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!

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Dave Isser
Internet nickname (if applicable): microbrewster
Twitter handle: @brews_clues
Name of blog: Brews Clues
Current location: Los Angeles

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Ashland, Oregon

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

Soccer, skiing, 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?

I was visiting my brother at college and went to a party. I don’t remember what kind of beer it was, but probably some watered down bud light or something. Not a memorable beer experience, but I had a good time.

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 college at UPenn and studied English. The major itself hasn’t opened too many doors, but it has made me a decent writer.

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 don’t really remember my very first, but it probably involved drinking Rogue’s Shakespeare Stout as Rogue was from my hometown in Oregon and that was my favorite beer for many years.

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

Every time I try a new beer that’s delicious, surprises me, or challenges me, I’m reminded of why I love beers. There are far too many to mention, but here are a few highlights for me:
Stone 13th Anniversary
Pliny the Elder
Getting Mikkeller’s Black Hole Stout on tap in Amsterdam
the 2008 Port Brewing High Tide IPA
Stone Self-Righteous
Deschutes Black Hole Sun IPA
Avery Maharaja.

Beer Blog Background

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

Just over three years, although not much happened during that first year.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

A few years before I started writing, I began keeping an excel spreadsheet of all the beers I had tried. People kept telling me that I needed to do something bigger than just keep an excel spreadsheet, so I tried a blog.

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

An ex-girlfriend suggested it, and since I didn’t have anything better I went with it. I was never that wild about it, but people always say how much they like it, so it stuck.

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

World peace through beer.

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

Hmmm, well this interview is pretty cool. It’s been interesting to see how people respond to my beer knowledge. Whenever I hang out with friends, they’re always embarrassed to show me what beer they’ve brought cause they’re not sure if it’s good. I always say, I love good beer, but I’m not a snob about it.

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

• Beer Advocate
• Homebrewtalk.com
• craftbeer.com

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

• Russian Imperial Stout
• Imperial IPA
• Barleywine

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Oh man, I hate to limit it to just three, especially cause it’s always changing by who’s doing the most interesting stuff. But right now I’d say:

• Russian River
• Mikkeller
• Stone

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

I think Vinnie at Russian River could probably enlighten me the most about beer and brewing, but you have to imagine getting drunk with the Brewdog guys would be hilarious.

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

Yeah, I started about a year and a half ago and still have a lot to learn, but my brews are getting better. I did a double IPA called The Resistance, which I dry hopped with Simcoe and everyone really liked. My last beer was a bit too ambitious: a black IPA dry hopped with fresh organic hops. Not sure where that one went wrong, but you can read about both of those beers on the blog. Right now I’m working on a Ginger Saison that I got out of Sam Calagione’s Extreme Brewing book, and a Russian Imperial that I’m aging with bourbon soaked oak chips; I have high hopes for the stout.

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

No, I’m waiting till I can grow a pencil mustache and own a tuxedo.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I have to go with American IPA and burger. I realize that’s not all that fancy, but LA is a city of burgers and so many of the good places to get beer down here also have great burgers.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I edit documentaries and science shows for TV.

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?

Probably be a chef. I love cooking and have been doing a lot of recipes with beer recently.

3. Are you married? Children?

No, but I have an amazing girlfriend that loves beer almost as much as I do.

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

Are there other hobbies?

Off The Beaten Path

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

Probably a Belgian IPA: bitter and bright from the pacific northwest with a dry humor and wild streak from the Belgian yeast.

2. You were caught smuggling beer illegally, which has now been made punishable by death. Right before you are sent to the executioner, you are offered one last beer. What beer would you chose and why?

I have trouble believing that a country that is cool enough to give you a final beer before you die would also make beer smuggling punishable by death. But I think I’d probably go with Pliny the Elder. I drink it all the time and maybe he could offer some infinite wisdom in my final moments.

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?

Belgian Strong Dark Ale. In your face with sweetness and complexity. Probably do Belgian candy sugar, cherries and some wilder yeast strain.

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

The power to eat spaghetti without ever getting full.

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

I’m always getting myself into something interesting. Most recently, I climbed Angel’s Landing in Zion while it was completely snow and ice covered. I’ve also done a fair amount of questionable spelunking.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

I’ve always wanted to do a breakfast with eggs, bacon, and a smoked porter or possibly Rogue’s Chipotle Ale. Those two styles just seem like they’d be so good with bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO DAVE FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!!!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

Curious what goes on in the minds of your favorite beer bloggers? Well, The Beer Wench is and she has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer bloggers that she can — from all over the world. Are you a beer blogger? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING: SCOTT TRIANA

AUTHOR OF: SCOTTIE KNOWS BEER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Scott Triana
Twitter handle: @scott_triana
Name of blog: Scottie Knows Beer
Current location: Washington D.C.

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania and lived there until college. After college, I moved to Washington, DC; I’ve been here for about 2.5 years now.

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

Growing up I played soccer, golf, and basketball. Over the last couple of years I have started playing more paddle sports – i.e. tennis, racquet ball, squash.

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

I think I was 15 or so.

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

The first beer that I had was a Labatt Blue. A friend and I “borrowed” a case from his uncle’s bar. For some reason, we thought it would be a great idea to toss a 24 pack of bottles out a second story window. Luckily, my face broke the fall, but it nearly knocked me unconscious. I’m proud to say that not a single bottle was lost to the ground that day.

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 Penn State University and graduated with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Marketing. I was an avid beer pong player if that counts.

Craft Beer Epiphany

Every craft beer enthusiast has at least one pinnacle craft beer experience that completely changes one’s 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 craft beer epiphany occurred during my freshmen year of college when I discovered Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout. Until that point, I drank whatever cheap swill was available. I remember being completely blown away by the flavor and complexity. I was so accustomed to drinking watered down beer that had no character, no imagination, and no taste. It was as if the heavens parted and the angels began to sing.

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

Backpacking through Europe solidified my love for craft beer and I have never looked back since.

Beer Blog Background

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

Since October of 2009.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

Last year, I found myself trying a wide range of beers – whether I was frequenting specialty beer stores or the different brewpubs in DC. I started to become frustrated when I couldn’t remember the name of a certain brewery or a specific flavoring of a beer.

I started documenting my beer selections with my iPhone’s camera. After amassing hundreds of blurry cell phone photos I decided that there had to be a better way of documenting my craft beer adventures. Finally someone was like “dude, just blog it man”……so I did.

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

There was a movie (cheesy comedy) several years back called Euro Trip. Matt Damon had a brief cameo appearance and sang a song titled “Scottie Doesn’t Know.” For some reason the movie was a big hit with a group of friends from college. After several intoxicating beverages, my friends would sing “Scottie doesn’t know.” I would of course argue back that Scottie DOES know. Hence the title of my blog.

However, don’t let the name fool you. I by no means consider myself a craft beer expert or beer snob. I am constantly learning and growing as a craft beer drinker.

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

To have fun, to learn, and to meet interesting people along the way. If I convert even one Bud Light drinker from the “dark side” to the craft beer side, then my blog has been a success.

What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being beer blogger?
Private brewery tours and meeting interesting people who share a passion for craft beer.

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

Beer Advocate, Brookston Beer Bulletin, and of course…Drink with the Wench!

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Tough question. Lately I’ve been really enjoying Belgian Tripels, super hoppy IPA’s, and Imperial Stouts.

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

That’s like asking you to choose your favorite child. Right now, I would have to go with Dogfish Head, De Dolle Brouwers, and Russian River.

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

Sam Calagione and Dogfish Head. The dudes a rock star.

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

I lost my home brew “v-card” a couple of weeks ago by brewing up a batch of Marzen Festbier. So… I would have to say that Marzen Festbier is the most unique and interesting beer I have brewed to this point.

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Fresh oysters and a delicious Saison.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

Head of social media and marketing for an association in DC.

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 continue to do what I do now, but would switch to the craft beer industry.

3. Are you married? Children?

No and no.

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

I am an avid traveler and backpacker.

Off The Beaten Path

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

A chocolate stout because I’m a sweet guy

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?

The Tactical Nuclear Penguin from BrewDog. If I’m going to go, I want to be rocking a healthy buzz.

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 Belgian Quad that comes in at a bold 12%ABV. A beer that can really get the party started!

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

I would want the ability to turn water into the alcoholic beverage of my choice (that was a superhero, right?). The party would never end.

5. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It’s delicious in chocolate.

SPECIAL THANKS TO SCOTT FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!