Today I was extremely excited, humbled and honored to learn that one of my favorite craft brewers in the country, Todd Parker, released a new beer inspired by … well, The Beer Wench (aka me!).

The beer was inspired by a Featured Beer Tweeter interview that Todd did with me back in December. One of my questions in the interview was:

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?

Todd responded:

It would be a Belgian IPA with Brett to dry it out, it would be spicy, yet fruity, with tons of flavor. It would ring in at 7.5%, and everyone would wonder what else is in there (because I will have accented the beer with other spices like black, white and red pepper, cardamom, and coriander).

The actual beer brewed was slightly different from the original idea.

The Beer Wench

(brewed by: Todd Parker of Copper Canyon Brewing Co.)

This beer came about from an interview I did with a Beer Blogger who writes under the name The Beer Wench (and tweets under it too). Like her, this beer is blonde, spicy, and a little bitter (actually this beer is a lot bitter). This is a newer style of beer called a Belgian IPA. This style came about when a Belgian brewer decided to try to replicate American IPA’s. These beers are very one dimensional- Hoppy! There are hints from the Belgian yeast as a spicy component. This beer although lighter bodied, rings in at 8% abv.

The interview can be found HERE.

Food Pairings: this beer goes well with spicy dishes.

Similar Beers: La Chouffe’s Houblon, Flying Dog’s Raging Bitch

I really enjoy the fact that a beer similar to The Beer Wench is Raging Bitch. What does that say about me? Well, I’ll let you be the judge of that!

Big thanks to Todd for making my day … and quite possibly my year!

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: JOSHUA D

AUTHOR OF: LOST IN THE BEER AISLE

Full name: Joshua D
Internet nickname: Lost
Twitter handle: Lost_in_beer
Name of blog: Lost in the Beer Aisle
Current location: Westborough, MA

Background “Snapshot

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a small town in Vermont. 1500 people in this town. Unfortunately I don’t have fond memories of the place. My graduating class had 23 kids in it. Small numbers to pick friends from. I couldn’t leave for college quick enough!

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

Even though it was a small town, basketball was like religion. I played from 5th grade until I graduated high school. In 5th grade we were sat down by the couch and some parents and told how when we got to high school we were going to win the state championship or die trying. My junior and senior year we did just that…back to back. Ahhh…small town glory. I also played baseball and we sucked.

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

There is a picture showing my grandfather with a 3-year-old me on his lap. I have a Budweiser in my hand. I think the photo was for laughs, but I also think I took a sip. My first full beer wasn’t until freshman year in college probably!

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

It may not have been the VERY first beer in college, but the one I most vividly remember was when we were partying at a friend’s house during a week long semester break. His dad bought us a 30 rack of Busch Light. The guy was a huge dude…hands like a bear. A “real” man. He tossed me the brew and I couldn’t let him down so we all chugged together.

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

Nashua, NH Computer Science. The only sport I partook in during college was drinking! After a couple solid years of boozing and making the best friends of my life I decided that I should probably get an education and I transferred to a college in Andover, MA.

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:

It happened earlier this year! I had recently moved and was checking out the local liquor store one day. I was blown away at their selection of beer. Over 1000 different types of beer. On top of that they let you buy individual bottles. I purchased a few different bottles that day and immediately decided I wanted to keep trying new stuff even though I didn’t have the first clue about tasting beer.

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

I actually can’t take credit for my second epiphany. My wife had the epiphany for me! That happens a lot in our relationship. The story goes that for a few months I was trying various beers, snapping photos of them, and posting them to my Facebook account. I was gradually adding more and more detail to the captions of these pictures until they started resembling beer reviews.

My wife encouraged me to start a blog. Her argument was that I was basically already doing the work via Facebook. After a few weeks of procrastinating I finally took her advice. That’s all history now. The website has really taken off since then. I’ve learned sooooo much about beer and I’m having a great time doing it.

Beer Blog Background

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

Since Spring 2009

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

See epiphanies above.

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

The idea behind my blog is that you don’t have to know a lot about beer to enjoy it. And what you don’t know, you can certainly learn. I had been to a lot of beer blogging sites that were nerdy and intimidating and I wanted to make my blog the exact opposite. The name was a collaborative effort. I polled a bunch of friends to get ideas. Someone came up with the word “Lost” to describe being confused. “in the beer aisle” came to me in a dream. OK, not really. It came to me while I was sitting at work on day goofing off. And there you have it…Lost in the Beer Aisle.

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

I hope I can continue to reach out to beer-newbies. I also hope to get more beer-newbies to come and do guest reviews on my site. If you’re reading this right now, that’s an open invitation! Ultimately, I hope I continue to blog in a way that is unintimidating for the beer-newb, but also interesting to those of you who know a thing or two about beer.

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

Nothing major to this point. Robert Wolaver posted a comment to my blog once. That was pretty neat. Unfortunately it was a review of a beer that I hated. The beer had gone bad, so it wasn’t Wolaver’s fault. The next coolest thing that happened was when I mentioned to the folks at Flying Dog (via twitter) that I couldn’t find Horn Dog at my liquor store. They immediately replied and asked for the name of my liquor store. I had 2 cases of Horn Dog waiting for me the next time I went booze shopping. Pretty cool…

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

That’s tough. I follow some ridiculous number of beer blogs via Google Reader (like 100-150). There isn’t a single one that I am particularly loyal to.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

If you asked me this before I started my blog, I could have answered. I was always a HUGE hefewiezen fan, followed by any other wheat beer. Since I started blogging, I’ve found that there is virtually nothing I dislike. I’m really getting tired of the monotony of IPAs, but that’s a rant for another time. Anyway, back to the question. Let’s say: Wheat beers, Imperial Stouts and (sweet) Barley Wines.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, North Coast

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

Dogfish Head is incredibly intriguing. I value uniqueness over many other factors in a beer, and Dogfish has uniqueness down. Furthermore, they don’t sacrifice flavor to achieve this. I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall for just one day to see how they manage to come up with such wild, yet delicious brews. They are so far ahead of basically every brewery out there…how the heck are they consistently staying ahead?

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

Heck no. I have too much of EVERYONE ELSE’S beer to drink. I can’t think about brewing my own.

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?

Beer and nothing. Seriously…I do 90% of my drinking at night long after dinner.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a project manager in the IT industry.

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?

If that means that money is no object, I’d buy a golf course, hire a staff to take care of it, and spend my days playing golf. At night I’d spend my time reviewing beer. If you mean more down-to-earth, I honestly don’t know. I love my job. I work with awesome people and I would definitely miss that interaction. I don’t want to do my job forever, but for now I’m very happy.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married for 6+ years. No kids. I’m not having kids until I’m done being a kid!!!

Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies? Golf, World War 2 history, Playstation 3

Off The Beaten Path

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

I’m a simple down-to-earth kinda guy, but I’m also slightly insane, so this is a tough choice. I guess I’ll say I’m a light beer that is slightly fruity. You know…that kind of beer that you know has fruit in there, but you can’t figure out what kind.

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?

Something thick. Imperial Stout. No specific beer in mind. Just give me something I can milk for a little while.

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 term “Beer Wench” reminds me of lederhosen and Germany. The beer would have to be a lightish wheat beer. The kind that you can easily down. Lord knows you’re going to have to fill up your GIANT stein with the stuff 3-4 times.

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

I’ve had irritable bowel for 10 years. The 12-year old in me would insist that I have some superpowers surrounding that. Use your imagination.

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

Only dumb stuff fits into this category for me. The “best” one is when I totaled my car and walked away. Hint: Don’t go 80MPH in a torrential downpour. Your car WILL hydroplane. You might slam into a guardrail on one side of a 3-lane highway, shoot across two lanes and T-Bone a 30ft race car trailer, and then fly back across the lanes, stopping in the fast lane with large sections of your car missing.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I’m a vegetarian. That said, back when I ate bacon it was DAMN yummy. It will slowly kill you, but delicious nonetheless. I frequently have fake bacon, which is (hopefully) less deadly.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JOSH FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Tweeter Interview Series

Beer bloggers are not the only people using social media to share their passion for and knowledge of craft beer. Twitter is one of the most important tools in today’s craft beer industry. Beer tweeters all over the world are influencing and impacting the way people interact with and experience craft beer. The Beer Wench has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer tweeters that she can — from all over the world.

Are you a beer tweeter? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING BEER TWEETER: Sarah Kristine (Bradner) Huska

Twitter handle: @sarahhuska

Current location: St. Charles, IL (Chicago suburb)

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Fostoria, OH

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

I played volleyball in junior high but once I got into high school I ditched it. Going to a private school makes certain things rather click-ish, sports being one of them….since I didn’t have the right name I didn’t get to play. So, I chose to participate in the flag corps in marching band. I LOVED IT. A couple of my friends and I joined and it actually became one of the “cool” activities at my high school.

Our football team was so awful that people stopped coming to games, but the year we started in flag corps the band and the corps were outstanding. People would come out to the football games, act interested in the first half, watch the band at halftime (cheer wildly) and then clear out when we were done. Bittersweet I suppose. I also coached flag corps for 3 years after I graduated. Almost every school in our league gave us props on being the best marching band and flag corps. Kinda neat-o.

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

18

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

Bud Light out of a warm keg at a graduation party. There is a reason you have keggerators people….

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

Well, I’ve been to several…I’m what you call a professional student. When I was in high school I took college classes at the University of Findlay in Ohio (Calculus, Psychology, Sociology)….smart kid stuff, you know. Then I attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio as a Nursing student, decided I hated the people I would have to work with for the rest of my life and changed my major to business and transfered to Owens Community College in Ohio (better known as Slowens).

My husband and I then moved to Chicago and I said to myself “screw nursing, or business or whatever else my family wants me to do; I’m going to do what I want to do!” So now I am attending Elgin Community College’s Culinary Arts Institute for my Associates in the Culinary Arts. I am blessed to have found my calling. I’ll be taking some Entrepreneurship classes as well so I can write a better business plan for the beer bar and/or brew pub I will open.

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 had been experimenting with beer here and there for a while, drinking things like Leinenkugel’s Honeyweiss or Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown; but, the day I had my first real American craft beer is something I am pretty sure I will never forget. I was sitting on the step outside my garage door at my house in Bowling Green, OH watching my husband homebrew, he was drinking a Brooklyn Brown Ale and told me I should try it.

So, I did…. I honestly don’t have words to describe what happened at that moment, I suppose all I can say is that was the day I realized what beer can be and what it shouldn’t be. To this day, Brooklyn Brown remains my favorite brown ale. Ever. Mostly because it’s delicious but also the nostalgic quality is unbeatable.

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

I suppose I have, I feel like I have one every time I try something that is unexpected. For instance, I had a Reaper Ale Mortality Stout a couple weeks ago. Wow. I almost feel like I shouldn’t talk about it because it’s like a spoiler on a movie ending…. [SPOILER ALERT] A stout with Brett?!??! (It is Brettanomyces right? It sure tasted like it.) I mean….wow. It was amazing. No where on the bottle does it say it has Brett in it, but you drink it and BAM! there it is. (Or is it whoop! there it is….I’m not sure.) Fantastic beer. Fantastic experience.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

What’s that Charlie Papazian quote? My favorite beer is the one I’m drinking right now….or something like that. But if I had to choose, I would say IPA, Imperial Stout and almost any sour beer.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

This is tough. Three is a small number. Port Brewing. The Bruery. And, of course, the 21st Amendment Brewing Co.

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

Probably The Bruery. I think Patrick is a mad scientist and a brilliant business man; I feel I could learn a lot from him and to be involved in something so unique and driven would be an honor.

4. Are you a homebrewer?

I have assisted in many homebrews but never have I actually made my own. It’s intimidating. I’m a cook. When I cook, I make a mess, sure I follow sanitation guidelines and I’m not making dirty food, but the sanitation required for brewing is scary. I’m almost positive I would never have the patience to brew a beer that wouldn’t get infected at some point in the process.

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

I recently passed my Certified Beer Server exam from the Cicerone Program and am studying to take the Cicerone exam hopefully in 2010. Also, if I have extra money lying around someday, I will attend Siebel.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

A sour beer (probably Rodenbach’s Grand Cru) with a plate of various cheeses, charcuterie, honeys, fruits, and a nice warm french baguette. Mmmmm, yummy.

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

BeerAdvocate. Beer Mapping Project. And Twitter, as a whole…..it’s the best, because there you can link to other blogs/sites but all the information is in one spot.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I own a pet sitting and dog walking business in the Chicago suburbs call Shake A Leg Pet Exercise & Care, Inc.

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 open a brew pub with a friend of mine who makes the BEST homebrew I’ve ever had. I’d open it in Chicago and it would be on the same level as The Publican.

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes and no. Well, unless you count four-legged children. In that case, I have two: a dog, Samson, and a cat, Weizen.

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

I run barefoot. I haven’t in a few weeks as I have a stress fracture in my foot, but once it heals I will begin training for a half marathon that I’ll hopefully run in May and then a full marathon in the Fall of 2010. Also, I cook amazing food…it’s not bragging if you can back it up.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I would be a sour beer. Bubbly, bold, a little sweet, not too bitter, pretty and loaded with enough alcohol to make life awesome.

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?

Burnter Santa Imperial Stout from Bridges Brewing

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’d design an IIPA. Bold, refreshing, fun, sociable, a little fruity and (again) loaded up with enough alcohol to make life awesome!

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

Flying or teleporting.

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

I survived GABF 2009…even with Shaun and Nico of the 21st Amendment “hooking me up”….not many could survive that, I assure you.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Everything’s better with bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SARAH FOR BEING AN AWESOME BEER TWEETER AND #LADYGENTS!

CHEERS!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Tweeter Interview Series

Beer bloggers are not the only people using social media to share their passion for and knowledge of craft beer. Twitter is one of the most important tools in today’s craft beer industry. Beer tweeters all over the world are influencing and impacting the way people interact with and experience craft beer. The Beer Wench has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer tweeters that she can — from all over the world.

Are you a beer tweeter? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING BEER TWEETER: RANDY CLEMENS

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

In and around the San Fernando Valley in SoCal

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

Does marching band count? Being both nonathletic and nerdy as a child, I took up marching band, and loved every minute of it. (I marched in the Rose Parade twice!)

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

19. I made it all through high school without any booze or drugs. (Told you I was nerdy…)

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, to be perfectly fair, I’d had a Coors Light when I was around 12, but it was because there was NOTHING to drink in the house and the water had been shut off for some strange reason. My mom said I could have one of my dad’s beers with dinner — I thought I was cool at the time, even though I couldn’t stand the taste. It would be 7 years before I tried another beer. (After all these years, I still find Coors Light disgusting. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone drinks 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 attended the California School of Culinary Arts, completing the Le Cordon Bleu program. On the side, I became a member of the Culinary Historians of Southern California and the Bread Bakers Guild of America (See? Total nerd).

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:

After culinary school, I took an internship at Bobolink Dairy, an artisan creamery in New Jersey. I’d gone to learn more about bread and cheesemaking, but unexpectedly developed a taste for beer. One of their cheeses was washed with Forêt, the organic saison from Brasserie Dupont, and at the insistence of the owner, I poured myself a taste. What a far cry from the Coors Light I’d detested so many years before! This was fruity, yeasty, slightly spiced, a little sweet even. Hell, it had flavor — a vast improvement over my previous beer experience!

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

Oh, god. So so many. To spare everyone, I’ll take the easy road and lump most of them into when I took a BJCP class through the Maltose Falcons homebrew club. It was an excellent learning experience, and I was exposed to so many different beer styles — it was truly invaluable. Besides having my first IPA, Gueuze, Kölsch, etc., someone was kind enough to bring in a small stock of 1987 Bigfoot for us to try alongside the 2007. It was mindblowing.

Other huge eye-openers: My first Black Butte Porter, Duchesse de Bourgogne, Old Viscosity, and Pliny the Elder…

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Saison, Flanders Red, Russian Imperial Stout

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

I’ve gotta stick with my local boys — The Bruery, Port/The Lost Abbey, and AleSmith

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

Probably Stone Brewing Co. It just seems like they have a lot of fun with what they do, and aren’t afraid to try different brewing and marketing approaches. Their support of fellow brewers, innovative seasonals/special releases, collaborations, dedication to good causes, etc. are all quite admiral. Rogue would be a close second though, for much of the same reasons.

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

Yes, but not an exceptionally good one. It’s always a fun experience though, and I’ve yet to brew anything I’ve had to throw out, so I suppose that’s an alright sign. The pumpkin stout I brewed last year turned out pretty great, and I found a few loose bottles laying around this year and discovered they’d gotten even better with age. I’m so impatient with aging, so anytime I do cellar a beer, it’s usually by accident.

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

I am a BJCP Recognized Beer Judge, which came as a bit of a shock. When I took the test a little over two years ago, it was such a crash course for me as I knew so little about beer at the time. The class really did prepare me well, but it was probably the hardest test I’ve ever taken. I really didn’t think I was going to pass. Continuing to taste and evaluate beers, both at home and at the judging level, has really expanded my knowledge over the years, and I can’t recommend the BJCP strongly enough to anyone who really wants to learn more about beer.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I tend to like beer and dessert pairings, just because I like to see people’s faces when I tell them the pairing, and then their face once they try it. Being there for someone else’s “craft beer epiphany” is priceless. That said, I suppose the Beeramisu I make with (and pair with) AleSmith Speedway Stout might take top honors. I also paired Spicy Mayan Chocolate Ganache Truffles with Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen, and it was pretty ridiculous.

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

Beside Drink With The Wench?!

The Full Pint, Beer Advocate, and BeerNews.Org

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I peddle beer, wine, and cheese at an enormous Whole Foods in Pasadena, CA.

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’ve been enjoying writing quite a bit, and I’m trying to get that to take off more seriously. I’ve been published in several magazines, and am hoping to have a cookbook out next year (not delving into a beer book quite yet though). Other than that, I have a calling somewhere in the food & drink world — I’m looking into it

3. Are you married? Children?

Single as a pringle, ladies.

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

Cooking, definitely, and reading. I also love to travel, even though I don’t get to often. I still play music from time to time, although I’ve fallen out of it a bit. I’ll join another concert band after the holidays, I promise. (Anyone need a baritone horn or trombone player?)

Off The Beaten Path

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

Hmmm, maybe a gueuze? While I may not be particularly bubbly, I have plenty of complex character. A blend of old and young that will continue to improve with age, the bold, assertive flavor may seem a bit tart at first, but you can’t help to go back for another sip to appreciate its nuances. (However, I don’t smell like barnyard, although I’m sure it could be arranged.)

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?

Oh dear. I suppose I’d have to hark back to the Forêt — having my first beer also be my last beer — kinda nifty and deep.

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?

It would definitely be a collaboration brew, in honor of what you’re doing to build the beer blogger/twitter community. I’d have bloggers and tweeters vote on the style and adjuncts, and then let some of your favorite brewers go wild, each adding their own sense of flair and style. In the end, I’d work with a few of them to come up with a final blend, and release it unto the world!

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

Being able to make myself and others see sides to an argument other than our own. Flight, invisiblity, and/or teleporting would be cool too.

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

Skydiving. Frightening, but so amazing.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

“Bacon is Sent From Heaven”

Call it shameless self-promotion if you must, but I think it’s the best damn answer I can give

SPECIAL THANKS TO RANDY FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW AND ENTERTAINING TWEETS!

CHEERS!

INTRODUCING BEER TWEETER: J.T. SMITH

Twitter handle: @FlyingDogJT

Current location: Somewhere between Frederick, MD, Washington, DC and Richmond, VA

Photo courtesy of Stephen Schaller

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Frederick County, MD

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

As a kid, baseball, soccer and basketball. Still through today I play the beautiful game when I have the opportunity.

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

10ish

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 was with my parents at my neighbor’s house, I drank the 2nd half of a Killian’s Red, and enjoyed it more on a “cool” level than a taste level, certainly.

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

The University of Texas @ Austin. Filmmaking to start, Government and History to finish.

Activities: the usual political stuff… ya know trying to spread the consciousness and power of a quality, grassroots paradigm-shift and whatnot while also planting myself within the system to achieve such means. I also played and watched A LOT of soccer.

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:

2 separate early periods of progression toward the craft/artisanal segment. First- high school- basically I wanted to find and taste beers that I had never seen before. It was the mid-90’s, so this was limited in mid-Atlantic regionals, the occasional old world import and more regularly that lager from Jamaica, Red Stripe was an early favorite, although I rarely drink it these days.

Second- Univ of Texas- my housemates and I were either working or hanging out at Juniors Beer (www.juniorsbeer.com), the craft spot just off of campus. Because of creative book-keeping that was being practiced we received supplemental compensation through craft and artisanal beer at Major Domestic pricing. Those were great days.

Our house boasted 1 incredible bottle collection and a six-pack wallpapered 35’ hallway that became known for hosting parties with kegs of Anchor Steam, Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball, North Coast Scrimshaw, Real Ale Fireman’s #4… we had the palette covered. Nothing like having the keys to a keg cooler 2 blocks from your house filled with super low-priced kegs of great beer @ 3AM when all the other kegs had floated.

We became professionals at pulling kegs under the nose of the omnipresent TABC agents well after closing time, which normally included a manual transmission Bronco II rolling in neutral, lights off down the alleyway up to the cooler with just the right momentum to not need the brake lights AND probably all too often broke out barley wines, frisbees and bongs to enjoy our informal education in the world of beer. While we received a world-class formal education @ UT, we drank great beer and learned life’s lessons in the informal classroom of 406 W 30th St. Here’s video from a memorable night at 406 with Saul Williams reciting in our backyard back in 2003 to a seated and excited audience –

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

During my years in Austin I learned the power of supporting your local and independently-owned economy to preserve identities and empower communities in the face of homogenized, “anywhere-USA” growth and cultural consolidation or simply through the power achieved to “Keep Austin Weird,” I developed the desire to raise that same awareness in my hometown.
My entire life Frederick has been increasingly encroached upon by the suburban sprawl of metropolitan Washington, DC. The need for raising the local/independent awareness to support your local economy while embracing smart-growth was desperately needed so that Frederick would not turn into just another strip-mall.

Fast forward a little, I’m backpacking through the mainland of Mexico figuring out what the hell I want to do in this life and a world-class, independently-owned craft brewery moves operations to my hometown and begins to brew 100% of its beer there. Quickly the coupling of my interest and passion for craft beer and the desire to empower the hometown was right in front of me, found in a reflection of the paintings that Orozco, Rivera, and Siqueiros created in rejecting the old world order and lending imagery and therefore voice to their newly independent nation, Mexico. I flew directly home, joined up with Flying Dog and drove my belongings back from Austin to Frederick to start this new chapter.

We’ve seen tremendous growth and brand awareness in the Mid-Atlantic as we plant the People’s Republic of Flying Dog flag in Frederick, MD; where we launch beer to 48 states, DC and 34 countries of the world, all the while remaining independently owned. Frederick is home to the reigning Great American Beer Festival’s Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year, Flying Dog. Where we work to maintain a high level of community support and visibility to help Frederick and its continued growth into a city where identity is defined through the active choice of the local townspeople.

My craft beer epiphany is at an all-time high for those reasons and as well the continuation of a progressively, vibrant culture of brewing beer, here in the United States and around the world.

Photo courtesy of BrightestYoungThings.com and Chris Svetlik

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Funky Farmhouses, WeizenBocks, and the newly found Belgian-Style American IPAs

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

(Due to my interest, I’ll abstain from voting FD, even though it is 1 of my favorites) Unibroue, Mikkeller, and Devil’s Backbone (VA) are tearing it up.

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

I already am working for that brewery. Altho, Brew Dog looks like they’re having fun and brewing some great beer these days.

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

Sadly, I do not have the time anymore to enjoy brewing at home. Altho, on the plus side… on the occasional (especially these days) day-off I can go in, strap on some steel-toes and help brew the next batch @ the Flying Dog brewery, which makes very happy and presents a great classroom to learn more and more.

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

Nope. Supposed to take the Cicerone test sometime soon though.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Sea Scallops w/a spicy rojo sauce paired with Flying Dog’s Kerberos Tripel yielded notes that I have never forgotten, and now will always enjoy Kerberos to fuller-depths thanks to a beer dinner at Can-Can Brasserie in Richmond, VA back in May 2009.

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

Actually, I don’t really read much on particular sites. I keep an eye on my local bloggers to see what they’re talking about (DCBeer, Lagerheads, YoursForGoodFermentables, BeerSpotter, Beer Activist, Musings Over a Pint, Kasper on Tap, Beer In Baltimore) but I prefer to taste and talk in person, rather than the ‘net more often than not. That said there are so many great resources out there, both on the ‘net and in print. I keep a finger on the pulse through a variety of means, I guess.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Local Beer Guy, Flying Dog Brewery (Sales/Mkting)

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 wouldn’t. But, if pressed to change… International Trade Law representation for the voiceless in this Global Economy of ours.

3. Are you married? Children?

Nope. Nope. Not opposed, just nope for now.

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

Outside of beer-life has been put on hold, when I had the time: playing/watching soccer, fly-fishing, snowboarding, keeping up on International politics, reading. Actually having the time to take advantage of my Economist subscription.

Off The Beaten Path

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

The next great combination of borrowing from old world ingredients and techniques and melding exactly those with this wonderful new world of brewing culture we currently find ourselves in.

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?

Obviously, the one I got caught smuggling, for 2 reasons: 1- to taste and make sure it was worth it 2- it would be apropos to take my final tasting notes on the beer that had me killed.

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?

DoppleWeizenBock with an American hop kick at the end. It has to be BIG with the name Wench in there, Dopple. The WeizenBock to give the wonderful aromatics that a lady deserves and to render the palatable sweetness which both intrigues the taster to come back for more and will also be their ruin if ingested to0 excess, much like a Beer Wench. An hop kick on the backside to express your American rock and roll ethos.

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

To continually speak in a rhyming soothsayer progression.

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

Plead the 5th.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

A thick and fresh-cut, preferably country butchered with a small fruit-wood smoke on the curing and you’ve got my attention and vote. In desserts and life, I fear bacon may be becoming trite, however. But I’ll always love you, bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JT FOR HIS ENTERTAINING BEER TWEETS AND GREAT INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Tweeter Interview Series

Beer bloggers are not the only people using social media to share their passion for and knowledge of craft beer. Twitter is one of the most important tools in today’s craft beer industry. Beer tweeters all over the world are influencing and impacting the way people interact with and experience craft beer. The Beer Wench has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer tweeters that she can — from all over the world.

Are you a beer tweeter? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING BEER TWEETER: BRYAN PRYOR

TWITTER HANDLE: @suedefog

CURRENT LOCATION: Papillion, NE

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Waterloo, IA, and moved to Sigourney, IA, when I was 14.

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

I played JV basketball for ONE YEAR. I was the last fella on the team. But, when I scored the only two points of my career, the whole team cheered. That’s what being Dennis Miller on a basketball team is like.

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

I remember my dad gave me a sip when I was around 4, and like most kids, I didn’t know what I had! But, my first beer was when I was 14.

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

Imagine! I move to a town of 2000, and mere months later I hit the sauce. I was 14, and we were road tripping on our way to Shakey’s pizza for dinner before we drove back for the pomp and circumstance of the Sigourney High School Winter Formal. My green silk shirt left no doubt who was the cock of the walk. I had the beer(s) in the car, and it was a can of Budweiser, FULL STRENGTH.

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

Never did the normal college thing. I joined the Air Force after High School. I’ve been a medic and linguist. Now I’m in the Reserves as a Bioenvironmental technician (OSHA, EPA, Industrial Hygiene, etc)

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 epiphany happened in a roundabout way: I was 20, and in Saudi Arabia. As I was leaving the shower tent (stay with me here) I noticed one of our pilots had left his ID there. This was a BIG DEAL; this could manifest asspain by the boatloads. So, when I gave it back to him, he was REALLY happy, and told me, “When we leave and get to Shannon (Ireland), you’re getting a Guinness.

Well, I hadn’t ever had a Guinness. When we got there, I hung back like a puppy at the store not wanting to get noticed, but desperately wanting to be picked. When he saw me, he yelled, “Pryor! Get over here!” So, he bought me the beer. After they poured the Guinness, I went right for it.

Frenchy (that was his callsign) said, “No wait! You have to let it settle, then, they’ll top it off. THEN you drink it.”

I said, “Wow. Thanks, Yoda.”

He replied, “One day, you too will become Jedi.”

So I told you that to tell you this. I was stationed in Utah at the time. When I got back, I turned 21. I don’t think I EVER had a Bud, Coors, etc, in my fridge because of that experience. It was about that time the Wasatch Brewery opened, and I had their Hefe-Weizen. That’s when I KNEW there were great beers out there. Long story, but worth it.

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

I spent most of the past decade in England, so that was just a reinforcement of good beer. I came back to Omaha, and two places: Upstream Brewing (the Scotch Ale will curl your toes, as well as the traditional cask-conditioned ale), and Nebraska Brewing Company (NEBREWCO) are what finally solidified it. I live one mile from NEBREWCO, and that whole place is built on making great beer, and trying new things with it.

Paul Kavulak, the owner, has done a LOT for craft brewing in Nebraska. I wish I’d been there for the Great Nebraska Brew Fest that was put on just outside NEBREWCO’s door. I’m partial, because he’s also a great guy. That place has made me want to brew my own beer, and gotten me interested in everything about beer besides my original interest: drinking it.

Another was last year. Bourbon County Stout. On tap. To paraphrase Raymond Chandler, it could, “make a bishop kick in a stained glass window.”

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Wow…Bryan’s Choice? I love them all, but the Stouts, Porters, and IPAs usually are favorite. That’s like asking me my favorite thing about women.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Well I have to go with Nebraska Brewing Company because it’s so close and what it’s done regarding my interest in beer. Then Goose Island, because I’ve never had a bad beer from them, ever. I was set up with a brewery tour New Year’s Eve 2008, and exponentially fell more in love with them afterward. I think Greg Hall’s brother gave us the tour, and his excitement about brewing was no joke. If I had to pick just ONE more? Right now, I’d say Dogfish Head. I can’t get enough of them of late.

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

Goose Island. I absolutely loved that place, and everyone there was HAPPY to be working on New Year’s Eve.

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

Not yet. When I get home in January, I’m on it like Professor Frink.

5. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)??

CBBS. Just a certified beer BSer. My interest is high, so there’s nowhere to go but up. I’ve seen so many people in my life who try to get titles and memorize phrases that they’ve forgotten the passion behind what made them want to go far in that endeavor to begin with. If I ever do get any of those, I want to be able to remember that being an, “expert,” is fleeting.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Either that rare/medium rare steak I marinated in La Terrible I forgot was left open in the fridge, paired with Dogfish Black and Blue (I fell ass-backwards into this. The BEST THINGS EVER IN LIFE are NOT planned!), Encased meats and large quantities of Warsteiner, or just straight up Pizza and Beer.

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

Well, there’s yours simply because you not only have a taste for the stuff, you have fun doing it, and you really, really know how to put a sentence together. Second is tie between Ratebeer and Hopcast, and finally I’d go with Beer Runner. This is a toughie, because I have the attention span of a beagle, and click on links to other great blogs like that monkey in the old Mercury space program films would flip switches, so I’ve been to myriad great sites, but don’t save them.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a defense contractor in Omaha, NE, and a Reservist in the AF.

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’d take my training in Industrial Hygiene/workplace safety and use it to get a job at a brewery. I’d absolutely love to assure everyone they were all safe while brewing great beer. But man, I’d LOVE to open a brewery in Monterey, CA! I spent two years there, and I could spend my life there if the right woman had enough money.

3. Are you married? Children?

Neither/Nor

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

I’ve been kettlebelling for two years, and am avidly looking forward to getting my instructor certification in April. I also run, and do Krav Maga. My friends and I regularly have Scotch tastings at our houses. I read mostly non-fiction except Ray Chandler and Cormac McCarthy.

I quit cigarettes, but still love a good cigar. Love movies that make you think that are heavy in dialogue; the kind you watch over and over and find something new. A good example is isn’t a movie per se; the BBC miniseries, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

I’m also into retro, old cars, pinups, and tattoos. Music runs the entire spectrum. On top of it all I try to study the languages I’ve learned, and I love to travel. Beer has played a great part in that as well; having a beer at a neighborhood local is a great way to see how people really are. I go around hitting people for misuse of, “their, they’re, and there.”

Off The Beaten Path

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

Anything aged in casks, because I am as well. I’d have to say though, something that’s traditional but taken out a new door.

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?

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. It’s like drinking VELVET. As many as I could have.

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?

It would be a Chocolate Porter, simply because of the sweetness and the IN YOUR FACE I suspect you may have. I wouldn’t add much extra except chiles, because something that good already doesn’t need a lot of BS mucking up the works.

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

Hmm…can I be a Greek god instead? Good. I’d be Testicles.

5. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?
I’ve managed to compact a lot in 32 years, but one stands out right now simply because I was on about it yesterday:

Skidded down a runway in Crete after a mission, able to see down the runway through the window on the side of the plane. You couldn’t have pulled a needle out of my ass with a tractor that day.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

There is no reason you CAN NOT have it every meal. Forget the toast, the potatoes; ALL FILLERS that’ll be turned into fat anyway. Eat that bacon! Ohhhh man! I had the Elvis Burger at the Vortex in Atlanta two weeks ago with a Sweetwater Festive. 1/2lb burger, peanut butter, bacon, and fried bananas. Kramer said it: “It’s like a circus in your mouth.”

One of my best friends makes bacon, so I get it fresh. You can’t live without bacon. There’s a skit from, “That Mitchell and Webb Look,” in the UK that has a great quote(and you posted it last week)”Pigs are expensive, pink and annoying, but they are also delicious, which is why we breed so many of them.”

SPECIAL THANKS TO BRYAN FOR HIS AWESOME INTERVIEW AND GREAT BEER TWEETS!

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: TIM CIGELSKE

AUTHOR OF: THE BEER RUNNER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Tim Cigelske
Internet nickname: TeecycleTim
Twitter handle: @TeecycleTim
Name of blog: The Beer Runner
Current location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

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

Running, ultimate Frisbee, basketball, cycling and flippy cup

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

Five, I think.

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 dad let me try a little bit of his beer at a family party. I think it may have been Pabst Blue Ribbon, and I thought it was terrible.

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 Marquette University to study journalism. Pretty much did a lot of writing, interning for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Associated Press while I was there. I was part of an intramural 3-on-3 basketball league championship team. Still got the t-shirt from 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:

Not really sure I can pinpoint it to a single instance. What I really enjoyed — and still enjoy — about craft beer is how much it can constantly teach you, about taste, history, culture, science, marketing, community, etc etc.

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

Definitely going to Savor in Washington D.C. after a long day of hiking and realizing beer pairs really well with a wide variety of foods. My friends and I felt like we were in heaven.

Beer Blog Background

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

Since October 2008

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

No one (that I knew of) was writing about people who take both craft beer and a healthy, active lifestyle very seriously. Some of the biggest beer fans are know are hardcore triathletes, marathoners, hikers, cyclists, etc. I think because both people who are into these types of sports and craft beer are adventures — it’s the same personality type. What I didn’t know was how many people fit into this category. I’ve been blown away at the number of beer runners from every sport that have been featured on the blog.

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

I came up with it, not surprisingly, during a run. (A State Park in Maine, to be exact.)

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

First and foremost, I want to give voice to a group of beer lovers and athletes who don’t really have a place devoted to their dual interests quite so specifically. And through these experiences, I’d like to teach myself and others about the cool new beers and adventures that these people are constantly uncovering.

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

The cool people you’re constantly meeting, both online and in person at places like the Great American Beer Fest (where I finally met The Beer Wench!) I’ve always said there’s no community quite like a community of runners, and now I’ve found another community just like it.

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

Can I be biased? I have to say No. 1 my parent site, Draftmag.com.

The name says it all with BEER N BIKES.

I’m a big fan of Chipper Dave at Fermentedly Challenged.

And of course, the Beer Wench is awesome for a variety of reasons, and you’re giving me my first interview about The Beer Runner

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

IPAs, Belgian trippels, stouts

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Sprecher, Dogfish Head, New Glarus

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

I once spent a night shift working with a Lakefront Brewery worker for an article I was writing, and it was a fun experience. I’m not sure you can go wrong with working with any brewer. But I’d have to go with Dogfish Head, the most adventurist brewery out there.

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

No, I’m sure I’d screw it up something fierce.

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Honestly, tacos and Schlitz and/or PBR.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I do the social media marketing for a private university.

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?

Exactly what I’m doing right now. It’s super fun.

3. Are you married? Children?

Jess and I have been married for a bit over three years now, and we’re expecting our first baby (other than our beagle) in early May. Craziness.

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

Other than running and biking? I’m taking business classes and I read a lot of Chuck Klosterman books and articles.

Off The Beaten Path

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

Probably an Oktoberfest, thanks to my German heritage.
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?

Wow. Probably something from Sprecher, both because they have incredible beer, and it would remind me of home.

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?

Imperial IPA, with extra hops

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

People tend to usually go for the obvious superhero, like Superman. But I wouldn’t want to be Superman. Way too much responsibility. I’d like to be the Flash. You get to be super fast, without the crushing burden of society’s expectations on you.

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

I fell down a mountain (well, about 20 feet or so down a mountain) and had to be airlifted by a helicopter off the continental divide in Montana. I suffered a pretty bad concussion and had to get some stitches, but otherwise walked away OK.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It’s been around for a long time, but for some reason bacon seems to be getting a lot of hype right now. I think bacon sculptures takes it a bit too far, but you can’t go wrong with eating the stuff. I’m a fan.

SPECIAL THANKS TO TIM FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Tweeter Interview Series

Beer bloggers are not the only people using social media to share their passion for and knowledge of craft beer. Twitter is one of the most important tools in today’s craft beer industry. Beer tweeters all over the world are influencing and impacting the way people interact with and experience craft beer. The Beer Wench has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer tweeters that she can — from all over the world.

Are you a beer tweeter? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING BEER TWEETER: TODD PARKER
AKA: @BeerTodd
FROM: Metro Detroit, MI

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Albuquerque, NM

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

Mostly soccer (from 2nd grade to current), some basketball, and I tried football one year

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

High School age

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

Don’t recall the specifics, probably one of the big 3, did not like it. I remember a Heilemans Old Style in there at some point. Beer had a function then, not a taste (which was not agreeable). Eventually, learned to tolerate the taste. One time in HS, I splurged and got some Michelob Dark, which for several years was my favorite beer. I still drank the cheap stuff into college, however, on my junior and senior year, I started to drink the good beer.

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 got my BA in Marine Biology from Boston University in 1989. There, I did play some co-rec sports here and there, but mainly concentrated on my studies. I spent a summer and a semester in Woods Hole, which houses the Marine Biological Laboratories and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. These are the pre-eminent institutions for marine biology and oceanography. I got my MS in Marine Biology from the California State University at Fullerton. My thesis looked at how the presence or absence of a symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) affected the digestive machinery in a sea anemone. There, I taught labs in Intro Biology, Zoology, and Invertebrate Zoology. I did play some soccer here and there too.

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 guess my first foray into non-fizzy yellow beers was the Michelob Dark. It was smooth, slightly sweet(er), and had hints of chocolate. It meant that all beer didn’t have to taste like crap.

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

In college, when funds were tight, cheaper was the law of the land, however, by my junior year, my friends around me started drinking better beer, and occasionally I would have one of theirs and like them.

After, I turned 21, going to different bars, you would see beers like Bass on tap. I started to get more and more fond of the better beers and would get them whenever I could. Soon after I graduated, a friend started homebrewing, so me and another friend started homebrewing too. This was Boston when both Sam Adams and Harpoon were beginning to take off, and the buzz was all about. You would hear through the grapevine that so and so bar has this new beer made by Sam Adams, like a cranberry lambic, but they only had a keg and you had to get there soon.

This was how things were working back then.

It also didn’t hurt that I lived less than a mile from the Sunset Grill and Tap (which is still one of the top beer bars in Boston) which had some 80 beers on tap and another several hundred in bottles. They had all these crazy beers like lambics that were just amazing. For perspective, I left Boston in 1991, and moved to Fullerton, CA for graduate school. There, I did a lot more homebrewing because I couldn’t always afford the good stuff.

It was funny, my own advisor joked that I should be a brewer (a few years ago I actually got to make a tribute beer to him, an olde ale), not that he didn’t think I could be a marine biologist, more that I knew how to brew too and had a passion for it. Funny, while there, I started getting to know the local brewers and even helped pour at a tasting for Red Nectar once, where I got all this schwag from them too, which was so cool. There was even this upstart brewery at this tasting, these guys from Temecula who made this really bitter beer called Blind Pig, I didn’t care for that one as much as some of their other brews (I wasn’t a hophead yet).

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Barleywine, Belgian Strong Ale, Scotch Ale and if it were a style Christmas Ales

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Ohh this is tough, I guess Dogfish Head, Sierra Nevada, and Bush (Scaldis)

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

Probably Dogfish Head, everything they make is dead on and they are fearless in making beers.

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

I’ve been a homebrewer for some 20 yrs now, I don’t do much nowadays though.

I’ve brewed a lot of interesting beers like my own rauchbier where I smoked the grain myself with Hickory and Mesquite, a watermelon Wit, and a Baklava mead where in addition to the honey I added cinnamon and clove, Toasted Walnut Torani coffee syrup, and took a subset out and fermented it with Pediococcus damnosus, for the diacetyl.

As a professional brewer I have made some crazy beers also, including a hopless beer called Love Potion, which was a tripel made with honey, ginger, and rose petals. Other crazy beers named for the food that they taste like (Apple Streudel Tripel, Snickerdoodle), and 10, a beer I made for two different brewpubs I have worked for when they hit their 10th anniversary. It was made with 10 different malts, 10 hops added every 10 minutes of the boil, 10 bbls made, and 10% abv.

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

BJCP certified

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

In general, beer and bbq, but beer and cheese is good and at Halloween I do a Beer and Candy pairing.

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

Drink With The Wench, beernews.org, and craftbeerlocator.com with honorable mention going to Michigan Beer Buzz

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Head Brewer for the Copper Canyon Brewery in Southfield, MI

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?

Maybe adapt my current avocation to being owner/brewer

3. Are you married? Children?

Single with just a dog, Flipper

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

Soccer, bbq

Off The Beaten Path

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

Even though it isn’t a true style, I would be a Christmas ale, to quote Don Russell in Christmas Beer: “unlike other beer varieties-…- Christmas beers do not represent a specific style. There are no rules, no brewing guidelines. Christmas beer is whatever a brewer wants to make- as long as it’s special” . You might say I am special (boy am I setting myself up here). I am not a standard person, I am a tad eccentric or more appropriately spicy.

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?

Always been a fan of Bush (Scaldis) Noel, otherwise a vintage Thomas Hardy’s or Samiclaus will do.

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?

It would be a belgian ipa with Brett to dry it out, it would be spicy, yet fruity, with tons of flavor. It would ring in at 7.5%, and everyone would wonder what else is in there (because I will have accented the beer with other spices like black, white and red pepper, cardamom, and coriander).

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

Sanitize ray from my eyeballs.

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

I reserve the right to avoid incriminating myself ;^)

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It should be made a food group.

CHEERS TO TODD PARKER FOR BREWING AMAZING BEER AND CREATING COMPELLING TWEETS ABOUT BEER!

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: STEPH WEBER

AUTHOR OF: BREW.COOK.PAIR.JOY

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Steph Weber
Twitter handle: @StephWeber
Name of blog: brew.cook.pair.joy
Current location: Audubon, PA

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Northern NJ, in a beautiful lake town called Lake Hopatcong (Yes, NJ can be beautiful if you go to the right places! It’s not all turnpike and shopping malls.)

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

I played softball growing up, and I threw discus and javelin in high school track. But I was mostly into music. I’ve played quite a few instruments, but I mainly played piano and sang in high school and college (and I still do, in fact). I’ve been in about 15 different choirs, from regular high school choir to NJ All-State.

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

Hmmm, well, my first full beer (as in, I sat down with a can of beer and finished the whole thing) was the first weekend of college, so I was 18.

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

Like I said, it was the first weekend of college, in some random kid’s dorm room down the hall. He had a case of Miller Lite. It was awful, and I remember thinking to myself, “Well… better get used to this.”

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 Delaware. As an undergrad, I studied Math with a minor in Computer Science, then continued on to receive a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, which involved writing a grueling 110-page thesis titled “The Piecewise Log Normal Approximation and Its Application to the Kinetic Collection Equation.” It was… difficult. I also sang in a choir for two years as an undergrad, and had a short stint on an intramural softball team with my friends one spring.

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 beer epiphany was Dogfish Head Chicory Stout. I had just turned 21, so I went to a large beer/wine/liquor store. I wasn’t into beer at all at the time, but I saw an incredible amount of fancy-looking six-packs there, which piqued my interest. I had heard of Dogfish Head before, and Chicory Stout sounded pretty darn interesting. So I took a chance and picked it up. When I tried it, that was it for me. My love of craft beer began to spiral out of control right away, and life has never been the same since!

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

(Can’t think of any.)

Beer Blog Background

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

I started brew.cook.pair.joy in May 2008, so about a year and a half now.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Well, I had just finished grad school, gotten married, and started a new job within a span of one month. I began working at a large government contractor (where I still work) and was waiting for my security clearance (read: I was being paid to sit in a room and wait for 40 hours a week). I was bored out of my mind for 6 weeks. I had been into craft beer, brewing, and cooking for a while at that point, and thought to myself, “Hey, maybe I should write some of this stuff down!” So I started a little blog on Blogspot. When I realized I was really enjoying writing, I decided to buy a domain, channel my coding roots, and redesign my site in WordPress.

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

I didn’t want to limit myself to writing about just beer or just food, but I also didn’t want a disjointed site covering two different topics. I had recently read The Brewmaster’s Table by Garrett Oliver and was getting really into beer and food pairing. Pairing quite literally brings beer and food together, and similarly brings my blog together. Beer, food, and pairing bring me joy, hence brew.cook.pair.joy.

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

I just love writing, and it’s a great creative outlet. Plus, it doubles as a journal for me, and I frequently refer back to old posts. So far, brew.cook.pair.joy, along with Twitter, have helped me to build a network in the craft beer world, which I hope to continue expanding. My husband and I plan to start up a brewpub called Twin Leaf Brewery sometime within the next 5 years (we hope), so getting contacts within the industry is definitely a goal!

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

Being approached by RateBeer.com to write a weekly article is absolutely the coolest thing that’s happened so far. I get a major kick out of seeing my face pop up on the main page of RateBeer every Friday!

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

This is a tough one, as my RSS feed is full of great beer blogs and I visit a ton of other beer sites… I frequent Probrewer.com since I’m an aspiring brewpub owner. I love skimming through the photos on Beer & Nosh. And of course (shameless self-promotion) RateBeer’s new Hop Press is a collection of some truly excellent beer writers. I’ve had a great time writing for it and reading everyone’s articles!

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

For beers that I brew myself, I’d go with ESB, Bohemian Pilsener, and IPA. For beers brewed by others, I’d say Imperial Stout, big IPAs, and beers that don’t fall into a style category. (Sorry, totally copped out on that one!)

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

These are the worst questions! I, like most other craft beer lovers, am promiscuous in my beer drinking, so it’s hard to choose a top 3 anything! *sigh* Okay, the first that pop into mind are Victory, Great Divide, aaaaand I don’t know, Stoudt’s.

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

I’ll say The Bruery, simply because their style of brewing is so completely different from my own, and I feel like I could learn a lot there.

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

As of the moment I write this, we have brewed 108 batches of beer. Since we brew about once a week these days, this number climbs pretty quickly. Again, it’s hard to choose, so I’ll go with what’s freshest in my mind. The last beer we brewed isn’t really in a style category, but I’d call it a strong Wit. A friend of the family gave us about 60 lb of Comice pears, so we added 10 lb to this Wit (the rest is being used for a pear mead and a pear cider). It’s still in the fermenter now, so I can’t say how it turned out yet!

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

Not yet, but I’m taking the BJCP exam in February (provided that they don’t run out of spots for the exam). Also, my husband and I are enrolled in the Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering program at the American Brewers Guild for 2011.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Thinking about beer and food pairing just made me crave a pork roast and an ESB. But it’s 9:00am right now, so that’s not gonna happen. Thanks a lot.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m a software engineer at an enormously enormous government contractor. It’s… boring.

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 open my brewpub right now at this second, and I would travel around the country to festivals with my husband to talk about our beer with anyone who would listen.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married, yes. Tim and I met at UD when we were 19 years old. Children, not yet (I’m only 25, for Pete’s sake!).

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

I cook (obvs), play piano, ski, and occasionally play Rock Band and Wii games. I recently tried to get into mountain biking, but then it got cold outside, so spring will tell if I stick with it!

Off The Beaten Path

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

I’d be an ESB. It’s got a little bit of everything. Smooth, caramelly malt backbone, a respectable amount of bitterness, floral hop flavor and aroma, goes down easy. Sometimes it’s a little higher in alcohol and catches you by surprise. Basically, all-around awesome… You can tell I’ve got great self-esteem

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?

Our ESB. I seriously could drink it all day long, I love it. It’s going to be our flagship for Twin Leaf as well!

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?

Something really bitter… Just kidding Maybe a coffee stout with some hot chiles added for a little subtle heat.

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

Teleportation. I’d see the world and waste no time traveling.

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

One of the hikes I went on in Colorado – Lookout Mountain. I’m not much of a risk taker when it comes to that sort of thing, so for me, it was pretty crazy!

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I’m probably going to get crucified for this one… but I’m not really into bacon. I’ll eat it with breakfast if it’s given to me, preferably microwaved to a crisp, but even that is a rare occasion. I think it’s kind of a silly trend… Sorry, everyone else in the world but me!

SPECIAL THANKS TO STEPH WEBER FOR BEING A KICKASS BEER CHICK!!!

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: BRIAN KROPF

AUTHOR OF: MUTINEER MAGAZINE BEER BLOG

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Brian Kropf
Internet nickname: Odiedog52
Twitter handle: @Odiedog52
Name of blog: Mutineer Magazine
Current location: Fort Bragg, NC

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Puyallup, WA, about 35 miles south of Seattle.

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

I didn’t play any organized sports, but I would snowboard on the weekends with my friends.

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

I remember sneaking sips of MGD at my Grandparents’ house when they weren’t looking and it was awful .. I was pretty young, probably less than 10 years old and I don’t think my opinion of it has changed much over the years.

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.

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 community college at Pierce Community College and I took as some classes at Tacoma Community College as well. I was young, wasn’t interested and I didn’t pay attention and I decided that it wasn’t my time for college and I followed some other dreams that I had instead.

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:

For me, it would have been Unibroue Maudite. I was home on mid-tour leave from Iraq and I was visiting my brother and the Mutineer Magazine crew down in LA. My good friend and Mutineer Magazine’s Director of Sales JJ Bagley had a ton of great beer and treated me with just about every gem from his cellar from ’07 Utopias to Lost Abbey barrel-aged rarities to just about every odd and end that Southern California had to offer. One that he introduced me to was Unirboue Maudite and I fell in love with it and Belgian strong dark ales. The spiciness, fruitiness, the dark malts .. it was amazing.

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

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale was another one for me. It was such a breath of fresh air from every other IPA out there. Rochefort 8 was another one, it was an eye opener .. and it was absolutely delicious and wondrous.

Beer Blog Background

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

About a year now.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

My brother, Alan Kropf, really wanted me to start writing for Mutineer while I was deployed to Iraq and I ended up writing a piece called “Wartime Pairings”, giving readers a glimpse of a day in the life of a Soldier in the middle of combat and I talked about the food and beverages over there as well.

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

Alan chose it. He’s a huge fan of the late journalist Hunter S. Thompson and it had to do with something HST said. Also, we were looking at making a fine beverage publication that was unlike any other out there and we really just wanted to make it approachable and bring fine beverage to the masses, without the snobbery, subjective ratings, and BS.

4. What are you personal goals for your blog?

What do you hope to achieve with it? I just want to spread the word about Mutineer and keep spreading the word of people such as yourself with the same ideals in mind and change the way people view fine beverage. There’s more to a bottle of wine than a numerical rating and there is more beer out there to try than the three you see advertised during Super Bowl commercials. Our blog and magazine is still young and it can only go up and the buzz we have created by both consumers and the industry in such a short time is amazing.

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

The people I’ve been introduced to! I’ve made so many connections online, it’s unbelievable. Heck, a month ago I obviously knew who you were but I wasn’t really using Twitter much and then one day I signed up and we started talking. Two months later, I’d be coming to California to come hang out with you for a few days and drink awesome beer and build relationships with other people with the same common goals. Pretty rad if you ask me.

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

I’m a huge fan of yours, of course, and lately I’ve been really into Hop Cast’s and New Brew Thursdays’ podcasts. It’s nice to be able to sit back and enjoy your beer and just watch for a change, instead of reading.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Big IPAs, big imperial stouts, and barleywines. I’m just really into big beers right now and I’m all for some barrel aging as well.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries? Tough question. Being relocated for the Army in the Southeast, I’ve come across so many breweries I normally wouldn’t have found like Founders, Bell’s, Foothills, etc., but I think it would be Sierra Nevada, Lost Abbey, and Dogfish Head. I think that list is pretty self explanatory, but there are tons of other breweries that are right there with them.

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

Another tough question, just like the last one. Some of my favorite breweries (as listed above) aren’t on the list only because they produce some of my favorite beer, but because the people who make the beer and the story behind it them is so awesome. So it’s a tough question. But I think I’d like to work at Brasserie Cantillon and experience their culture and brewing techniques that they’ve been using unchanged since it was founded in 1900.

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

Not yet, but I plan to be once I get out of the military.

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

Becoming a Cicerone is on my list of things to do to say the least, but it won’t be happening any time soon with my current situation. It’s on a very big list of things to do for me.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I love Sam Adams Boston Lager and sea salt and vinegar kettle chips .. I could eat it all night!

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m an Airborne Infantryman .. a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. It keeps me fairly busy I guess you could say. I have about 9 months left doing this and then it will be nothing but relaxing and drinking beer and doing the magazine full time.

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?

Honestly, I just want to become a civilian again. I’m sure that sounds weird to hear, but I’m just ready to live my life for me again. I’ll be doing the magazine though.

3. Are you married? Children?

Nope and no.

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

I’m a big fan of being able to sit around and do nothing, which I think a lot of people take for granted sometimes. Besides that, I’m really into cars, family, friends .. I guess I don’t have a lot of hobbies! I need to work on that.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I’d be a blend and aged in something awesome, like absinthe barrels. Cause that would be REALLY rad and to my knowledge hasn’t been done before.. and it would be a “one and done” type deal and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

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?

23 Year Old Pappy Van Winkle Barrel-Aged Sexual Chocolate from my friends over at Foothills in Winston-Salem, NC. It’s that good.

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?

Something sweet … just .. like .. you … Just kidding. It would be bold and catch everyones attention. Someone would open a bottle of The Wench and people from across the room would hear the cork pop and they’d have to come in for a closer look and whether they would want to smell it or not, you would attack their olfactory organs, being the extrovert that you are. But what kind of beer exactly? I’m thinking .. something that probably wouldn’t fall into a style guideline. And the special ingredient would be buckeye nuts. True, buckeye nuts are considered to be slightly poisonous, but that’s a risk I’m wiling to take.

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

My job is to jump out of an airplane going 150mph at only 800 feet above the ground for a living into combat … I have plenty of stories to tell. And there is probably a story or two from the 15 months I spent in Iraq.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Love it, but I don’t have good bacon nearly enough and the bacon the Army cooks is horrible. My Grandma makes good bacon and she makes it soft especially for me .. cause she likes it REALLY cooked, like you can drop it and it’ll shatter.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MY GREAT FRIEND BRIAN KROPF FOR HIS RIDICULOUSLY RAD INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!