you married? Children?

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

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

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

Off The Beaten Path

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

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

SPECIAL THANKS TO BILLY FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!