In my life, there are good days and there are bad days. There are good weeks and there are really really bad weeks.

This week has completely rocked my world.

Now, this post might sound like shameless self-promotion. Well, probably because it is. But that is besides the point.

All week long, my mug has been all over the Internet.

It all started when Asylum announced its list of nominees for “America’s Next Top Beer” and the revealed its A-Team Beer Experts. As the only female on the panel, I joined the ranks of Jay Jankowski (of the prestigious Map Room in Chicago), Joe Sixpack (Philadelphia Beer Reporter and author of the blog: Joe Sixpack), Marty Wombacher (of the blog: A Guy Walks into 365 Bars), and Matt Simpson (aka The Beer Sommelier).

Calling me an expert, might be a stretch. But regardless, the notion was both humbling and flattering.

Right after the Asylum article was released, my video podcast with The Hop Cast was aired. About a month ago, I visited Chicago for the Craft Brewers Conference — where I was invited by Ken and Brad, the adorable beer vlogging duo of HopCast, to make a guest appearance on the show. You can find my over zealous appearance on EPISODE 97.

Within a few hours of the Hop Cast show going live, The Beer Channel posted an interview that they did with me during the 2010 Boonville Fest. Not gonna lie, I had been drinking since 7:30 am that morning. And it shows. Oh boy.

And then today, PJ Hoberman, my really good friend and fellow Hop Press beer writer, posted a picture of us drinking at the Green Flash Fest during San Diego Beer Week.

All in all, it was really awesome that so many people wanted to feature me this week. It is just further proof that beer people are, indeed, good people. Thank you to all of you who constantly support me in my current work and inspire me to continue on my beer evangelist path! Without you all, The Wench would cease to exist!

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!

Welcome to the second of two beer blogger interview series editions featuring the brilliant (and adorable) minds behind one of the hottest internet beer-themed video podcasts: Hop Cast.

The format of the show involves Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder reviewing two beers from a specific state, brewery or style. Viewers also get tidbits of information about the brewing process, ingredients, packaging. Many episodes feature a guest who brings on their favorite beer to share with the hosts.

INTRODUCING: BRAD CHMIELEWSKI

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Brad Chmielewski
Internet nickname: beerad / digitalhitchhiker
Twitter handle: @beerad
Name of blog: Hop Cast
Current location: Chicago

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Grew up in Warrenville, IL which is about 40 minutes west of Chicago.

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

Just skateboarded, Columbia College Chicago didn’t have any organized sports teams.

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

I must of been 17 or 18, guess it wasn’t that long ago but feels a lot longer then that.

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

I’m sure it was whatever the cheapest thing the person I knew at the time could get there hands on.

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 Columbia College Chicago, I studied television post production.

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:

Getting exposed to what Goose Island had to offer, it kinda opened my eyes to what beer could be.

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

The first time I had Portland’s Hair Of The Dog, Fred and Adam blew me away. Just about every time I have a beer from Hair of Dog I am blown away, Alan is a magician.

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been working on Hop Cast?

Ken and I have been doing the Hop Cast since, August 8th 2008.

2. What inspired you to create Hop Cast?

I had a previous video podcast called ChiHookah and that sort of faded away and I knew I wanted to do another video podcast at some point. Ken and I found ourselves drinking a lot of amazing craft beers together and we wanted an outlet to share. At the time we knew of only a few beer bloggers, we didn’t realize what a large community it is.

3. Why did you chose the name Hop Cast?

Love hops!

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

There was never a real goal, it’s something both Ken and I have a great time doing. If we are able to make some money to at least off set beer costs, we wouldn’t mind that. We really just enjoy meeting all the great beer people.

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

One of the highlights was when Shaun O’Sullivan was in town and he showed up with a growler of Monk’s Blood to share. This was a rare treat especially since this was a beer that you currently can not get in Chicago.

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

I try and keep up with as much of the craft beer happens as I can so BEER NEWS dot ORG and BRUISIN ALES are really great for that. And can’t forget Drink With The Wench.

I also love checking out what’s happening with some of the home brewers like HOPFRENTREADER and FRESH BREW LOG

If I have the time and I’m someplace where I can sit back and listen or watch I try and check out TWO BEER QUEERS, NEW BREW THURSDAY, and BEER GENOME

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Double IPA, Barleywines, Plisners.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Hair Of The Dog, Three Floyds, & Surly

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

Hair Of The Dog and it’s not just because all of their beers rock. It would be great to live in Portland, I love to vibe out there and the coffee and beer selection is rarely beat.

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

No, have brewered with Ken once and that was a Hop Cast episode.

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

Thinking about getting something, still kinda planning that out.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

A good stout and vanilla bean ice cream.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Motion Designer for Daily Planet ltd

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 really love motion graphics, I am really happy with what I’m doing right now. But I know it’s something that I can’t do for the rest of my life. If I had the money I’d love to be a travel blogger, going around the world sampling beer, coffee and experiencing different cultures and telling everyone about it.

Spring Show Reel – 2009 from Brad Chmielewski on Vimeo.

3. Are you married? Children?

I have been engaged to Maeve Price for a few years now.

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

Anything to do with design, also dig photography and all things food related.

Off The Beaten Path

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

Lots of layers here so something barrel aged and high in alcohol

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?

Three Floyd’s Gumballhead. It’s good, it’s light and brings back great summer memories.

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?

Belgium Strong Ale

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

Flash style speed

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

No comment

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Are there any other thoughts besides it being amazing?

SPECIAL THANKS TO BRAD FOR HIS ENTERTAINING PODCASTS AND GREAT 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!

Welcome to the first of two beer blogger interview series editions featuring the brilliant (and adorable) minds behind one of the hottest internet beer-themed video podcasts: Hop Cast.

The format of the show involves Brad Chmielewski and Ken Hunnemeder reviewing two beers from a specific state, brewery or style. Viewers also get tidbits of information about the brewing process, ingredients, packaging. Many episodes feature a guest who brings on their favorite beer to share with the hosts.

INTRODUCING: KEN HUNNEMEDER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Ken Hunnemeder
Twitter handle: @kenoftheyear
Name of blog: Hop Cast
Current location: Chicago, IL

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up an hour north of Chicago in a suburb called Gurnee, IL. It’s only about 10 minutes away from the Wisconsin border, which was great because I had access to beers that were distributed to both states.

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

Growing up I played any sport I could get involved with, but I would have to say tennis was probably my strongest.

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

I had my first sip of beer when I was a little kid. It was one of my Mother’s Miller Genuine Drafts and I remember hating it! As a result, I was a liquor guy when I first started drinking. But like most of us, I eventually started drinking the macro’s in college because it was cheap and readily available.

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 went to school at Columbia College Chicago where I studied Acoustical Engineering. Columbia is an art school so it wasn’t much of an activity-laden campus. There was no organized sports or Greek system or anything. I was ok with that.

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 started collecting beer bottles when I was in college as a hobby/competition with a friend. We were always trying to top each other with the different beers we could acquire. At that time I was drinking a lot of Guinness and that was fine, but the first beer that blew me away was probably Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale.

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

Since then, Saison Dupont changed the way I look at beer and what I thought it’s limits were. I now know to never put restrictions on any brewer.

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been working on Hop Cast?

Brad Chmielewski and I have been doing Hop Cast since August of 2008

2. What inspired you to create Hop Cast?

Brad and I were getting together fairly regularly to drink great and interesting beers. He has the ability to produce very slick videos so it just seemed liked fun.

3. Why did you choose the name Hop Cast?

Hop Cast is a video podcast so it’s pretty self-explanatory. Also, we love the hops!

4. What are you personal goals for Hop Cast? What do you hope to achieve with it?

We started Hop Cast purely for our own enjoyment but it has taken on a life of it’s own. We’ll continue to do it as long as it’s still fun. If it would somehow turn into a Travel Channel show or something like that then we wouldn’t complain.

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

My favorite part of being involved with Hop Cast is without a doubt the people I’ve met, whether it be brewers, owners, chefs, bloggers, or just other beer drinkers. Being surrounded by people with the same passion that I have for beer is very rewarding.

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

I like beernews.org for the latest happenings, Mr. Malty for homebrewing tips, and who doesn’t love The Wench?!

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

I tend to drink a lot of IPA’s, but who doesn’t? Recently, pilsners have been high on my list. I also love the complexity of Wild Ales.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Here in the Chicagoland area, I love the way Three Floyds pushes all limits. Jolly Pumpkin brings so much complexity in a delicate way. Sierra Nevada is the big guy out there that I can usually find wherever I am and they always make great beers.

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

I would have to say Sierra Nevada because I respect what they do and could take pride in the products. That being said, they probably have the means to pay me more than other smaller breweries!

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

I have brewed a number of batches in the past but haven’t found the time recently to keep it up. I made a Licorice Stout that came in at 9%. I was a solid stout, but I was hoping for a bit more licorice flavor.

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Give me some Fish and Chips with a Three Floyds Alpha King and I’m a happy boy.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a photographer in the real estate industry; yeah it’s been rough!

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 host a television show about beer and travel the world. I’ve always had a knack for exposing people to things that I’m passionate about. Sharing my knowledge is very enjoyable to me.

3. Are you married? Children?

I’m not married and I have no kids. There are too many other things I’d like to do and beers to drink before I even think about going there.

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

I love listening to and playing music. I’m currently playing guitar in a band here in Chicago with some very talented folks.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I’d be something like a Kolsch because it’s refreshing and approachable by many different kinds of people.

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 recently had the pleasure of tasting the Westvleteren 12 and it was one of the most beautiful and eloquent beers I’ve ever had. Plus if they’re going to kill me I want them to go through hell getting me my last demand.

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 Imperial Blonde Ale aged in Pino Noir barrels?

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

People would refer to me as “Beer Jesus” because I would turn water into Barleywine.

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

One time I drank a Special Export

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I’m pro bacon in all forms. I prefer it to be served as is but I also like to wrap my vegetables with it. If I had some major scratch, I’d love to try Garrett Oliver’s bacon beer.

SPECIAL THANKS TO KEN FOR CREATING ONE OF THE BEST BEER VIDEO PODCASTS AND PROVIDING ME WITH A GREAT INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!