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: CHRIS SPRADLEY

AUTHOR OF: THE LA CRAFT BEER EXAMINER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Christopher Spradley (but only my mom calls me Christopher)
Twitter handle: @BeachBumChris
Name of website: LA Craft Beer Examiner
Current location: Los Angeles

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Texas, mostly Houston

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

Baseball, all my life including four years of semi-pro, also swimming and tennis

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

13

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

At a friend’s house. His older brother was throwing an afternoon party and we hung out. Someone gave us some beer and then another and then another.

5. Where, if applicable, did you go to college?

Stephen F. Austin State in Nacogdoches, TX.

6. What did you study?

Major in Radio/TV Broadcasting and a minor in History.

7. What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?

Baseball and intramural sports, Delta Tau Delta fraternity, Texas Broadcasting Association, BSU.

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 craft beer was a Sam Adams lager on Christmas Day, 1994. My sister gave me one of the Winter 12 packs with different beers. I tried it and loved it!

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

My first bourbon barrel beer was the Bluegrass Brewing Co (Louisville, KY) Bourbon Barrel Stout. When I tried that, I was in heaven. The wonderful stout flavors with the sweet bourbon was damn near orgasmic.

Beer Blog Background

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

I was named LA Craft Beer Examiner in August 2009. I write articles on craft beer in the LA/Orange County area.

2. What inspired you to start writing your articles?

My love of craft beer and desire to promote it, especially in Los Angeles. We have a pretty cool craft beer scene here that very few people know about.

3. What are you personal goals for your articles? What do you hope to achieve with it?

Spread the good word, support craft breweries and promote craft beer in LA.

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

I’ve met some really awesome beer people!

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

I love being able to find cool places to have a beer with this site! http://beermapping.com/
Cool new show I’ve been working on: www.breweriesbarsandbeerfood.com
And I like Beer Advocate & Rate Beer a lot too.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Barleywine, Imperial Stout, IPA

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Bluegrass Brewing Company, Deschutes and Stone with Port Brewing a close 4th

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

Wow, that’s a tough choice. I have to say two, either Stone or Dogfish Head. I love both Sam Calagione and Mitch Steele’s approach to brewing.

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 working on a Christmas beer that I hope will be as phenomenol in flavor as it is in my mind.

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

Working on the Certified Cicerone. Already completed the Beer Server.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

IPA’s and spicy food

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Unemployed. I was laid off of my sales job on Dec 31.

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?

Either own my own brewpub and work as the chef or be the General Manager of the Houston Astros. I KNOW I could lead them to a World Series title!

3. Are you married? Children?

Never married, no kids

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

I’m big on the outdoors. I love to backpack, camp and kayak. I play a lot of sports, cook a lot of different dishes and of course, love any activity on the beach.

Off The Beaten Path

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

Probably a Barleywine; sweet with a touch of spiciness and a high ABV.

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?

Today it would be Black Tuesday from The Bruery. It’s an absolutely amazing beer. I can’t get enough. No really, I can’t. Someone sell me some bottles, please!

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?

A hoppy-sour. Something with spice and bite!!

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

I want to be able to fly! That would be too freaking awesome.

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

I’ve survived some pretty wild Mardi Gras in New Orleans. College alone had some crazy times too. I plan to go skydiving this year and I really hope I survive that.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Everything is better with bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRIS 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!

photo credit: John Knox

INTRODUCING: JENNIE CHEN

AUTHOR OF: MISOHUNGRY MAKES IT WITH MOONSHINE

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Jennie Y. Chen, not to be confused with the other 5,000 Jennie Chens out there.
Internet nickname (if applicable):PookieSoup or MisoHungry
Twitter handle: @MisoHungry, @AustinDogFrndly, @ATXDriveClean
Name of blog: MisoHungry Makes it with Moonshine
Current location: Austin, TX

photo credit: John Knox

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Port Lavaca, TX (Port of the Cow)

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

Formally, cross country through high school. Informally, skating. Does Crossfit count as a sport? It’s more like self-inflicted pain.

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

20, I was at an Human Behavior and Evolutionary Society Conference in 2002. I had just finished my first talk to the research community.

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

More to question three: I’m sure it was some nasty generic beer, though I’m not sure which. I was hanging out with some British colleagues who were drinking like fish, and the beer was so bad I couldn’t stomach it.

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 the University of Texas at Austin majoring in psychology. I’m currently in the social psychology doctorate program (though my research field is behavioral neuroendocrinology) at Texas A&M University in College Station. I finished my Master’s in 2005, still working on my doctorate.

photo credit: John Knox

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 gateway beer was Yuengling. I was at another Human Behavior and Evolution Society conference in Philly in June of 2006. A colleague insisted that I have a Yuengling even though I refused. Only beer I had before was that nasty stuff in 2002.

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

Yes, 512 Pecan Porter and Sam Adam’s Utopia. DogFish Head Midas Touch and Brooklyn Cuvee de Cardoz really made me think about flavor combinations.

photo credit: John Knox

Beer Blog Background

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

I started a cooking with booze website 3 years ago. It morphed into a blog about 10 months ago.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

People would ask me about my recipes, so much so that it was just easier to email them a link to the recipe. Things kind of morphed from there.

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

Misohungry is a phrase that my sister and I have been using for almost five years. It kind of stuck. My other nickname for the longest time is “PookieSoup” after my late pet turtle. Her name was Pookie.

4. What are you personal goals for your blog?

What do you hope to achieve with it? My personal goals for the blog is to have fun, let myself experiment with flavors, meet really awesome people, and to inspire others to create and enjoy food as much as I do.

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

Um….. what hasn’t been cool? Great American Beer Fest! Beer pairing dinners. The people. I can’t think of one single coolest thing.

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

Drink with the Wench of course!

photo credit: John Knox

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Hefe, Porters, and Belgium Golden Ales

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Live Oak (Austin), 512 (Austin), Yuengling (Tampa).

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

I actually wouldn’t want to work for a brewery. I don’t mix work and play. I’d love to work with a brewery, but not for a brewery.

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

Nope.

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

Nope.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Just one? Oh man…… this is difficult. Chimay Grand Reserve and Grilled Quail. 512 Bruin with a juicy medium cheeseburger and caramelized onions. 512 One with spicy sweet potato fries. DogFish Head Midas Touch with whatever Restaurant Jezebel is going to serve. Restaurant Jezebel’s creativity with spices is perfectly executed and fantastic with unique and beers with depth of flavor.

photo credit: John Knox

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a grad student in behavioral neuroendocrinology, the director of support services at a consulting firm, adjunct professor at a local college, and I do some content writing.

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?

Hm… that’s tough. I really like what I do now. However, multiplying my income by 10000 would make me even more happy. I’d like the money to use towards my research.

3. Are you married? Children?

Nope. My children have 4 legs each, and they are really hairy. Woof Woof.

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

Skating, dog training, dog judging, dog handling, baking, cooking, eating, crossfitting, and hypermiling.

photo credit: John Knox

Off The Beaten Path

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

Lambic Framboise. I like berries. Mmmm…. Raspberries…

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?

Sam Adam’s Utopias, because I want to be very wasted when I’m put to death.

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?

Curry, cuz you’re spicy!

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

Teleport. I need to be in 10000 places in a short amount of time. Plus, it’ll save on airfare.

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

I’m pleading the 5th on this question.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Get it in my belly!

photo credit: John Knox

SPECIAL THANKS TO JENNIE CHEN FOR AN AMAZING INTERVIEW!

(AND FYI — HER RECIPES ARE TRULY AMAZING! CHECK OUT HER SITE!)

CHEERS!