Drink With The Wench » beer writer

Featured Beer Blogger: BILLY ELLISON

Wenchie — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:17:18 +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: BILLY ELLISON

AUTHOR OF: BEERING WITH WD

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Billy Ellison
Internet nickname: Wd
Twitter handle: @Wd2048
Name of blog: beeringWithWd
Current location: Springfield, MO

Background “Snapshot”

Where did you grow up? Split time between Alabama and Georgia
What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond? I was always a fan of Baseball. Played for a couple of years early on, but nothing by high school.
How old were you when you had your first beer? Had my first sip when I was about 14. Had my first full beer around 19.
If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer? Where did you have it? What style and brand was it? It was a Budweiser, and lasted all of about 2 seconds in my mouth before I spat it out. Still can’t stand that stuff! Eventually went to Michelob lagers for a while.
Where, if applicable, did you go to college? What did you study? What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college? Didn’t really do the whole college thing. Went for a couple of semesters at a local community college. Decided it wasn’t for me.

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: On my 21st, my parents gave me money and sent me on a beer run. It was all completely my choice! After picking up parent’s requested libations, I moved over to the beer cooler, and just stared!!!! There were so many to choose from. Since there were so many, I decided to go with something “exotic”, something I hadn’t seen in anyone’s hand before. Purely by chance, I reached in and grabbed a 6-pack of (what was then called) Guinness Triple Stout. Beer firmly in hand, I headed back towards the house, just itching with anticipation! When I got home, I headed straight for the kitchen and the first glass I could find. After spending the next 5 minutes pouring, I jumped right in. The bitterness hit me right up front, but I held back from spitting it out. As the bitterness subsided, there were so many other flavors! Chocolately, almost earthy. It was so SMOOTH! From then on, I was hooked.
Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first? Detail as many of them as you wish: I’ll do the last couple because they are my favorites since: 1) My first homebrew was an Irish Dry Stout (see a trend?). I figured, especially being my first batch, that it was going to taste like the moonshine that would come off the mountains back home… basically gasoline. When I opened that first bottle of the stout after it was done conditioning, it took me back! I couldn’t believe homebrew could actually taste as good as what you can buy off the shelf, I figured it was going to be at least slightly inferior. I’m sure it is in many ways. Taste and body wasn’t one of them, though. 2) was just a few months ago. A group decided to go out for sushi at a local place. Sushi isn’t my favorite, but it was an excuse to try something new. The something new I found was Chimay Red. That was my first Trappist style Ale. I spent the rest of the night raving at how full the flavor was, and how wonderful the mouthfeel just lingered with you. As my eyes continue to be opened at all the variety of craft beer… I can’t wait for the next experience.

Beer Blog Background

How long have you been writing your beer blog? Started just in January of 2010
What inspired you to start writing your blog? I’ve written blogs on and off before, and I decided to take on the challenge of sharing my discoveries with any and all who would read.
Why did you chose the name of your blog? It was originally a typo. I was going to focus on my brewing journeys. However, as I looked at the name, BEERING allowed me so much more than just my brewing adventures.
What are you personal goals for your blog? What do you hope to achieve with it? No personal goals with the blog, per se. What it represents, though, with brewing? Absolutely! I hope to encourage this area to continue to grow in the craft beer scene. We only have one brew pub. Would like to see more. If that happens and I just happen to be a part of it, that’s just a bonus.
What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer blogger? No flattery intended, it would be this interview.
What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites? Love the guys over at Hop-Cast. Also enjoy Peter’s blog over at BetterBeerBlog. Finally, who can turn down the Wench!

Beer Talk

What are your top 3 favorite beer styles? I haven’t met a Stout yet I didn’t like. Also, Porters and Marzens are quite tasty!
What are your top 3 favorite breweries? been drinking so much of my own I had a brain lapse of who is out there, haha! Schlafly out of St. Louis has some INCREDIBLE beers. Good stuff out of Colorado from O’Dells too. Finally, have to give some love to Boulevard out of KC. Have to say, if you haven’t tried the beers coming out of MO (or the midwest in general) you are missing out!
If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why? Love to learn from the crazy stuff coming out of DogFish Head, but I’ve been blown away by Schlafly lately. That’s pick number one!
Are you a homebrewer? If yes, what is the most unique and interesting beer recipes you’ve brewed as a homebrewer? Yes. The most interesting brew to date is actually still secondarying as of writing this. Imperial Espresso Stout. We cold brewed the espresso and decanted it into the primary. It’ll secondary for 60 days and bottle condition for 6 more weeks. It’s the boldest one yet.
Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they? Not Yet!
What is your favorite beer and food pairing? An English style (malty) Porter with a large Ribeye. MMMMM…..

The Personal Side

What is your current day job? Systems Analyst for a software company. Specifically I install/configure/support data replication solutions for banks. Sorry, did I put you to sleep on that one?
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? No restrictions? I would want to do what I have a BLAST at. I’d work in a brewery.
Are you married? Children? Married without Children. Two cats though, does that one count?
Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies? I love to belt out some tunes, Karaoke style! Also, reading never gets old. Golf has always been in my life (my granddad used to own/run a golf course) and Atlanta Braves Baseball!

Off The Beaten Path

If you were a style of beer, what style would be an why? I’d be an Irish Stout. I’m pretty dry in real life.
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? O’Dell Bourbon Barrel Stout. Love the smokyness and the caramel tones of this beer. Plus, at 10.5%, once I’m done with the bomber, I really won’t care.
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 would make it a Belgian Strong Ale/Blonde blend, and dry hopped with Mount Hood hops.
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be? I’d fly! Definitely! That way I could Brewery Hop. EPIC CRAWL!
What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story? A friend talked me into climbing up a 50 foot cliff and then jump down into a lake while the rest of the party watched from the boat. My friend’s comments to me: Going up “Oh, I jump that cliff all the time” After the free fall and seeing my life flash before me in a giant splash of concrete, I mean Lake water: “I’d never jump off that one! You are nuts!” Wonderful day on the lake.
What are your thoughts on bacon? Yes Please!

SPECIAL THANKS TO BILLY FOR AN AWSEOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: A2 BEER WENCH

DHonig — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:05:20 +0000

Drink With The Wench Presents

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: THE [other] BEER WENCH

AUTHOR OF: A2 BEER WENCH

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: E.T. Crowe (Elizabeth Tarry-Crowe–but nobody calls me “Elizabeth” except me mum and the Mister when the credit card bill arrives, oh and my yoga instructor because he’s old school that way).
Internet nickname: A2BeerWench
Twitter handle: @Beerwencha2
Name of blogs:

Current location: Ann Arbor, MI

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I was born in Nashville TN grew up in Tallahassee Fl, and S.E. Kentucky. Williamsburg to be exact. Home of Cumberland College where my dad was head of the music department which, as a Southern Baptist Institution frowned on all forms of vice including drinking AND dancing. Funnily enough, my parents hosted some pretty damn wild “Faculty Parties” if I remember right–where I had my “first wine” for sure!
2. What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond?

Sports? I sang, danced and played piano–but since I was “in the band” I attended all football and basketball games and am a HUGE fan of both sports. I’m also a fan by default of soccer now that I have a club player I have to cart around hells half acre. Have learned to compensate spending my time standing around waiting for her to finish by admiring soccer coach physique.
3. How old were you when you had your first beer? If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer? Where did you have it? What style and brand was it?

First beer (psst, mom, cover your ears): 16 years old at a party out of a keg in a ubiquitous red plastic cup. I’m guessing it was probably Coors Light since I remember it tasted like beer flavored water. Of course as a typical teen-age girl I drank whatever the boys provided–sometimes they got clever and brought “wine coolers” until I realized these were beer flavored fruity water and stopped that nonsense. I’m a preacher’s kid from a small, boring, repressed (AND DRY) Southern village–it’s all true what they say. My parents kept a lot of wine around… And the more I drink the more Southern I sound just FYI.

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 have a B.A. in English from The University of Louisville (Ky.) and am a rabid Cardinals fan through thick/thin, Petrino/Kragthorp/Pitino’s libido. I am a member of Chi Omega fraternity where I was (big surprise) Social Chairman for 2 years. I was also a Resident Assistant in the athletic dorm my Senior year–prepared me to be a mom of teenagers I like to think but probably not since I spent more time not in the dorm than in it!

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:

Yeungling Premium on the beach at Fripp Island, South Carolina in 1997 the year before I packed up my family and moved overseas for 7 years where I would come to appreciate Asahi (EXTRA DRY) while in Japan, Ephes while in Turkey and whatever I stumbled upon in my Local while in England although ales are my Second Favorite Style (see below). I have not purchased a macro brew or any of their subsidiaries since.

While some among you may consider Yeungling NOT a craft brewer, I do and am modeling my own beloved company after theirs. I can’t get said fine Pennsylvania brew in “America’s High Five” a.k.a. Michigan but love finding it whenever I’m Down South. And plan to transport it over state lines after my Annual Trip to Louisville on the First Saturday in May (see how many people know what Holiday this is—hint: it involves hats and mint juleps, oh, and horses)

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

In Michigan the opportunities for Craft Beer Epiphanies abound. Starting with Founders in Grand Rapids I’ve worked my way through developing a real taste for the Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale—which is saying a lot because (as you know) ales are not my first choice but this is a really nice one—around to New Holland who brews the FINEST Kolsch style (Full Circle) I’ve had since spending a Christmas in Koln, Germany with friends.

My new favorite IPA is made by Arcadia Ales in Battle Creek. And of course Shorts makes some lovely beers, including The Magician but I personally can do without licorice flavored beer no matter how many awards it wins. Of course, it’s been established that I am a Dogfish Head fan(atic) and am never more than a few feet from a Raison D’etre, and not just because I am madly in lust with Sam Calagione either. It’s one of the few Belgian style ales that I return to time and again. I’ll have to fill you in on the amazing options in Ann Arbor on my next Wench collaboration blog (wink).

Beer Blog Background

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

I’ve been blogging on wolverinebeer.com about a year but as Beer Wench since October last year.
2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I am in constant learning mode as part owner of The Wolverine State Brewing Co. While I am a successful marketer (and semi-professional writer with a pretty large fan base, albeit I haven’t managed to earn any money off that yet) and have a thriving real estate business I was not what you would call “a beer person” in the traditional sense. But when I was approached by The Boys (founders of Company) nearly 2 years ago now and have slowly but surely turned my back on Realtor life as we prepare to open our own brewery and tap room in Ann Arbor I realize one of the coolest things about it is—The Beer!

As I researched beer info (blogs, books, magazines) I realized that the bulk of them were focused on The Beer–as in the making of, the appreciation of various types of, the pairing of food with, and were dominated by men–sort of like the industry itself. My take is a slightly off-kilter, sarcastic and let’s-poke-fun-at-ourselves female perspective incorporating everything from mildly serious discussions on labeling rules and regs to “best beer songs” which really got folks revved up! I don’t speak on ANY topic however, without thorough research, and usually discussion with My Boys, who now include the adorable Oliver–The Brew Kid for Wolverine Brewing.

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

I’ve always wanted to be officially named A Wench–once you get to know me, you’ll see why it works! And “A2″ is the “A-squared” shorthand for My Beloved Adopted Mid-west City (Although This Wench’s heart truly belongs to the South and I’m planning a fun sweep of Southern craft breweries for the fall once I hit all of our amazing Michigan ones–starting right here with my favorite: Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti).

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

Of course, I’m all about shameless promotion for The Wolverine State Brewing Co. The Boys (yes they have names but I prefer to think of them thus) offered me ownership in the company not just because that was all they had to offer at the time (other than their adorable company and a tendency to dissolve into naughty email chat when we are trying to conduct business). They knew I would take this thing seriously and My Plans for my blog dovetail with My Plans for My Company.

I want to become the premier microbrewer of mainstream and experimental craft lagers in the Midwest. Also, with the help of The Boys and The Kid, the A2 Beer Wench will pursue Cicerone certification (in my spare time–ha!) while adding a video element to The Wench’s Education with The Boys, as I’ve found a film student at that University across town who will work for beer (score!) a la Gary Vaynerchuk and his winelibrary.tv which is sheer marketing GENIUS.

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

Hands-down the coolest thing so far happened to me this week–I finally Got Noticed by drinkwiththewench (one of my beer bloggin’ heros) hence said chance to blather on about myself, and was asked to partake in a podcast with a couple of “beer guys” one in Florida and one in N.Y. We had our practice session yesterday and I think it’s gonna be great! They can go on and on about a topic and I’ll jump in with my girlie/smart ass/industry expert/brewery owner perspective.
6. What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?

I love Mutineer Magazine’s Blog–frankly, am hoping they’ll consider printing a little, ah, fiction (if I take mine down a notch to an R rating of course). I’m also a big fan of the girlsguidetobeer ’cause she’s just funny as hell and nearly as naughty as me plus of course, my new BFF The OTHER Wench as drinkwiththewench. I tend towards industry minutiae /gossip/ trends/marketing/advertising and take my role as Wenchy Educator about said topics seriously.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

German Pilseners (Noble Pils or the like from our Buddies in Boston
Maibock/Helles bock (e.g. SN Glissade—yummy)
Kolsch (German obviously) or in that style a la New Holland’s Full Circle

2. Favorite breweries OTHER THAN MINE (naturally):

Dogfish Head
Shorts/Arbor/New Holland/Arcadia (it’s a Michigan tie!)
Yeungling

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

If you have not sorted out the answer to this questions yet…I’ll repeat: Dogfish Head. And truly not just because of Sam (heavy sigh) but because of the intensity of purpose his company brings to craft brewing, the savvy marketing and packaging they use and because he is Smoking Hot. Sorry. I can’t help it.

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

Nope—but I pay one to work for me.

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

No but am psyched to start my training—first Official A2 Beer Wench session is (appropriately enough) May 9 Mother’s Day with Oliver and The Boys.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

As one who could also easily be labeled “wine wench” which is what Oliver calls me when he throws up his hands in disgust at my booze choices when we are out—I’m a big fan of stinky, heavy cheese with my hoppy, vine-y beers (see list above).

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Owner/marketing guru for The Wolverine State Brewing Company which encompasses everything from long days of “ride alongs” with distribution sales reps, public relations writing, blogging (duh), soliciting Founders Club members amongst my many A2 connections, planning beer promo events (Hello World Expo of Beer!), arranging to provide/serve/promote my beer at the many fundraising parties in this town, planning for football season, meeting architects/builders/electricians/plumbers/city inspectors at The Brewery and Tap Room building, hand-wringing over the slowness of renovation, propping up The Boys when they are down or being propped up (our synergy is great–see the post from March 23 Wherein The Wench Loses Faith).

Whew.

Soon I get to buy chairs, tables, bar ware, dry snacks, lights, artwork, sling a paintbrush, all in the name of getting the damn place OPEN by July! Then I hit tailgate season. . . Oh, and I sell a few houses now and then ($5 million last year) and write erotic fiction and endeavor to get it published–closer and closer by the minute although I’m considering opening an e-publishing outfit in the back of the brewery: Hot Books/Cold Brews–whaddaya think?

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 am working towards my dream of giving up on real estate (GOD I HATE appraisers, ya know?), opening the Tap Room, brewing more and better lagers, selling them in the midwest (I’ve just got Michigan distribution right now), and getting paid to WRITE, which I will do preferably in the brewery at my World War 1 era steel desk that could be used as a bomb shelter in a pinch, where I watch the activity and smell the brewing process all day long. I will admit that my Realtor colleagues are among my earliest and best fans (of the beer and the writing) though and will continue to be that no matter what!

3. Are you married? Children?

Mr. Wench is a well-known entity in my blogosphere. He comes in handy when I need someone to bounce ideas off of, drive the kids to soccer, provide a naughty back rub (he’s indulgent this way), or be a straw man to make fun of on either blog (see the PMS post on the bedwench’s blog from March 24–all true!). We’ve been together a while, been through a lot, and enjoy the journey. I have a teenaged son about to embark on that life changing triumvirate of events known as Prom/Graduation/College (he’s majoring in “Hey I’m in College–where’s the party?” Apple has not fallen far you see), and 2 daughters, 15 and 12. Future Wenches in Training for certain.

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

Bikram Yoga–the sweaty kind or exercising in general as it keeps me sane–reading about beer or doing diligent research amongst the books in my Other Favorite Genre–watching soccer coach ass–drinking, probably too much but that’s what Milk Thistle is for—taking Power Walks with Ipod cranked to Rage Against the Machine or Cage the Elephant or Sheryl Crow with my 2 wenchy poodles.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I love this question because My Boys have decided that the first Experimental Lager on our taps will be named in my honor. There is a bit of a debate about what it will be. Here is how they weigh in.

Matt (“The Man” and President–bringer of all things boring and budgetary, corporate drone attorney of note but cool dude nonetheless): “”Rauchbier’ because it’s bold, raunchy and in-your-face!” (Rauchbier is German beer style that uses smoked malt so it has a really strong taste that most people can’t handle—he has to throw in the smarty pants bit every time!)
Trevor (“The Brain” and well, The Brain supplier of all things pie-chart and Meta Branding related): a 22 oz pilsner glass full of Pilsner Urquell. A refreshing original with a bite. When I got this response the emails flew about The Brain as Wench ass-kisser but somebody’s got to be That Guy.
Oliver (“The Brew Kid” adorable and determined to make me take All Things Brewing very very seriously): You are a Raspberry Helles, it’s seductive, mysterious, and always in the mood. (CAUTION: this would be a very Off-Center Beer. To quote the motto, of the company, of the man who is to in the future, retain a restraining order against you)

Awwww, are they not adorable?

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?

In the spring/summer: Sierra Nevada Glissade. In the fall/winter: Dogfish Head Raison D’etre served to me by Sam himself. . .in a loincloth like that hot new Spartacus show on Starz—OK, he has to serve me the Glissade too.

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?

(Went to my Brew Kid on this one Ashley, hope you don’t mind—what’s his point anyway, other than the obvious):

“A German Helles with Raspberries, harking back to The Beer Wench as a staple of a good German Beer Garden where the refreshing helles is served in it’s most traditional setting.”

Raspberries ‘cause he knows I love them I guess. Don’t know what all that nonsense is about restraining orders!

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

I am BEER WENCH, bringer of malted, hopped and fermented Goodness to the masses crying out for options to the beer flavored water lagers of the Evil Macros. I use my Xray vision to seek out shitty beer fridge choices and send my muscular Minions, dressed in Wolverine lager t shirts and loincloths (a la Spartacus, see above) to replace all Labatts/Molson/Heinie/Corona options with my delicious Michigan made, craft brewed, yet competitively-priced brew. Using my stealth mind control powers I can persuade beer snob bar owners to place my sweet tap handle alongside their heavy, meal-like ales as The Perfect Fizzy Yellow option for their thirsty patrons. I need no other super powers as my regular charms serve me just fine, thanks.

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

While visiting Key West several years B.K. (Before Kids) Mister W and I made friends with a cool old Popeye-looking guy in a run down bar where we had decided to hang out pretty much every night because the appetizers and drinks were cheap (this is prior to having Real Jobs). After 3 nights of chatting, getting to know him, listening to some awesome live acoustic guitar groups and drinking enough to cause our poor (then still young) livers to sob for mercy, he invited us down to the beach for a stroll and to partake of a controlled substance in the same family as our beloved hops.

Being the young and invincible, fit and cocky beings that we were (and still are, just with More Experience) we followed him there, partook, and heard his whole life story, which included the fascinating fact he had escaped from a maximum security prison nearly 5 years prior where he had been incarcerated for 1st degree murder, of which he was totally guilty, he said, eyes glowing as he gazed upon our bleary selves. We froze like the proverbial deer in the murderous headlights, eased ourselves up to a semi-standing position, and walked backwards away, slowly, waving and smiling and murmuring under our breath—RUN!

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

If I could, I would marry bacon and we’d head to Belgium for our honeymoon where I would have a scorching affair with chocolate, while bacon watched.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MY SISTA WENCH FOR AN EPICLY AWESOME INTERVIEW!

Cannot wait to meet her one day and UNLEASH HAVOC!

CHEERS!

Featured Beer Blogger: SEAN AYLING

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

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: SEAN AYLING

AUTHOR OF: THE SOUTH STREET SHED BREWERY

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Sean Ayling

Internet nickname: Seanipops

Twitter handle: seanayling

Name of blog: The South Street Shed Brewery

Current location: Whitstable, Kent, UK

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Craft Beer Epiphany

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beer Blog Background

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

A couple of months

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA, Porter, Imperial Stout

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Gadds of Ramsgate, Hopdaemon, Crouch Vale.

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

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

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

Nope

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

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

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a Sales Rep for a Healthcare company.

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

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

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes and Yes

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

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

Off The Beaten Path

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

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

SPECIAL THANKS TO SEAN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!!

Featured Beer Blogger: JAY BROOKS

Wenchie — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:00:49 +0000

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

INTRODUCING: JAY BROOKS

AUTHOR OF: BROOKSTON BEER BULLETIN

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Jay R. Brooks
Internet nickname: Brookston
Twitter handle: Brookston
Name of blog: Brookston Beer Bulletin, also Real Beer’s Beer Therapy and the Bay Area Newsgroup’s Bottoms Up Blog.
Current location: Novato, Marin County, Bay Area, California, Earth

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Just outside Reading, Pennsylvania (the first railroad in Monopoly) in a sleepy little town called Shillington, famous only as the birthplace of Pulitzer prize-winning novelist John Updike.

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

In high school I played on the tennis and golf teams, but worked my way through college so there was no time for sports. My all-time favorite sport is table tennis, though I’m a big fan of Frisbee Golf and Washoes, too.

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

Somewhere my very early teens, around 10 or 12, my mother bought me “Near Beer,” as mis-named a product as ever existed. It was essentially an N/A beer for kids and boy, was it horrible.

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

Shortly thereafter, I had my first “real” beer, a Yuengling no less, one summer during Junior high at Church Camp. The whole sordid story is part of Chapter 12 of “Under the Table,” my semi-fictional memoir of growing up with beer. It’s on-line in rough draft because I wrote it in 30 days as a part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writer’s Month) in 2006.

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 didn’t go straight to college after high school, primarily because my family couldn’t afford to send me to the schools I’d been accepted to. So when I turned 18, several months before graduation (in 1977), I joined the U.S. Army and the following fall began my three years stationed in New York City playing sax and clarinet with an Army Band.

I took classes at a music school in New York, Mannes College, but after my military time returned home to Reading, PA and finished my degree at Alvernia College with a B.S. in Communications. After I moved to California in 1985, I also took graduate classes at San Jose State but never finished the master’s program. I’ve also done the short course on brewing at UC Davis.

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:

For me, my epiphany wasn’t necessarily craft driven because it happened before there was craft beer. I grew up drinking regional lagers and a few cream ales that were largely interchangeable. Going to jazz clubs in Manhattan while in the service, I discovered newly imported beers like Bass Ale, Guinness and Pilsner Urquell, beers very different from what I was used to back home.

From that experience, I began seeking out different beers wherever I could, including a bar in the East Village — Brewski’s — that carried over 100 imported beers. Michael Jackson’s second book, his “New World Guide To Beer,” was published while I was living in New York and it was revelatory, too.

For a fuller account, see Chapter 23 of Under the table, and I also wrote about it for Session #15

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

There were probably many since moving to California in 1985, just when the microbrewery revolution was getting underway. Drinking Anchor’s Liberty Ale for the first time, doing a vertical of Anchor Christmas Ale back into the 80s, ditto Thomas Hardy and Alaskan Smoked Porter, among others. Visiting Traquair House in Scotland and Cantillon; Barrel tasting at Russian River.

The list goes on and on. In part, that’s what keeps me going.

Beer Blog Background

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

I originally started blogging in late 2004, though at that point it wasn’t primarily about beer. The Brookston beer Bulletin in roughly its present form was set up at the end of 2005 and I started writing it in earnest at the very beginning of 2006.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

In the fall of 2004, I left my job as the GM of the Celebrator Beer News when we learned that my son, Porter, was autistic. He was three and still was barely talking. When we found out what was going on, I quit working full-time to be home with him. When I found myself giving the same answers to the same questions about him from friends and relatives, I started a family blog so people could read about his progress. It included everything the family was up to, which naturally included beer, too. After a year or so, Porter’s progress was remarkable and I felt I could start taking on more work (I’d continued to do the blind panel tastings at the Celebrator) and began looking for more freelance work. I also decided to start a separate beer blog as a part of that decision.

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

I already had the domain name “Brookston.org” which I had been using for the family blog. Though my name is Brooks, I consider my family name to be “Brookston.” My wife’s last name is “Johnston,” and when we got married our original intent had been for us both to change our names to “Brookston,” combining the two. But laziness set in, and we never got around to it. When the kids were born, it seemed natural to make their legal last names Brookston. I’m also a big fan of alliteration, so Beer Bulletin made it complete.

I know you didn’t ask, but I do get a lot of questions about my logo.

The most common misidentifications for it include showerhead and fishing rod. I found it trolling the Internet looking for something appropriate to adapt for a logo. It’s based on the symbol for the Babylonan god Marduk, who was a Sun God, though he eventually became the primary or chief diety in later Babylonian times. He was also associated with brewing and was a Beer-Brewing God who had many symbols and fifty names.

This one, believed to be the earliest symbol for beer and brewing, is a stylized tool used for spreading grain in the anicient brewing process. The rounded part was a handle and you spread the grain out to dry and evened it out using the flat blade at the upper left. And if you look closely you’ll see by initials, “B” and an upside down “J” so it’s seemed ideal for my purposes.

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

I think the original goal was to track what was going on in the beer world as a way to put together stories to pitch, but the blog really began taking on a life of its own. It has to led to paying work as I had hoped, but I’m continually surprised by how many people tell me how much they enjoy and regularly read the Bulletin. That’s been very gratifying and helps keep it fun.

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

Hearing that lobbyists in Washington, D.C. were aware of the Bulletin and had been influenced or informed by it.

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

That’s a hard question. There are a lot of other writers I admire working in the blog format. Picking three forces me to leave out a number of authentic voices, but I’d say Stan Hieronymus, Lew Bryson and Stephen Beaumont’s online stuff are must reads.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Another difficult question, as I love virtually all beer and rarely limit myself, preferring to match what I’m drinking to what I’m eating, what the weather is like or what mood I’m in. My favorite broad kinds of beer include hoppy beers, sour beer and anything very complex, particularly barley wines.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Another impossible question, there are just so many great ones. Anchor certainly, because they were so important to the early days of craft beer. I love Cantillon, too, for their history and for keeping authentic lambic alive. Number three is everybody else.

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

Unless I was desperate for work, I wouldn’t want to work for any brewery. I just wouldn’t want to tie myself down. That’s one of the reasons I love what I do.

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

Not anymore. I did homebrew for about three years back in the late 80s, but don’t anymore. I wasn’t very good and didn’t brew all-malt or anything too adventurous. Plus there were just too many great things the professionals were doing. I’m planning on starting again in a few years, when Porter turns 10. Then we’ll start homebrewing together as a father/son project.

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

I’ve done the short course at UC Davis to help write about the technical brewing details more accurately. I’ve also attended Hop School and done the sensory course at Siebel twice, but that’s it. I started doing this so long ago that it doesn’t seem to make sense to go through the process of any certifications at this pint.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Cheese and beer.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

This is my day job, writing about beer. I work from home and also take care of the household and my two kids, while my wife works outside the home at a normal job. I write a bi-weekly syndicated column, Brooks on Beer, for the Bay Area Newsgroup, which runs in at least six papers. I also contribute articles to most, if not all, of the beer periodicals along with a few general circulation ones from time to time.

In addition to the Brookston Beer Bulletin, I also constitute to Real Beer’s Beer Therapy and write the beer portion of the Bottoms Up blog, maintained by the newspaper group I write for.

My first book involving beer was published in 1992, “The Bars of Santa Clara County, A Beer Drinker’s Guide to Silicon Valley.” I’ve also contributed to several others, including “1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die,” which will be published next March. I’m currently working on several additional book projects, some alone and a few as collaborations, and am in development with another project that I can’t yet talk too much about.

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 don’t think I’d change much, perhaps I’d write about more diverse topics, but I love what I’m doing. Writing at this point feels like something I have to do, not just something I want to or enjoy doing. It would be great if it was more valued by society and paid better, but c’est la vie.

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes squared. I’ve been married to my wife Sarah for almost 14 years, and we have two children, Porter (who’s and Alice (who’s 5).

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

I collect View Master reels and take 3D photographs, making my own View Master reels. I read a lot and am interested in most topics. I love to learn about as many things as possible, the more arcane, the better. I listen to a lot of music and watch a lot of films, though with kids I don’t get out to the theater as much as I’d like. I also have too many little obsessions than I could list here. For example, I’m obsessed with clothespins, frites and potato chips, and art, to name but a few.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I’m probably a sour beer, because I’m a maladjusted curmudgeon at heart and almost always seem out of step with my peers. Also, drink too much of me and you’ll start laughing, too.

Either a Bass No. 1 from 1900 or a Thomas Hardy 1977.

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?

Something unique, very well-carbonated and effervescent (or bubbly) with bright gold color and a fluffy white head. A perfumed nose and sweet malty character with a finish that lingers pleasantly long after it’s gone.

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

I wish I had a crazy sensitive nose that could identify where the malt was grown or what the brewer had for breakfast the morning he brewed that batch. That would be fun, if for no other reason than to finally identify the exact spices Anchor’s used in their Christmas Ale over the years.

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

Geez, this is a little sad, but I don’t think I’ve ever done anything particularly crazy, not really crazy anyway. I had a friend who lived in the Marina when the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake hit. Her apartment building was one of those ones that was in Time magazine leaning to one side, after the basement garage had collapsed, putting the second floor on the ground.

Over a dozen residents and their friends, myself included, snuck around the police, jumped over fences in back yards and into the back windows of the apartment with trash bags, grabbing what we could in shifts. Walking on the upper floors felt like we were moving on shifting sands. And the ever-present threat of aftershocks made adrenaline pump through our bodies to combat intense fear. That was a rush, so to speak. I definitely needed a beer after that experience.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Hmmmm, bacon …. Isn’t that one of the four food groups? Ask me where to get a peanut butter pizza with bacon topping? I have a bacon obsession, too.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JAY — ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST RECOGNIZABLE BEER BLOGGERS — FOR HIS AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!