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: AL EVERETT

AUTHOR OF: HOP TALK

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Albert Everett
Twitter handle: @hoptalk
Name of blog: Hop Talk
Current location: Central Maryland

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Bridgewater, New Jersey

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

I’m not particularly athletic, but I like tossing a frisbee around. And, of course, no barbecue is complete without horseshoes

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

I probably snuck a sip or two of my Dad’s beer when I was eight or nine.

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

Oh, I’m sure it was Shaeffer. That was my Dad’s beer of choice.

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 about 65 credit hours at Rutgers University before I had to leave to make a living.

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 was in my late twenties and Jim Koch was doing radio spots for Sam Adams. Being a child of the media I made sure to get some. It was around then that I discovered there were other beers NOT made by Anheuser-Busch, Miller, or Coors, so I started sampling them too. They were good, so I kept with them. I suppose my “epiphany” was when I decided I would rather buy a six-pack of Sam Adams than a 30-pack of Busch cans.

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

When a brewpub opened near me, it was if it was made just for me. (Sadly, it shut down in the late 90s. Apparently I didn’t go often enough.)

Beer Blog Background

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

Since July, 2006

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I was reading more and more blogs and not finding any just about beer (although I could easily find a whole bunch about homebrewing). After another hours-long conversation about beer I decided I needed an outlet to shout to the world about my passion for the barley. (Of course, since then, I’ve discovered that there actually were a lot of beer blogs out there at the time; I just couldn’t find them.)

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

It is my wife’s suggestion. It’s a play on “shop talk”.

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

My goal is to keep going until I have nothing else to say about beer. That doesn’t look to happen for a very long time. As for what I hope to achieve, I’ve already done it: A non-zero number of people I don’t know are interested in what I have to say about beer.

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

I was given complementary passes to Flying Dog Brewery’s Gonzofest.

6. What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites? I can only choose three?

Okay, well, I never miss a post from Zythophile, Brookston Beer Bulletin, or Appellation Beer, but there are a lot more than that I read on a regular basis.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

It depends on the day, really, but most often it’s IPA, pale ale, and stout

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Well, again, it depends. Right now I’m very keen on my local brewers, so Flying Dog, Dogfish Head, and Troegs come to mind first, but there are many more whose beer I love.

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

Probably Flying Dog. They’re local, of course, and everyone I’ve ever met that works there has been both passionate about beer (and not just theirs) and friendly as heck.

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

I’ve dabbled a bit, but I don’t know that I’d call myself a homebrewer. I’m most proud of the ESB that I brewed back in 2000 to celebrate the birth of my first daughter.

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

No, but my local homebrewing club offers BJCP classes. I’ll take them up on it when I have more free time.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

My wife’s chili and a nice Snakedog IPA

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I am a web application developer working at the National Institutes of Health

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?

Jump in an RV and travel the country and write about what I see.

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes and yes, two children.

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

Too many, probably. Tech geek, gaming, movies, reading, RPGs.

Off The Beaten Path

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

English stout. I tend to be a bit dark and murky

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?

Gonzo Imperial Porter. I’m sure Hunter S. Thompson would have a suitable rejoinder for my 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?

An old-fashioned heather ale

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

Time travel. Not so much to change the past, as to see how things REALLY happened

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

I’ll pass on this one. I’m not sure the statute of limitations has expired.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Love it. I would happily be a vegetarian as long as I could eat bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALBERT 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: JASON JOHNSON

AUTHOR OF: BARLEYPOPMAKER’S  BEER BLOG

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Jason Johnson
Internet nickname:Barleypopmaker
Name of blog: Barleypopmaker’s Beer Blog
Current location: Manitowoc, WI

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I hate to say it, but I grew up right here in Manitowoc and have lived here all my 35 years.

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

I didn’t play any high school or college sports, but a friend and I boxed a bit in my late teens, then I took up Karate in my 20’s.

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

I was 13 when I had my first full can of beer. However, I didn’t have my first real beer (non-macro) until I was 21.

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

Well, my first beer at 13 was no big deal, it was a can of Miller High Life. A friend and I used to sneak a can or two a week from our Dad’s beer in the fridge. Then drink them when his parents went bowling. My first import beer was Hacker-Pschorr Weisse and I was introduced to that by a co-worker one night. We went to a local pub where they serve yards of beer and he told me I couldn’t get Bud in that, so he suggested Hacker-Pschorr to start, and it was all downhill from there.

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 one was also the first time I had Hacker-Pschorr Weisse. Prior to that, my knowledge of beer was strictly the mass produced macro beers. Any import beer I have had up to that moment was either Heineken or Becks, neither of which I liked. That one beer forced upon me, changed my perspective on beer forever.

2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first?

Detail as many of them as you wish: I have had two more major ones, the first was the discovery that a person could make beer. Then after my wife bought me a homebrewing kit and a gift certificate to a homebrew supply shop in Green Bay now called House of Homebrew (at the time it was part of a outdoor outfitter called Life Tools), I learned the basics about how beer was made. The second major one, was the discovery that there was a such thing as homebrew competition.

I entered the Schooner Homebrew Championships and took a silver medal in the stout category. At that moment, I wanted to see what judging beer was all about, and another door to the beer world opened up to me. I then enrolled in a BJCP course and took the exam. Both of these changed not only how I view beer, but also my appreciation for it.

Beer Blog Background

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

I started a beer blog in 2008, but moved my blogging to wordpress in July of 2009.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Blogging made writing about beer and brewing fun again.

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

I wanted to use my online nickname because it is also tied with my website. The plan is that the blog is replacing the website, a blog just fits so much better for what I want to do.

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

The main purpose of my blog is to help educate about beer style and beer evaluation and give anyone a jumping off point regardless of experience. I took the BJCP course with no all-grain experience at the time, and no judging experience at all. I did not even steward a competition.

Therefore, what I try to do in the review portion of my blog is give a reader the link the guidelines to a particular beer style, then break it down, as I perceive it. The reader can either use my review as guide for what they may be getting, or simply agree or disagree with my assessment. Mostly, I just want people to take beer for what it is and realize that all beer deserves some respect, even Budweiser. I also post a bit about homebrewing and other beer culture related topics.

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

Nothing major has happened to me. Probably the coolest thing was being recognized at two different liquor stores in town here as “that guy who writes those beer reviews” when I was blogging on or local newspapers site. Also finding out that at least one of the local liquor stores still reads my blog since I moved and I have influenced some of the types of beer they bring in.

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

It is hard for me to pick three because there are a lot of good blogs and site out there. I am a huge fan of the The Brewing Network. I check simplybeer.com quite often, and have recently found myself looking at The Beer Connoisseur magazines website more and more.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

It changes from time to time. But right now its IPA (including Imperial), barleywines, and lambic/gueuze

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

New Glarus, Lagunitas, and Stone Brewing.

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

Easily it would be New Glarus. Not only because they are my favorite brewery, but in October I took their Hard Hat tour and you can tell that not only do the employees have a genuine love for the company, but Dan and Deb Carrey really care for their employees just as much as their product. Honestly, that is probably why the beer quality is unbeatable.

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, and I call my little brewing operation “Fat Dead Monk Ales”. The most interesting beer I attempted to make was an Aloe Vera ale that was nothing to write home about. However, the best beer I make on a regular basis with a unique ingredient is a chocolate stout I call Vader’s Fist, it is made with roasted cacao nibs.

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

I hold the certified rank with the BJCP.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I have a quite a few, but a unique one I find interesting is framboise with a gorgonzola blue cheese.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I am a shipping clerk and IT Intern.

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?

Dream job huh? I would say working in an IT department at a brewery, preferably at New Glarus. Computers and beer, how could you beat that?

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes to both. I have a wife, Jessica and a three-year-old son Lincoln.

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

I like to go fishing in the summer, I am a big fan of MMA, I love to make real BBQ low and slow, and I do a bit of oil painting.

Off The Beaten Path

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

Probably an IPA, since I think my body has been filled with hop oils over the last couple of years.

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?

A part of me wants something I have never had before because that is the most fun. The other part is calling for Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout to help me not care about what is about to happen.

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 am picturing jalapeño cream ale. The cream ale is inviting and easy drinking, very easily approachable by any beer drinker. However, the jalapeño adds a touch of spice and sass that only a true beer lover could understand.

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

To control people’s minds like Professor Xavier. Do you know how many free beers a person could get?

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

Death Runs. In my early 20’s a friend and I would get….um…..let’s call it enhanced, then go out to a breakwater that was nothing more than tons of well placed boulders out on lake Michigan. Then we would run around this breakwater (probably just under a ¼ mile total in size) as fast as we could as if it was a track.

Each time we would try to beat our fastest time. Did I mention we would do this only during storms or bad weather, and often at night? One time in particular the waves were crashing over the rocks and we were both holding on to the rocks as the waves were crashing around us. We easily could have been washed into the lake and nobody would ever have known. I never said it was smart, but it was crazy.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It makes everything better. There is not doubt in my mind that bacon makes Atomic Buffalo Turds as good as they are. Just take a Jalapeno, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Pack each side with cream cheese, stuff a little Smokey in the middle between the two halves, and wrap the whole thing in bacon and use a toothpick to hold it all together. Put it on the smoker for a couple of hours, and you have pure heaven right there. Google ABT’s, or Atomic Buffalo Turds.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JASON FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Several bloggers and other internet sources have written posts about the “most influential” or “top” people to follow on Twitter — in specific topics of interest (such as food, wine, social media, etc…)

However, everyone seems to be over looking the beer community. Pssshhhaw. How rude. Us beer geeks can be influential and important too, ya know!

So I thought I’d take the liberty to make my own (COMPLETELY SUBJECTIVE) list of the “Top 20 Most Compelling Beer Personalities on Twitter”. What exactly is my credential for creating the lists? Well let us start by defining the word compelling:

com⋅pel⋅ling  [kuhm-pel-ing]
–adjective
1. tending to compel; overpowering: compelling reasons.
2. having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect: (a man of compelling integrity; a compelling drama)

THE BEER WENCH’S CRITERIA FOR THE TOP 20 MOST COMPELLING BEER PERSONALTIES ON TWITTER:

1. COMPELLING ENOUGH TO FOLLOW: I must follow this person. Unfortunately, this rules out the people I do not follow — which means this list has potential to change in the future.
2. COMPELLING CONTENT: Tweets contain information of value in relation to the craft beer industry. (i.e.: news updates, events, announcements, beer reviews, links to beer related information, etc…)
3. COMPELLING PERSONALITY: Twitter personality is interesting and captivating. There is a person behind the twitter handle — they are more than just a “brand” or a “blog”.
4. COMPELLING CONVERSATION: Community engagers — people who are constantly engaging in conversations with the twitter community (whether it be through retweeting or replies). People who constantly have one way conversations, in my opinion, are not compelling. Talk to me. And I will follow you.
5. COMPELLING FOLLOWER RATIO: Good follower to following ratio. This does not mean they necessarily need to have a huge followership — number of followers is NOT criteria for this particular list. But they need to have at least an equal amount of followers as they are following.

At first, I was going to rank the top twenty followers — based on how well they execute the basic 5 criteria listed above. But, the metrics on that is too complicated for me to deal with at this time — and besides, it would be entirely way to subjective and open for debate. Instead, I’m going to list my TOP TWENTY MOST COMPELLING BEER PERSONALITIES ON TWITTER in a random order. There is no method in my madness (although, it be but madness). The numbers have no relevance to rankings. IGNORE THE NUMBERS.

THE BEER WENCH’S TOP TWENTY MOST COMPELLING BEER PERSONALITIES ON TWITTER

1. @dogfishbeer – Dogfish Head has (hands down) the best brewery brand presence on Twitter. Why? 1. She has a personality. AND a name. In fact, the Dogfish Head Twitter account is Mariah Calagione — aka Sam’s wife. She is constantly retweeting her followers and engaging in conversations. If you send her a question or mention her brand, she responds. Mariah kicks ass.
2. @TheArtofBeer — Tay Shaw is one of the biggest craft beer evangelists on Twitter. She has been known to send (coveted) craft beer all around the country to her followers. She is extremely active in the twitter community and also very entertaining.
3. @Cicerone_Org — Ray Daniels is one of the foremost educators on the subject of beer. He is one of the most brilliant men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in real life. If you need to know something about beer — he is the man to talk to.
4. #gents – AKA @kenoftheyear @DrStarkWeather @SlovakBrewer @hopcast @beerad – These dudes are hiliariously entertaining, but also a wealth of information. They get together on a frequent basis to homebrew and taste beers … and then share all of their experiences on Twitter. They also create entertaining video blogs at Hop-Cast.com Following the hashtag #gents can get addicting …
5. @beerbabe — Besides having a super cool name and really hot avatar, Carla defies the common misperception that women hate beer. She is a huge advocate of females in the beer industry and uses both Twitter and her blog as a platform for expressing her passion.
6. @hookedonwinter – PJ is one of my favorite people to banter with back and forth about beer. He is an awesome homebrewer (I know this for a fact) who is aspiring to turn his passion into a career. Through both Twitter and his blog, PJ encourages others to join his adventure in starting a brewery.
7. @bruisinales – This woman must be a robot, because I swear she never sleeps. Julie can be found on Twitter just about every minute of every day. No really. Her tweets are very entertaining and she provides a lot of great content regarding beer releases, beer events and beer news.
8. @beerandnosh — Even though I only just started following Jesse, he has provided me with a wealth of beer knowledge via Twitter. Jesse is by far one of the best beer photographers out there and I love living vicariously through his photos and tasting notes.
9. @TimWeber & @StephWeber – Rockstar homebrewing couple in the process of getting certified through the American Brewers Guild. They have aspirations to start their own brewpub in the next 5 years. They are very engaging and informative on Twitter. And well, ADORABLE.
10. @ChipperDave — I’ve been following Dave’s blog for some time now. He is well-connected in the beer world and extremely knowledgeable about all things beer. I was lucky enough to meet him in person at GABF.
11. @beerinator – This dude is super talented. Jonathan is a key member of the Beer Mapping Project as well as DRAFT magazine’s Web Director. He is located in Chicago — beer hub — and is extremely engaging and fun to follower.
12. @olllllo – Very talented homebrewer (LOVED his Pro-AM beer at GABF). Works for a brewery in Arizona. Like me, he travels in the name of beer. Great beer knowledge resource.
13. @StoneGreg — Another “brand” that utilizes social media very well. Greg is the owner of Stone Brewing Co. (you know … that small unknown craft brewery …) Although he travels a lot, Greg does a great job of responding to tweets as well as retweeting others.
14. @beersage — Currently runs one of THE best beer news sites out there — beernews.org. He is always tweeting out the most cutting edge beer news … whether it be new releases or beer events, this guy is definitely one of the best beer sources on the web!
15. @newbrewthursday — A collaborative team of (4) funny & cute beer geeks. All dudes. They are hilarious, supportive and very engaging on Twitter. Excited to meet them at San Diego Beer Week.
16. @HomeBrewChef — Chef, brewer, writer, photographer. Sean knows his beer. And on top of that, he makes amazing food — with beer as an ingredient. I’ve had his cookies — trust me, he’s good.
17. @SudsyMaggie — Another femme fatale in the beer industry. Beer blogger, homebrewer & huge beer evangelist, Maggie is freaking ADORABLE. Regardless of whether or not you’ve met her (I have), she is too cute not to love.
18. @BlatzLiquor — Joe runs Blatz Liquor, a super awesome liquor store that has a kickass beer selection. Joe constantly tweets about new releases and specials that his store is featuring … unfortunately for me, I do not live near Milwaukee … otherwise I’d be there everyday.
19. @TeeCycleTim — Contributing author to DRAFT magazine (online). Tim is THE Beer Runner. He writes about staying physically fit while living the life of a beer enthusiast. He is also a big environmentalist and entrepreneur.
20. @brewed4thought — EXTREMELY well-connected beer “geek”… always ahead of the trend. Great blogger, beer event planner and resource for all things beer. Also, THE editorof the “soon-to-be-released” online beer publication on RATEBEER.COM site (where I will be a featured publisher)… stay tuned.

Runners Up and the “Up and Coming” Beer Tweeters):

• @BeerinBaltimore – Don’t let his avatar fool you. Brad does not limit himself to just tweeting about beer in Baltimore. However, he is THE best resource in Baltimore for beer events & beer news.
• @odiedog52 — Brian is absolutely ADORABLE! Super beer geek … just getting into the whole swing of things with Twitter. Currently imprisoned by the Army, but soon to be released. Brian is also the beer editor for Mutineer Magazine.
• @tattoodbrew — Jon is a talented graphic designer by trade, which explains why he has one of the coolest avatars on Twitter. He offsets his beer “geek” image with his badass tattoo obsession and passion for all things music.
• @jchristie — Josh definitely puts the geek in “beer geek.” Where as most people are pairing their beers with food, Josh pairs his with books. He is probably the most adorable book nerd-beer geek on Twitter.
• @bisonbrew — Emerging brewery brand on Twitter. Daniel is dedicated to all things organic and sustainble. Produces awesome beer … and has a down to earth personality.
• @misohungry — Jenni bakes with beer. Her treats are F*ing phenomenal … and I would know. She has baked with me. Great recipes for beer geeks who want to bake with beer!
• @ruinationpress – Tattoo obsessed beer geek and fellow beer blogger. Really engaging on Twitter. Good friend. Knows his shit.
• @beertodd — Brewer of some awesome and unique beers at Copper Canyon in Southfield, Michigan. Super beer activist … and recently released a great viral video in support of the Rock Art Brewery movement.
• @Beervangelist — Owner of New Holland Brewing Co. in Michigan. Only just started following Fred, but already … he is providing me with lots of compelling and valuable content. Fred is on my list of “brands to watch.”
• @sarahhuska — Voted (in a secret ballot) as one of THE hottest beer lovers on Twitter. Many of my guy beer geek friends have a crush on her … and for good reason. She is hot. And she knows her shit about beer.

NOW … before all you Twitter beer connoisseurs out there start crying about not making this list — just remember, this is a subjective list. My list is based on the people I follow, how often I interact with them and the value of their tweets. As far as I know … this list can change over night.

The two best tips I can give to beer personalities on Twitter is 1. BE HUMAN (don’t talk AT my … talk WITH me) … and 2. BE COMPELLING.

CHEERS!