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: RYAN HOPKINS

AUTHOR OF: THOUGHT OF HOPS + CO AUTHOR OF: HEBREW MENS BREWING SOCIETY

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Ryan Hopkins
Twitter Handle: Grandpubah
Name of blog: Thoughts of Hops, Hebrew Mens Brewing Society
Current location: Reno,NV

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Cali Bay Area

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

Amateur table tennis

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

That I can remember; 10, actual first beer contact; 1

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

Post fishing drive home, my dad cracked a Budweiser (yes he was driving, but this takes place in Missouri) and offered me a drink. I accepted the can and pounded it, handing him back an empty can.

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

University of Nevada, this means Reno, the only University of Nevada. The other one id UNLV

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 can distinctly remember the aerosol of hops that blasted me in the face as I opened my first Lagunitas IPA. The blast woke from a catatonic slumber induced by mass quantities of Keystone and Natural Light. The beer world changed from here. Malts were more rich, hops were more ass kicking, and I began to see colors that never existed before. This is the point that I realized how amazing and how much of an adventure beer could be.

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

That there can be magic in lighter beers. In the last couple of years I have learned to appreciate the pot of gold like experience of finding a big well crafted pilsner. I had discounted these styles as being bland and uneventful. After beating the crap out of my taste buds for year with big IPA’s, I had a Trummer Pils and the light went on. I realized how great these subtle beers can be and how much of a craft it is to create something so great without having to beat someone over the head with fruit additions, pounds and pounds of hops, or locally roasted espresso.

Beer Blog Background

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

Hebrew Brewing; a couple of years. Thought of Hops; a couple of months

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

A love a beer and wanting to share my feelings on the subject with people who haven’t asked for my opinion.

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

My name is Hopkins and I love hops. I spend large chunks of time thinking about myself and beer. It just made sense.

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

I hope to share my beer world with others and to do it in down to earth douche free way.

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

• Beer Advocate
• The Brewing Network
• drinkcraftbeer

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Sours (all types), IPA’s, and Stouts

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Deschutes, Dogfish Head, Haandbryggeriet

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

Dogfish, because they seem to be so adventurous and willing to explore areas that others don’t travel

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

Novemberfest (Oktoberfest/Porter hybrid)

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

One day

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Marketing Sales

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?

Retire, so I could drink and focus more on beer.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married, one daughter, one en route

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

Bike riding and Lucha Libre

Off The Beaten Path

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

Id be a Sour Ale, because like the beer, I am a little weird, always funky, and really surprising the deeper you dig.

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?

Whatever Brew Dog currently makes that strongest. Anything to help me forget

3. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I love it with eggs, on doughnuts, in beer (one of my dreams), and with more bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO RYAN FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!