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: PETER ESTANIEL

AUTHOR OF: BETTER BEER BLOG

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Peter Estaniel
Twitter handle: @BetterBeerBlog
Name of blog: Better Beer Blog
Current location: San Jose, CA.

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in San Jose, CA.

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

Growing up I had always wanted to play organized basketball. I didn’t have the best handles, or the most reliable jump shot but I played with a lot of hustle and I was a decent on-ball defender and shot blocker. Then puberty hit and I moved from forward/center to point guard/cut from team. Needless to say, I never did get a chance to play organized basketball.

In junior high, I had knee issues that prevented me from doing a lot of running so when I signed up for track and field the only sport I could really participate in was discus. I was the third best discus thrower on the team… a team of three.

When I finally go to high school, joined the swim team at the behest of a good friend. He thought swimming would be a breeze, cause y’know, it was all “back and forth”. During the first practice, he turned red and nearly puked in the pool. My buddy never came back while I swam competitively for two years “specializing” in medium-long distance races and the backstroke.

I didn’t play any sports in college and today I try and keep in shape by cycling.

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

I was about 14 or 15 when I had my first beer.

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

My first beer, unsurprisingly, was a Budweiser. It was at a house party thrown by a high school friend. Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love” was on and I asked this other girl I had a crush on to dance with me. She was shorter than me, able to rest her head on my chest as we danced. At the time, one of my best friends and I decided that Mariah Carey’s “Vision of Love” was The Song. Whoever we danced with to that song was destined to be our girlfriend. You can only imagine how scared/excited I was to find myself dancing with my crush to The Song.

By the time the song was over, I stepped outside to catch my breath. My head was spinning. What did this all mean? Did she like me? Does she know I like her? Was I too obvious? Could she tell I had a “slow dance chubby”? So many questions with no answers. Someone handed me a Budweiser. I remember feeling a bit of “hmm… I shouldn’t do this, it’s illegal” but said “fuck it, Vision of Love was on and I just may have danced with my future girlfriend”. As I chugged it from the can, I don’t remember much in terms of aromatics or what-have-you. I just remember thinking that if this was beer, there’s nothing too exciting about it. Tonic water had better flavor.

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 De Anza where I received my 2-year in Liberal Arts before transferring to San Jose State University (Go Spartans!) where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design with a minor in Art History. While at DeAnza, I formed the short-lived D.A.M.N (DeAnza MotoNation) motorcycle club. I didn’t participate in too many things while at SJSU. It was basically home, work, school for me. I was president of my graphic design class though. Under my “leadership”, we took our Senior Show on the road to San Francisco as opposed to staying in San Jose. My thought at the time was to bring the design show to the designers. In hindsight, I’m not sure if I would’ve done things differently.

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 remember what my first craft beer epiphany was. For me, there was never this “Aha!” moment, no lightning strikes, no parting of the clouds. I used to drink a lot of MGD and after that, a lot of Newcastle. I liked Newcastle because it had a bit more flavor than MGD but wasn’t as bitter as Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale. After some months, I found myself ordering a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and finding the bitterness not as bad as I once thought. I went from a single pint that night to a pitcher and haven’t looked back since.

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

Some time after getting used to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I found myself trying a glass of Chimay Grand Cru. I had never tried Belgian beers before, they seemed mysterious, exotic and downright befuddling with all those names Dubbel, Tripel, Cinc Cents, Duvel, Westmalle, Orval, Piraat… Anyway, I took a sip and was rewarded with an explosion of flavor. If there was ever an “Aha!” moment for me, this was it. I never knew beer could taste this way and I was instantly hooked.

Most of my other beer epiphanies were experienced during my first BJCP class. I learned that I loved all the sour ales (gueuze, lambic, flanders red/brown, Berliner weiss). I also learned that I really enjoy a well made pilsner. If you ever have the chance to take a BJCP prep class, I’d highly recommend it, even if you don’t ever plan on taking the test. It’s a great way to be introduced to a wide variety of beer.

Beer Blog Background

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

I had to double-check the answer on this one but 3 years. Wow, can’t believe it’s been that long.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I initially started the blog to keep track of all the beers I’d be drinking. After the whole Chimay epiphany, I wanted a repository where I can list all the beers I had along with my tasting notes. That way I could keep track of all the beers I liked as well as avoiding all the beers I disliked. As I started going to different events, the scope of the blog started to increase as well. At present I use the blog to share with everyone many of the beer-related things I do. I used to catalogue everything I did but not so much. All the little stuff usually goes on Twitter now.

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

I was surprised when I found out no one had that name registered. I really like the alliteration. The way the name should be interpreted is that this is a blog about “better beer” as opposed to a “better” beer blog.

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

My personal goals for the blog, in the immediate future, are to design an identity system for the blog and then redesign the blog itself. The tone and type of content will remain pretty much the same, perhaps expanding if I start doing different beer-related things.

In a perfect world, the blog would generate enough revenue to allow me to retire and do whatever I wanted. Until that happens, I’ll be satisfied if the blog became a tool that would allow me to evangelize the goodness that is craft beer. If I could turn more people onto craft beer through my writing, my events and in talking with me, then it has served its purpose.

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

I think one of the coolest things to happen to me directly as a result of being a beer blogger was getting to meet and hang out with Pete Slosberg. Pete was on the bleeding edge of the craft beer movement and as a result, is one of the most respected names in craft beer. For his contributions, he has every right to be a jerk and to demand respect but he is one of the most down-to-earth, affable and kind people I know.

In general, getting to meet a lot of cool people because of the beer blog is a huge perk. Some folks make it a big deal to try and leverage their blog for free stuff, and that’s all fine and dandy, but meeting cool people and visiting different places has been a huge thing for me. I hope the good time continue.

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

Brookston Beer Bulletin because I respect Jay’s opinion on craft beer politics. Pfiff! because I am deeply envious of Rob’s writing. Lastly, the official BJCP website because I’m always looking up information on beer styles.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

I hate questions like this as I’m a promiscuous drinker. I drink whatever I happen to be in the mood for or what I think will go well with my meal. Still, if I had to choose: American Pale Ale, Flanders Brown and wood-aged beers.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Another one of these questions with ever changing answers. While I don’t love everything they brew, I do appreciate the company culture, eye toward environmental stewardship and relative brewing freedom of New Belgium Brewing Company. I like Russian River Brewing Company because they brew excellent hoppy and sour beers, two flavor profiles I really enjoy. My final “favorite” brewery has more to do with the brewmaster than the actual brewery: Firehouse Brewery & Grill. Brewmaster Steve Donohue has been nothing but welcoming since I first stepped into the brewpub and asked him to tell me what scotch ale was. He’s no slouch in the brewing department either having medaled at GABF on back-to-back years now.

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

How to limit yourself to just one? So many places are doing so many interesting and wonderful things that I find it difficult to choose. I admire many different breweries for many different things: New Belgium for their environmental stewardship and cool bikes; The Bruery and Dogfish Head for innovative recipe formulation; Lost Abbey, Avery and Drakes for their work on barrel-aged beers and Firestone Walker for their hoppy, yet balanced beers.

At the end of the day, if I were to work for a brewery it’d have to be for my own. I’d take a little bit from each of the breweries that I’ve mentioned and add them to my own brewing philosophy to hopefully create something new, special and brewing up many things absolutely worth drinking. Besides, I’ve spent my entire working life working for other people, it’s about time I become the boss.

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

Yes, I am a homebrewer. I’ve been brewing for the better part of a decade. For the most part, I try to brew up straight up examples of a style. Sometimes I see novice homebrewers go right to extreme beer recipes for their initial foray into homebrewing and I wonder why? I understand the enthusiasm and energy when starting a hobby but there are some brewing basics that need you need to be proficient in prior to going ape-shit crazy with your recipe formulations. In other words, baby steps. That in mind, it took me several years before I felt comfortable adding different things to my beer or trying different techniques.

My first attempt at a “conceptual” beer was my Hopricot, an American wheat ale brewed with apricots and dry-hopped. The bottled version of this beer tasted exactly the way I envisioned it: balanced wheat malt flavor with noticeable apricot character and generous hop flavor and aroma without being overly bitter. The kegged version turned into a nasty mess when I dry-hopped it for 10-weeks. Hop. Bomb. All hop flavor, aroma and an increased bitterness without any balance.

For Christmas I gave out bottles of a Belgian Dark Strong I brewed with about 11 lbs. of fresh figs and a 1-year old Russian Imperial Stout I aged for about 4 weeks with a bourbon-soaked American oak spiral. Not sure how the Belgian ale will turn out but the RIS is decent.

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

I am a BJCP Certified-level judge. I hope to earn a Cicerone certification in the first half of this year.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Believe it or not I don’t have a favorite beer & food pairing. My appetite is constantly changing so a pairing I may like at one moment may not appeal to me the next because I’ve moved on and am on to something else. I am an equal opportunity glutton.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I currently work for a Japanese laptop manufacturer in their eCommerce department responsible for a few of their demand generation programs.

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 love to open up a world-class bottle shop. I think it’d be great to be surrounded by so much good beer, both American and European craft. I imagine I’d do a fair bit of traveling in trying to get the beers I want into my shop but it’d be great to always be able to return home. You’d get all of the perks of a great beer bar without the bar hassles.

3. Are you married? Children?

I am married, no children… that I know of. My wife and I are actually quite fond of her little niece. She’s so full of energy and curiosity… I’m amazed at how she’s growing by leaps and bounds.

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

When I’m able, I like to get on my bike and pedal around town for a bit, usually in the foothills surrounding my neighborhood. I am a casual gamer by design. I know how I can get once I get stuck on a video game so I try to limit my playing to a couple of hours a month. Put another way, I’ve called in sick to work on several occasions because of video games.

Lately I’ve become more interested in cooking and have taken up making my own pizzas from scratch. I’m looking to expand into other breads and sausages. I love watching basketball, the NBA to be more specific.

I am a long suffering Golden State Warriors fan. Truthfully, this season has me at my wits end. I blame management, ownership and parts of the coaching staff. I still haven’t forgiven management for breaking up the core group of guys that got us into the playoffs a couple of years ago.

Oh, I’m a comic book geek also. I’ve stopped collecting for years now but I try and keep up to date with the current goings on with the titles I used to collect. I used to be in it for the art but I’m finding the storytelling to be much more compelling today. Each story arc is now part of a greater scheme of things that has repercussions down the road, sometimes months and years later. It’s great to see such tight continuity as opposed to the random (and often poor) storylines of the 90s.

Off The Beaten Path

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

If I were a style of beer, I think I’d be a barrel aged, English Pale Ale brewed with American hops. Barrel aging would represent a grounding in traditional beliefs and ideals while American hops would represent a progressive and open view to new experiences. I chose the English Pale Ale style because it is balanced and can go with a variety of things.

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?

I thought this would’ve been a much tougher question but hands down I’d pick Utopia. If presented with death, I’d want my last beer to be something layered, complex, nuanced… and hella high in alcohol. Hella.

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 I would brew up would be a Blonde American IPA with a secondary fermentation using WLP510 Belgian Bastogne Ale Yeast. Whenever I hear “wench” I think of pirates so the historical beer for long sea voyages is the IPA. I would brew up the bitterness level to something acceptable for the style, around 60-65 IBUs but dry hop with like crazy for a really bright hop aroma and flavor. Lastly, I’d want to dry this beer out using the Bastogne Ale yeast, which should leave a slight acidity in the finish.

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

Being a comic book geek, I’ve actually thought about this in great detail. I’ve narrowed it down to either omnilingualism or self-duplication. Being able to speak/translate any language (spoken, written or electronic) can command serious paper. I mean, just think about it for a minute: you can intuitively speak or read any form of communication verbal, non-verbal, electronic. There wouldn’t be anything you couldn’t do. Seriously. Computer programming? Check. Presidential interpreter? Check. Interrogator? Check. Foremost expert on ancient languages and texts? Check and check. Worldly traveler and seducer of women? Check.

Self-duplication, as exhibited by Jamie Madrox, is just as cool. The guy absorbs kinetic energy to make a duplicate of himself. He can then send those dupes out to learn different things and when he reabsorbs them, he knows what the dupe knows. I could be in two places at the same time. Need help lifting a carboy? Make a dupe. Need to learn a language? Make a dupe and have him learn it, then reabsorb him. Playing a pick up game of basketball and you’re 4 guys short? Make a dupe. Or four. Need to re-enact the blue man sex orgy in Watchmen? Make couple of dupes and get the body paint ready.

In the end, I’d choose self-duplication only because of the potential to get more done.

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

I don’t really like to gamble. I prefer a fair amount of certainty in the things I undertake. That being said, I once took a vacation to South East Asia with no plans, reservations or direction. We just went with the flow, drank a lot, smoked a lot and lived. Oh, I was also an accomplice to “dining and dashing” from a brothel.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Bacon has a sublime flavor profile that is a godly balance between fat, salt, sweetness (if it’s been cured with something), savory pork flavor and crispness (just enough crispness to induce a crunch when bitten into but not so crispy that the fatty portions are still chewy) that is unrivaled in this world. That being said, I find its inclusion in everything from vodka to chocolate to be overkill and frankly, too much of a good thing.

SPECIAL THANKS TO PETER FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!!!

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: TRAVIS SMITH

AUTHOR OF: 510 BREWING

*Beer Blogger Interview*

Full name: Travis Smith
Twitter handle: MrTrav
Name of blog: 510 Brewing
Current location: Fremont, CA

*Background “Snapshot”*

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Fairfield, CA. Not a particularly exciting place to grow up, but it gave me the small town feel while still being close enough to the city. I got to experience the best of both worlds growing up.

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

I grew up playing mostly baseball. After about 10 years I realized I wasn’t a great hitter, so I switched to a sport where the ball doesn’t move, gold. I was the captain of my high school golf team my senior year and have maybe played 3 or 4 rounds since then.

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

I think I had a sip of Coors Light as a young kid. It was so horrible I didn’t drink again until after college. My first beer I remember was Heineken. I only know that because I was hungover for a week after drinking too many of them. I stuck around the macro beers for a year or so until falling upon Pyramid Hefe as my first craft beer. Pyramid’s Curveball and Lost Coast’s Great White were what got me stuck on craft beer, I have never looked back since.

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 answer)

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 DeVry University in Fremont studying Network and Data Communication Management. DeVry isn’t a huge “let’s get together and do stuff” type of school. The only school sponsored event I attended was a Halo tournament which me and my roommates absolutely dominated at.

*Craft Beer Epiphany*

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

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

The major one I can recall is my first trip to Pyramid Alehouse in Berkley. For a long time we would always get Kegs of Curveball in the summer. Being able to see the place where it’s made and try it directly from the source was a novel concept. From there I started looking at other local breweries and trying their beers, it just sort of spiraled out of control from there.

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

The first would be starting up a video beer blog a few years back. I was a huge follower of social media guru Gary Vaynerchuck and his Wine Library TV video blog. One day sitting around drinking beer we though, well why the hell couldn’t we do that? After a couple of episodes, I wanted to know more about what I was drinking. What ingredients made a good beer, or a bad beer? Homebrewing was the logical choice. I started out with 5 gallon extract kits on a turkey frier in the back yard and have since expanded to a two tier all grain setup doing 10 gallons at a time.

*Beer Blog Background*

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

I have been doing 510 Brewing only for a couple months. It is a facility to interface with craft beer enthusiasts while we document our trek to become a production brewery. However if you include the video beer blog I used to do, I have been beer blogging for a couple years now.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

The love of craft beer and wanting to make a living out of my passion.

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

510 Brewing is going to be the name of our brewery when we open up, hopefully next year.

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

The goal is to use it as a facility to talk to potential future customers. I want to let them know the trials and tribulations that we are going through to open a brewery. Hopefully when we actually open up it will help other aspiring homebrewers make the leap to go pro as well.

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

Honestly it has to be all of the cool people I have been able to meet. I have been able to meet rock stars like Sam Calagione and Vinnie Cilurzo. I have also made great friends through beer events, probably friends I will now have for life.

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

Peter from Better Beer Blog is probably one of my most respected opinions in regards to the authority of beer. Jay Brooks from Brookston Beer Bulletin is also another one of my favorites. When I need a good laugh though, I turn to my buddies over at Two Beer Queers. Wait, did I mention Drink with the Wench is my all time favorite?

*Beer Talk*

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPA/IIPA is by far my favorite. Hops are so good for your soul, it just makes sense to have as many as possible.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Mendocino County simply for their Double IPA seasonal. Hangar 24 for what they have been able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. Finally I would go with Dogfish Head for the creativity they bring to the table with each brew.

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

I would have to go with Dogfish Head. In all honesty, I haven’t loved any beer of theirs I have tried. To their credit, everything I have tried was in bottle form and shipped all the way across the country. However, Sam brings much more to his company then just being their leader. He is a visionary and a story teller who I think would be very inspiring to work with/for.

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

Yes, but trying to change home into pro. The beers we have been making during the winter months can get quite whacky. Our pumpkin ale was originally made by cutting off the back off of an already carved jack-o-lantern pumpkin the day after Halloween. However our most interesting beers have come by mistake. For example our Belgian Wit we made when our hop scale was MIA. We “eye-balled” the amount of hops needed and ended up with something like 65 IBU’s for the wit. Interesting, yes…good, no.

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

I have taken tasting classes and studied for the BJCP, but haven’t taken the time to schedule out the test. I am interested in the Cicerone, but I also haven’t had the time to start that process.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

This is an area of the beer world where I am completely oblivious to. The best pairing I have tried though is a nice mellow IPA with a spicy chicken pasta dish.

*The Personal Side*

1. What is your current day job?

Current day job is working as a software engineer for a startup in the Silicone Valley.

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?

Hell Yes! I work part time at a brewpub in Fremont right now trying to learn the ins and outs of running a production brewery. Once financing is in order, 510 Brewing will recruit me from my current day job.

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes, married my high school sweet heart in June of 2008. No children though, way too selfish for children at this point in my life.

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

Softball takes up most of my time in the dry months. I am a hobby collector though, I tend to dabble in a lot of side projects.

*Off The Beaten Path*

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

Kolsch. Light bodied and easy enough to get along with to introduce people to the craft beer world.

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?

I would have to go with a magnum of Stone Brewing Arrogant Bastard. After drinking that much, hopefully I would be passed out or die of alcohol poisoning before making it to the executioner.

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 would go with a blonde ale but kick it up a notch, maybe with some habanero spices or orange zest.

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

I’m a huge fan of Heroes, and my favorite character is Peter Petrelli. But if I was the only one around with powers it would be kind of useless. So I will stick with the ability to fly. How awesome would that be to be able to go anywhere in the world free of charge. I would move to Hawaii and commute to Fremont every morning from there.

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

A lot of memories come up from when I was a young kid and loved racing cars and going fast all the time. I don’t recall anything taking me to the brink of death, but I do remember a lot of idiotic acts. Such as trying to convince all my friends they could do donuts in their cars, including the owners of a 4,000 lb Thunderbird and a front wheel drive civic. I also recall trying to “get air” in my car and shooting sparks from my under carriage. Probably not a good idea since that’s where the gas tank is.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I don’t know what the huge fad is with bacon. I like to munch on a piece every so often, but I don’t think I will be making bacon beer anytime soon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO TRAVIS FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW. BEST OF LUCK TO HIM IN HIS GOAL TO OPEN A BREWERY!

CHEERS!