In honor of Mother’s Day, I would like to take a moment to introduce all of my friends and fans to the most important woman in my life — my mother. Most mothers might freak out if their daughters decided to “throw away” two perfectly good degrees to blog about beer and pursue a career in the industry — but not my mom. Although at times my crazy path and adventures has made her nervous and scared for me at times, my mother has always been and will always be my biggest fan and greatest supporter.

In order to provide for my sister and I growing up, my mother worked 3rd shift in a factory in order to raise us girls by day and put herself through grad school at night. Believing in living by example and “being the change”, my mother showed me that I could be and do anything — regardless of gender — if I wanted it enough and worked hard enough to get it. It is her compassion, conviction, and ambitious nature that has shaped and molded me into the person I am today.

I am proud to say I am my “mother’s daughter”. And so it is, with great pride and honor, that I introduce you all to the strongest and most important woman in my world — Mar Routson.

Drinking "Saison de Wench"

Mar “Mama Wench” Routson

Occupation: Retired Special Ed Teacher; Current Tutor Boys & Girls Club; Volunteer for JFS, ARC, WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY, MDSA, BEACON SLOOP CLUB
Location: Montgomery, NY
Twitter handle: @MarZDotes

Beer Wench: Where did you grow up?

MAMA WENCH: RYE, NY (WITH VISITS AND SLEEPOVERS AT GRANDMA’S IN NYC)

Did you parents drink beer?

NOT THAT I RECALL, MAYBE AT A METS GAME, BUT THEY WERE SERIOUS SCOTCH AND MARTINI DRINKERS! (NONE OF THE FRILLY-STYLE MARTINIS OF TODAY, STRAIGHT LIQUOR UP OR ON THE ROCKS)

What kind of beers did you have in your house growing up?

THE NEIGHBORS (schaefer brewing co. of brooklyn) HAD AN ENDLESS TAP OF SCHAEFER’S, BUT I DON’T EVER REMEMBER BEER IN OUR HOUSE, EXCEPT WHEN MY BROTHER AND I HAD PARITES.

Mama Wench in High School

Can you remember your first beer experience?

OURS WAS A WELL-STOCKED, FULLY SUPPLIED HOUSE OF ANY KIND OF LIQUOR IMAGINABLE, WINE, TOO, BUT NO BEER.

What beer was it and did you like it?

I HAD A SENSITIVE PALATE, WAS SERVED FRENCH AND ITALIAN WINES AT SUNDAY SUPPERS FROM A VERY EARLY AGE, DESPISED THEM, BUT WAS EXPECTED TO DRINK IT NONE-THE-LESS. BEER CAME ALONG AT TEEN PARTIES. THE DRINKING AGE WAS 18, SO I WAS FREQUENTING LOCAL BARS AND PARTIES AT 15 GOING ON 16. MY NEIGHBORS WERE FROM THE SCHAEFER FAMILY, AN NYC BREWERY, SO I DRANK THAT BY DEFAULT. IT WAS COOL TO DRINK MOLSEN AND St. PAULIE GIRL. THEN A GUY WE KNEW WHO DROVE A VW VAN BROUGHT BACK A FULL VAN OF COORS (A BEER YOU COULDN’T YET GET IN NY). WE THOUGHT THAT WAS COOL BECAUSE IT WAS ILLEGAL! BUT LIKE MY PARENTS, I LIKED THE HARD STUFF!

THEN I WENT TO COLLEGE IN BOSTON AND DISCOVERED GUINNESS. THOUGHT IT TASTED LIKE THE BARROOM FLOOR. I STUCK WITH VODKA AND GRAPEFRUIT THROUGHOUT COLLEGE, (or whatever yellow fuzz water was being served for happy hour). IT WASN’T UNTIL I GOT MARRIED DID I BEGIN TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP A TASTE FOR BEER. WEEKEND COLLEGE (OSU) FOOTBALL GAMES WITH SPATEN or GROLSCH (partly because the bottles were so much fun) BEER. PLAYING GOLF AND WAITING FOR THE BEER CART FOR A COLD ONE (I think there may have been a Heineken phase). THEN I BEGAN TRYING OTHER BEERS. FELL IN LOVE WITH KILLIANS RED AND MY FAVE (AT THE TIME), SAM ADAMS.

La Familia de Wench (Mom, Sis, Dad)

Currently, what is your favorite style of beer to drink?

I ADORE BISON ORGANIC’S HONEY BASIL AND CHOCOLATE STOUT, BUT SINCE I CAN’T GET THEM IN NY YET, I TRY TO ORDER WHATEVER IS LOCALLY BREWED. MOST RECENTLY I HAD CAPTAIN LAWRENCE WIT AND KEEGAN ALE’S MOTHER’S MILK STOUT. MY (BEER) PALATE HAS NOT YET DEVELOPED A SENSE FOR A TRUE FAVORITE STYLE. I ENJOY WHAT I AM HAVING AT THE TIME.

What are some of your favorite beers and breweries to imbibe?What are some of your favorite bars to enjoy beer at?

I AM A TRUE BELIEVER IN SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS, SO WHENEVER THERE’S A NEW PLACE OPENING UP, OR A TASTING OR FESTIVAL, I’M THERE TO SUPPORT IT. WE HAVE A NEW PLACE IN NEWBURGH, NEWGURGH BREWING COMPANY, THAT’S JUST STARTING UP, AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO TRYING IT OUT. THERE ARE TWO GREAT SPOTS TO HIT AFTER A DAYS HIKING IN THE GUNKS, THE MOUNTAIN BRAUHOUSE AND THE GILDED OTTER. THE FORMER SERVES LOCAL BEERS AND THE LATTER IS A BREWPUB. IN THE SUMMERTIME, THE GILDED OTTER SERVES BLUEBERRY BEER WITH FRESH PICKED BERRIES FROM THE AREA- THAT’S ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES. IT’S A PACKAGE DEAL: PURPLE BEER, RESTAURANT WITH A VIEW, A DAYS HIKE OR ROUND OF GOLF, AND GOOD FRIENDS.

Christmas Morning

When shopping for beer, what do you look for?

I LOOK TO SEE WHERE IT IS BREWED, AND I LOOK AT THE PACKAGING. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A SUCKER FOR CREATIVE PACKAGING.

Have you visited any breweries? If so, where have you visited and what are some of your fondest memories?

ONE OF MY GREATEST MEMORIES IS WHEN I WENT TO CAPTAIN LAWRENCE AND TOLD THEM I WAS THE BEER WENCH’S MOTHER, AND THEY THOUGHT I WAS COOL ENOUGH TO HAVE MY PICTURE TAKEN WITH THEM AT THE TAP! I TRY TO VISIT A BREWERY (AND WINERY) ON EVERY VACATION, ANYWHERE FROM MAINE TO CALIFORNIA, AND IN BETWEEN. THERE’S EVEN ONE IN THE USVI, ST. JOHN’S BREWERS, THAT I PLAN TO VISIT IN DECEMBER!

Your family has an interesting history will alcohol, care to dish the dirt?

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A BOOTLEGGER AND SPEAKEASY OPERATOR IN NYC DURING PROHIBITION. HE WAS ABLE TO RUN HIS BUSINESS BECAUSE HE PROVIDED PURE ALCOHOL FOR THE HOSPITAL (AND HE WAS AN IRISHMAN AS WERE MOST OF THE NYPD IN THOSE DAYS).

Familia de Wench & Friends

Questions regarding your daughter…. The Wench….

When you were pregnant with The Wench, your doctor told you that it was okay to consume a small quantity of beer. Can you elaborate on this story more?

THAT QUESTION IS A BIT MISINFORMED. PREGNANT AND WELL OVERDUE IN MY 42ND WEEK WITH THE WENCH, AND UNABLE TO PLAY AT THE SOFTBALL/KEG GAME, I WAS INFORMED THAT A BEER WOULD RELAX ME AND PERHAPS BRING ON CONTRACTIONS. SO I DRANK, FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING THE PREGNANCY, 2 BEERS OVER THE COURSE OF 4 HOURS. YEP, LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, I WENT INTO LABOR. IT WAS ACTUALLY DURING THE NURSING STAGE OF THE WENCH’S INFANCY THAT I WAS INFORMED THAT 1/2 A BEER WOULD ENRICH THE BREAST MILK (THE YEAST WAS THE IMPORTANT INGREDIENT, THEREFORE, IT WAS RECOMENDED THAT I CONSUME IMPORTED BEER). SO, I DRANK 1/2 A BEER AND LEFT THE REMAINING 1/2 CAN OF WARM BEER FOR MY HUSBAND. NOT EVERY DAY. JUST ONCE IN A WHILE.

So is the rumor true? Did beer induce your labor with The Wench?

I WAS 42 WEEKS PREGANANT. THE WENCH WAS GONNA COME OUT ANY MOMENT. DID THE BEER INDUCE LABOR? HECK, IT MAKES A GREAT STORY IF YOU’RE THE BEER WENCH!

Mama & Papa Wench

Talk about your husband’s (aka Papa Wench’s) relationship with beer.

PAPA WENCH IS A GERMAN AND DRINKS GERMAN BEER. END OF STORY. (To elaborate: Papa Wench is a very stubborn and picky man who knows what he likes and knows what he doesn’t like. Geoff has been and will always be a very loyal Spaten drinker — he even brings it to other people’s parties. When he isn’t drinking Spaten, Geoff prefers to drink other German beers as well as Scottish and English styles).

When your daughter and her friends were finally old enough to drink beer, you made fun of her friends for buying “piss beer” — care to elaborate on this?

ANY AND ALL LIGHT BEERS = YUK. FAKE BEER. NEAR BEER. PISS BEER. WASTE-OF-TIME BEER.

ONLY FOR MY NEIGHBORS, AND AT GREAT PAIN, DID I SERVE THAT STUFF IN THE SILVER CAN. BUT NOW THAT MY NEIGHBORS KNOW ME, I ONLY SERVE QUALITY, CRAFT BEER AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO IT!

Mama Wench & Best Friend, Laurie

You and your husband worked very hard to put your daughter through college. How did you feel when she decided to “throw” her two degrees away to become a vagabond beer blogger in pursuit of a career in beer?

WE SUPPORT HER 100%. WE DO NOT FEEL SHE THREW AWAY ANYTHING! SHE WORKED HARD ALL FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE AND IS FREE TO TAKE WHATEVER PATH IN LIFE SHE WISHES TO FOLLOW. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF ALL SHE HAS ACCOMPLISHED ALREADY AND ENJOY WATCHING HER PROGRESS TOWARDS HER GOALS.

Are there any moments where you felt particularly proud to have The Wench as your daughter?

EVERY MOMENT, EVERY BREATH.

FROM HER CONCEPTION TO BIRTH, TO HER FIRST STEP AT NINE MONTHS, TO HER MONKEY BAR PULL-UPS, TO HER GIRL SCOUT BADGES, TO HER SWIMMING AND TRACK ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TO HER 5TH GRADE CLASS PRESIDENCY, TO HER BEING THE BEST BIG SISTER, TO HER ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TO HER INDEPENDENCE, TO HER PERSEVERANCE, TO HER STUBBORNNESS, AND RIGHT ON UP TO HER MARRIAGE.

Like mother....like daughter?

Has anything cool happened to you as a result of your daughter being The Wench?

LOTS OF TIMES, BECAUSE I ALWAYS BRAG ABOUT IT. AT KENNEDY AIRPORT, SOME YOUNG EYE CANDY BOUGHT ME A DRINK. I’VE HAD MY PICURE TAKEN BECAUSE OF IT. IT WAS ANNOUNCED ON THE LOCAL RADIO STATION WHEN I WON TICKETS TO THE BEER FESTIVAL (I PLUGGED IT). I THROW HER NAME AROUND AT EVENTS LIKE A PEACOCK PLUMES ITS FEATHERS WHILE MATING. BIG, PROUD CHEST.

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Special thanks to my mom!! I would never have been able to do any of this with out her endless support and undying love over all these years! I love you, Mom!! XOXO!!

According to one of its founders, Jay Brooks of Brookston Beer Bulletin: “The Session, a.k.a. Beer Blogging Friday, is an opportunity once a month for beer bloggers from around the world to get together and write from their own unique perspective on a single topic. Each month, a different beer blogger hosts the Session, chooses a topic and creates a round-up listing all of the participants, along with a short pithy critique of each entry.” (Some of you might remember that I had the honor of hosting The Session in October of 2010)

Today’s topic was chosen by none other than my new husband (sorry if this is news to any of you, more details to come), Angelo De Ieso of BREWPUBLIC.com — arguably Portland’s most beloved beer blogger and beer blog. The topic of today’s discussion is: What Drives Beer Bloggers?

As with most beer bloggers, my original reasons for starting this blog are drastically different from my current goals  and direction.

I make absolutely no claims at being a beer expert but, in my defense, I am no beer novice either. Instead, I prefer to think of myself as a student of the art of crafting beers. In his post, Angelo sites About.com’s 10 Reasons to Start a Blog. Using this list as a reference, I originally started this blog to:

#5 Connect with People Like Me (aka beer lovers): When I started my blog, I was a regular member of The Columbus Underground, a large social media based community focused on all things Columbus (food, beverage, politics, sports, etc). At the time, my passion for beer was growing and I noticed that the city didn’t have a beer blog or anyone organizing beer events. So, I took a stab at it.

#7 Stay Active or Knowledgeable in a Field or Topic (aka beer): In my very first blog post I wrote, “My personal goal is to become more educated on the world of beer. The goal of the blog is to take my readers along on my adventure and train ride through beerland. I intend on learning through a plethora of experiences including beer tasting, home-brewing, traveling to breweries, taking courses, and so on and so forth.” I had left the restaurant industry for a career in marketing, and I saw my blog as an opportunity to stay connected to the world of food & beverage — specifically, beer.

#10 Have Fun and Be Creative: I’m a writer by trade, true story. As a kid, I spent hours and hours reading science fiction — and then more hours attempting to write my own sci-fi short stories. Throughout my years in school, I won several essay writing competitions. (Ironically, I won the opportunity to speak at my 5th grade “DARE” graduation ceremony — ha! And look where that got me…) When I graduated college, I took the GRE with the intention of getting a Master’s in Journalism. That dream shortly ended when I landed a gig as a restaurant manager — which ultimately put me on the path to where I am today. Moral of all this: I needed a creative outlet for my writing, and starting a blog turned out to be the perfect solution.

What originally started as a fun project and virtual notebook, has since turned into a platform for advocating and advancing the craft beer industry. Craft beer is my life, it is my raison d’etre. It is my hobby, it is my career. It is what I wake up for every morning, and the reason I can’t sleep at night.

Here is the part where many of you might want to stop reading, as I am about to get philosophical and deep.

9/11 happened two days after I moved into the dorms my freshman year of college. As with many people, that day completely altered the course of my life. I grew up in a historical town named for a Revolutionary War general in NY, just 60 miles north of Manhattan. American history was extremely important to my town, my family and myself. As a kid, my parents and teachers taught me to always fight for what I believe in, and to always seek and believe in justice.

When I left for college, my sights were set on the FBI. After 9/11, everything I thought I knew about the world completely changed. My extremely liberal teachers unveiled a world that I had never seen before — a world of injustice, broken promises, lies and deceit. I felt betrayed and broken-hearted, and started to search for a new purpose in life. 2nd quarter, I found it….

International Studies 201: Introduction to Peace Studies – The meanings of peace and peacelessness in today’s world, varied approaches to peace, contributions of many disciplines and professionals, and the significance of peoples’ movements.

Learning Objective #3: Students develop abilities to comprehend and assess individual and social values, and recognize their importance in social problem solving and policy making.

My professor’s name was Dr. B. Kardaras. I would linger after every class just to listen to him talk with other students and, on occasion, bombard him with philosophical questions that had no concrete answers. On the last day of class, I approached him with tears in my eyes, fear in my heart, and the question that haunts and drives us all….”What should I do with my life?”

His response, in its simple yet inspirational glory, has never left me. “Ashley, it has been a long time since a Ghandi-like figure has been in this world.” He went on to say that people should never underestimate the impact they can make on this world, no matter how small the contribution or trivial the subject. And so, this brings us to the purpose of this blog and my answer for the question: “What Drives Beer Bloggers?”

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Although the origins of this quote are widely disputed, but it doesn’t stop the words from being true. “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.” — Ghandi.

I have always wanted to make a significant difference in this world. But until I found craft beer, I didn’t know what I would do and how I would do it.

Over the years, Drink With The Wench has metamorphosed into more than just a blog. I am more than just a blogger. I don’t want to just be a part of the craft beer movement, I want to be a leader in it. Although my actions appear selfish at times, my focus has and always will be on promoting craft beer and the people who make it. My goal is to create and inspire change in the beer and beverage culture. I want to be the change.

I am proud to say that I am no longer the novice enthusiast that first set out to write this blog.

I am a craft beer evangelist on a mission to revolutionize the beer industry through education, innovation & advocacy.

I blog, therefore I am…. or should I say: I am, therefore, I blog.

Cheers!

I frequently get asked for suggestions on beer brands, bloggers and personalities to follow on Twitter. Over two years ago, I released a blog post about the 20 Most Compelling Beer Personalities on Twitter — and to this day it remains of of my most popular posts. Being that it has been two years since I released that list, and many things have changed since, I thought that this would be an appropriate time to update it.

Naturally, this list is entirely subjective and based solely on my own opinions and personal experiences. You may be asking what my criteria is for developing such a list? Well let us start by defining the word compelling:

com⋅pel⋅ling  [kuhm-pel-ing]
–adjective
1. tending to compel; overpowering: compelling reasons.
2. having a powerful and irresistible effect; requiring acute admiration, attention, or respect: (a man of compelling integrity; a compelling drama)

The Wench’s Criteria:

1. COMPELLING ENOUGH TO FOLLOW: I must follow this person (duh!). Unfortunately, this rules out the people I do not follow — which means this list has potential to change in the future.
2. COMPELLING CONTENT: Tweets contain information of value in relation to the craft beer industry. (i.e.: news updates, events, announcements, beer reviews, links to beer related information, etc…)
3. COMPELLING PERSONALITY: Twitter personality is interesting and captivating. There is a person behind the twitter handle — they are more than just a “brand” or a “blog”.
4. COMPELLING CONVERSATION: Community engagers — people who are constantly engaging in conversations with the twitter community (whether it be through retweeting or replies). People who constantly have one way conversations, in my opinion, are not compelling. Talk to me. And I will follow you.

Essentially, what I’m about to give you is a list of the beer personalities and brands on Twitter that I follow the closest. These are the sources I trust most and the people whose opinions I value the highest — when it comes to craft beer. When they tweet about a beer, I want it. When they post a link, I click on it. When they talk, I listen.

Drum roll please….

The Beer Wench’s Top 20 Most Compelling Personalities on Twitter (2011)

1. @HerzMuses: Julia is one of my favorite people in the craft beer industry — as well as one of my favorite humans on this planet. She is the Craft Beer Program Director for the Brewers Association and one of the biggest craft beer evangelists I have ever met. She tweets out great links to very important articles and is a huge supporter of beer bloggers. AND, she has one of the best palates in the biz.

2. @Cicerone_Org: Ray Daniels is one of the foremost educators on the subject of beer. He is one of the most brilliant men I have ever had the pleasure of meeting in real life. If you need to know something about beer, from brewing to serving to pairing with food, he is the man to talk to — especially since he is very interactive with followers.

3. @Homebrewchef: Chef, brewer, writer, radio host — when it comes to all things beer, Sean is king. Whether it be posting menus from his beer dinners, recipes or pictures of food, Sean is constantly torturing his followers with his food and beverage experiences. He is very engaging and is always offering advice and suggestions to his friends and followers.

4. @adamnason: Adam currently runs one of THE best beer news sites out there — beernews.org. He is always tweeting out the most cutting edge beer news. Whether it be announcing new beer releases or beer events, this guy is definitely one of the best beer sources on the web! Also follow @beerpulse for more of his updates.

5. @beerwars: Anat Baron might be allergic to beer, but that hasn’t stopped her from being one of the biggest advocates in this industry. In addition to creating the best documentary on craft beer, she is also a fantastic speaker and a very strong woman. Her tweets are extremely informative and I always click on every link she posts — because I know it’s going to be good.

6. @dogfishbeer: Dogfish Head has one of the best beer brand presences on Twitter. Mariah is constantly retweeting her followers and engaging in conversations. The majority of the time, if you send her a question or mention her brand, she responds. AND she pays attention to other people’s conversations, not just her own. Mariah kicks ass.

7. @StoneGreg: Another “brand” that utilizes social media very well. Greg is the owner of Stone Brewing Co. He travels a subhuman amount and is constantly engaging the Twitter communities and bars in the places he visits. He also does a great job of voicing his opinion on important topics in the craft beer industry.

8. @JasonAlstrom: Jason is the co-founder of Beer Advocate — one of the largest internet based forums for beer. Jason is constantly tasting new beers from all over the world, and shares his experiences with us on Twitter (many of which are also paired with a song from Pandora). He also does a great deal of travel and shares his beer adventures with his followers on Twitter. Also follow @BeerAdvocate for more of his musings.

9. @MelissaCole: Melissa is my top resource for beer news from across the pond (she’s a Brit). She is the author of the book “Let Me Tell You About Beer” and the beer blog “Taking the Beard Out of Beer.” Melissa can also be found standing strong, beside me and some other strong women in beer, on the soapbox against sexism in beer marketing and other controversial topics. Her tweets are both informative, as well as entertaining.

10. @newbrewthursday: Video beer podcast consisting of a very dynamic and geeky crew. New Brew Thursday is always on the move, attending some of the industries hottest events and drinking some of the most coveted beers — sharing all of the experiences with their fans on Twitter. Follow the crew: Stephen: @darthweef, John: @johnholzer, and Matt: @SmallBatchBrew

11. @FW_Brewmaster: Although brand spanking new to Twitter, Matt Brynildson is one of the most compelling people on Twitter because he is, quite possibly, the best brewer in the world. But don’t just take my word for it, count his medals. To be fair, though, he has already done an awesome job at providing great content and engaging his followers on Twitter.

12. @BeaumontDrinks: Stephen is my favorite beer writer, aside from the late Michael Jackson. He is also one of my greatest influencers and the man responsible for introducing me to the Saison — my second favorite beer style of all time. It only took him about 3 years of nagging to get on Twitter, but now that he has he is definitely doing a great job and I try never to miss a tweet.

13. @BREWPUBLIC: Focused primarily on Portland and the state of Oregon, Angelo runs one of the highest ranked and most popular beer blogs in the world. He was also named the best beer bartender of the best beer bar in the state of Washington by the Northwest Brewing News — which is no small feat. But no worries, fame does not get to this kid’s head, he is probably the most humble and loving person in the beer industry.

14. @hopcast: Chicago is a great beer town and, thanks to Brad and Ken of the video beer podcast Hop Cast, I am able to keep up with all of the latest news. The duo runs one of the most entertaining video beer podcasts (all others, except NBT, fall flat) and I am most definitely a subscriber. Also follow the boys on their alter egos: @beerad and @hopcastken

15. @lucybeercook: A pioneer in the craft beer industry, Lucy has been publishing books and writing articles about beer for decades now. Her specialty is cooking and grilling with beer and her tweets about recipes and food are sure to make you drool. When she isn’t rocking the world of beer and food, Lucy is sustainability leader in the industry and the organizer of water conservation conferences for the beer industry.

16. @masterpairings: Dr. Bill has tasted over 30, 000 — yes, count those zeroes — beers in his lifetime. He is quite possibly the most well-traveled man in beer as well. His expertise lies in food and beer pairings, and all of his tweets will torture you to no end. Foie Gras and Westie 12? Yep, Dr. Bill will go there. And you can watch it all go down on Twitter.

17. @bruisinales: This woman must be a robot, because I swear she never sleeps. Julie can be found on Twitter just about every minute of every day. No really. Julie is a great example of a craft beer retailer that really understands how to use social media to reach out to and influence her target audience. Her tweets are very entertaining and she provides a lot of great content regarding beer releases, beer events and beer news. (Plus you can order beer from her online! Win!)

18. @TheArtofBeer: Taylor is one of the biggest craft beer evangelists on Twitter. She has been known to send (coveted) craft beer all around the country to her followers. She is extremely active in the twitter community and also very entertaining. If you are adventurous, make sure to follow the Twitter account of her trouble-causing rubber ducks — @TheRubberDucks — who are infamous for stealing and drinking cult craft beer.

19. @denverwagon: With a focus on the Denver booze scene, Denver Off The Wagon is a collaborative beer blog run by some of the funnest, cutest, and bestest beer/ spirits bloggers in the country. The tweets are extremely informative as well as entertaining and the group does a great job of promoting and engaging others on Twitter. Also follow @jesshunter @hookedonwinter @MlleBess @DenverBartender

20. @beermentv: Because I have to give a little love to the Southern Hemisphere. Beer Men TV definitely has the lock down on the craft beer scene down under (haha I can haz joke?) . I can always rely them to be available to chat on Twitter when all sane, non-insomniac Americans are asleep. The boys are very funny and encourage fun conversations on Twitter.

Well, there you have it….

But please note, this list does not even begin to give justice to the amazing beer community on Twitter. There are hundreds of beer loving people that I absolutely adore following on Twitter. The ones listed above just happen to be a few of the ones that I pay particularly close attention to… Happy #FollowFriday!

Cheers!

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to the main event.

After weeks of nominations and eliminations, the 20 Most Eligible Bachelors of Craft Beer (2011) have been determined.

The basic qualifications were as such:

1. Must work for a craft brewery (all positions considered)
2. Must NOT be married (other relationship statuses accepted)

Many men were evaluated, and only 20 made the final cut.

The judging criteria were as follows:

1. Industry Talent
2. Personality
3. Appearance

20 men were scored and ranked — but only ONE man will take home the crown of “Mr. Craft Beer 2011.”

Without any further ado, let me present the winners of….

THE 20 MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELORS of CRAFT BEER 2011

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# 20 — Mr. James Watts

Founder, BrewDog

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# 19 — Mr. Dylan Lintern

Vice President, NOLA Brewing Company

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#18 — Mr. Chad Melis

Marketing Director, Oskar Blues

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#17 — Mr. Jon Carpenter

Brewer, Dogfish Head

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#16 — Mr. Eric Salazar

Brewer, New Belgium Brewing Company

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#15 — Mr. Colin Ferguson

Beer Jockey, Great Divide Brewing Company

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#14 — Mr. Tyler King

Brewmaster, The Bruery

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#13 — Mr. Jason Yester

President & Brewmaster, Trinity Brewing

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#12 — Mr. Jason Oliver

Brewmaster, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company

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#11 — Mr. Matt Dauffenbach

Sales Manager & Evangelist, Tallgrass Brewing Company

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And now for the top ten most eligible men in the craft beer industry … drum roll please….

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#10 — Dr. Bill Sysak

FOH Beverage Supervisor, Stone Brewing Company

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#9 — Mr. Adam Avery

Founder & Brewmaster, Avery Brewing Company

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#8 — Mr. Jamie Floyd

Co-founder & Brewmaster, Ninkasi Brewing Company

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#7 — Mr. Greg Koch

CEO & Co-founder, Stone Brewing Company

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#6 — Mr. Garrett Oliver

Founder & Brewmaster, Brooklyn Brewery

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#5 — Mr. Joe Mohrfeld

Brewer, Odell Brewing Company

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#4 — Mr. Shaun “Sully” O’ Sullivan

Brewmaster & Co-Founder, 21st Amendment

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#3 — Mr. Kelly Ryan

Brewer, EPIC Beer

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#2 — Mr. Matt Bryndilson

Brewmaster, Firestone Walker Brewery

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#1

MR. CRAFT BEER 2011

NOAH REGNERY

Head Brewer, Pizza Port Brewing Company

Photo Credit: Facebook

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Well, there you have it. The most eligible bachelors of craft beer in 2011. But before all you ladies start bombarding these fine gentlemen with emails, facebook messages, text, tweets, etc… take heed because, unfortunately, many of them are in committed relationships.

BUT WAIT FOLKS. The fun DOES NOT stop here. As with the Miss America Pageant, we have decided to give some of these boys “special awards”… stay tuned for Mr. Congeniality, Mr. Best Dressed and more!

Some of you (okay maybe just my Dad) might have noticed my lack of blogging in the past few weeks. This is partly due to the fact that I am now gainfully employed by an awesome brewery, whose website and blog have taken priority over my own. It is also partly due to travel; the mayhem of beer festival season is upon us… And the last reason I have been so “quite” on my site is because I have been putting a lot of time an energy (yes, I am dead serious) into the research and development of the inaugural list of “20 Bachelors of Craft Beer.”

The idea was developed from conversations that are constantly brought up in personal circles, often behind the scenes, but sometimes publicly on various Social Media platforms. Let’s face it; when humans are attracted to other humans, we tend to vocalize it to our peers (and in my case, the Internet). And as much as I try to fight gender stereotypes, I must admit that the ladies of craft beer do, in fact, gush over the men in the industry.

Now, you must be asking yourself why on earth a self-proclaimed feminist would want to glamorize the boys in the biz… therefore upholding gender stereotypes and further creating a “delineation” between the sexes. Why not a “20 Most Eligible People of Craft Beer” contest instead? Touche, my friends. But the answer is pretty simple: I am a woman in the industry which means I carry with me a certain bias. It is easier for me, personally,  to evaluate men on a subjectively objective scale. And since I was a principal in the development of this operation, it is important that I remove as much bias as possible.

Now having said that, it is important to clarify that, while I may have spearheaded and organized the operation, my opinion only contributed to a fraction of the actual outcome. Allow me now to discuss the process:

This was not a “people’s choice poll”. Instead, we opted for a “pageant-like” competition. Unlike most pageants, the participants did not enter themselves and were not required perform a certain set of tasks on which we judged them.

In order to even qualify for the “pageant”, the men were required to 1. Work for a brewery (not necessarily as a brewer) and they 2. Could NOT be married (other relationship statuses were accepted).

Nominations were collected by a select group of women, who then put them all through several elimination rounds until we narrowed down the list of Top 20. And then, a secret panel consisting of 10 women from all areas of the industry and areas of the world scored each of the 20 “contestants” on 3 different measures.

It is extremely important to note the key word in the competition was

“E L I G I B L E.”

Appearance, although a factor, was not the most important measure. Even Miss America is required to have a talent and prove that she contributes value to the greater good of the world (World Peace FTW!). And so, all of the men on the top 20 list were individually scored on the following three separate measures:

1. Industry Talent: Although many of the men excel at other hobbies, this measure strictly speaks to the “industry impact” that these individuals have made. This can be evidenced by number of medals won, books written, movements started etc… The main question is: are they important and relevant in the craft beer industry?

2. Personality: Let’s face it, brewers (although adorable in their awkwardness) are not known for being social butterflies. In fact, most are extremely socially awkward and truthfully, some are complete pricks. However, a select few stand out from the crowd. These are the speakers that can steal a room, the men that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and the men you find yourself drawn to like a moth to the flame.

3. Appearance: Being in the beer industry is less than glamorous, and those who make it look glamorous deserve a little bit of credit. Drinking beer for a living can adversely affect one’s health and physical fitness. But there are some men who have gone above and beyond to ensure that they keep their beach-ready physique. And well, then there are those that are just adorable in their own awkwardly geeky ways.

Not all the men on the list excel at all three measures. Some might have a lot of two, but none of one. This is why each person was scored on each separate measure, instead of scoring them on a simple scale from one to ten.

Whew. Now that we have gotten all that out of the way… It is time to announce the 20 Most Eligible Bachelors of Craft Beer, right?

Yeahhhhhhhhh, about that.

Do I have the results? Yes….. BUT, I need some time to properly organize them and present them. So please bare with me and, *cross your fingers*, the big reveal will happen within the next day or so… STAY TUNED!

Okay, so technically I missed my blog’s birthday by two days. This is because I was stuck in the midst of travel and any sense of time completely evaded me. I really wanted to write a well thought post about how far I’ve come in the past three years (insert sob story here) and how many of my goals I’ve already reached and what I am excited about reaching in the future…. but, I am sick as a dog. So much so, that I missed my contributing opportunity for Stephen Beautmont’s Blog because all I want to do is sleep or work (and drive to work), nothing in between.

The goods news is that, after three years of relocating and traveling all over the country… three years of maintaining my blog for a negative income… three years of blood, sweat,  and many many many tears, three years of meeting amazing people, making awesome friends and acquiring some of the most knowledgeable and talented mentors… three years of understanding employers and parents… three  years of volunteer brewing, working the bottling line, washing kegs and tanks…

Three years of having a direction, but not really having a final destination….

And now, I have achieved one of the greatest feats yet.

I landed a job with a brewery.

But, I didn’t do it alone. I would never have gotten to this point without all of you — all my friends, fans, followers, family, “internet family” and all the brewers and beer industry professionals who took me under their wing and taught me everything I know. And most of all, I would not have done it without Daniel Del Grande — the man that finally took a chance on the rowdy, fire-spitting Beer Wench. A gesture that he will never regret.

I am now currently gainfully employed by Bison Organic Beer. As for what I will be doing, stay tuned… can’t let all my secrets out of the bag yet!

And so on this joyous 3rd anniversary of Drink With The Wench, I raise a toast to all of you who helped to mold the person that I am today. And most of all, I raise my pint glass to Dan.

And for good ole’ times sake, let’s remember why I chose to drink craft beer…. CHEERS!

I am a Craft Beer Drinker from New Brew Thursday on Vimeo.

CHEERS!

This year, 3,523 beers were judged in 79 different categories at the Great American Beer Festival. Breweries and brewers from all around the country received due recognition for their hard work and dedication to the art of beer.

Whereas these great accomplishments should not go ignored, I will let my fellow bloggers and the Brewers Association inform the rest of the world about the great beer feats at the festival.

You see, while the most studious among us took notes the entire time, I was too busy what we will call… errrr… “living in the moment.” Instead of reviewing beers and recapping the GABF higlights, I have decided express my own (extremely subjective) experience at GABF in the form of “spoof awards.” Because, after all, no awards ceremony is complete without a “spoof awards” presentation. Am I right?

Disclaimer: Some of these awards are more serious than others. And all of them are entirely subjective and not meant to be offensive or taken too seriously…

So without further ado, allow me to present:

The Wench’s 2010 GABF Spoof Awards

_________________________________________________

Best Costume

Niko, 21st Amendment — Watermelon Suit

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to Get His Mustache + Eyebrows Dyed at a Mansion Party

Josh Deth, Revolution Brewing Company

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to be Found Smoking a Cigar

Dr. Bill Sysak

_________________________________________________

Studliest Man in a Cowboy Hat

Three-way tie between:
Fred Bueltmann, New Holland Brewing Company
Brad Kraus
Ryan Fulmer, Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que

_________________________________________________

Coolest Brewery Booth at GABF

Sierra Nevada
Honorable Mention: Oskar Blues

_________________________________________________

Most Iconic Facial Expression in Pictures

Greg Koch, Stone Brewing Co. — #gregface
Honorable Mention: Ashley Routson, The Beer Wench — #wenchface

_________________________________________________

Brewer Most Likely to Snag Bottles and Continue Pouring Outside the Convention Center

Jason Yester, Trinity Brewing

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to Spike Beer with Spirits

Sebbie Buhler, Rogue

_________________________________________________

Brewer Most Likely to Take off His Pants

Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head

(At least that is what the rumor was…)

_________________________________________________

Best Socks

Random Dude with Bacon + Beer Socks

_________________________________________________

Most Dapper Dressed Brewer

(And the only Brewer who can pull off Red Pants and a Straw Fedora)
Garrett Oliver

_________________________________________________

Most Attractive Brewing Company

The Bruery
Honorable Mention: Port Brewing Company

(Photo stolen from: Drink Eat Travel)

_________________________________________________

Hottest Chick Brewer

Veronica Vega, Deschutes

_________________________________________________

Hottest Dude Brewer

Noah Regnery, PIzza Port San Clemente

Honorable Mention: Tyler King, The Bruery

_________________________________________________

Most Disturbing “Quote” Overheard

_________________________________________________

Cutest Chick (Denver) Bartender

Leah, Cheeky Monk

_________________________________________________

Cutest Dude (Denver) Bartender

Colin, Great Divide Taproom

_________________________________________________

Rowdiest Brewery (Inside and Outside of GABF)

Iron Hill
Honorable Mention: Port Brewing

_________________________________________________

Brewery Most Likely to Randomly Pass Out in Another Brewery’s Hotel Room

(Unintentionally, of course…)

Dogfish Head

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to Pass Out on the Hotel Stairs

Brian Kropf, Mutineer Magazine

_________________________________________________

Brewery Most Likely to be Caught Drinking Coors Light at 4am on Saturday After Winning a Gazillion Awards at GABF

Port Brewing Company

(Photo stolen from: Drink Eat Travel)

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to Be Found At The Bruery’s Table

Cambria, Drink Eat Travel

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to be Caught Singing Karaoke

E.C. Crowe, The “A2″ Beer Wench (Star Bar)

_________________________________________________

Brewer with the Most Badass Style

Jamie Floyd, Ninkasi Brewing

_________________________________________________

Best Dreadlocks

Jason Yester, Trinity Brewing

_________________________________________________

Most Talented Beer Chef

Sean Paxton

_________________________________________________

Best Brewer’s Beard

Matt Brynildson, Firestone Walker

_________________________________________________

The Man Whose Presence Was Most Missed

David “Moose” Buhler, Elysian

_________________________________________________

Best Birthday Party

Taylor Shaw (The Art of Beer), Falling Rock Taphouse

(Picture stolen from: John M. P. Knox)

_________________________________________________

Best “Unofficial” GABF Tasting

Dr. Bill’s Rare Beer Party

_________________________________________________

The Only Party Where Boobs Outnumbered Beards

Beer For Boobs Brunch, Freshcraft

_________________________________________________

Best Harry Caray Impression

Kell Bensen, Colorado Beer Week

Honorable Mention: Alex P. Davis

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to Get Leied on His Birthday

Justin, Brewing Network
(Disclaimer: Leied not Laid)

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to Get Her Boobs Grabbed in Public

Melissa Cole

_________________________________________________

Most Likely to be Seen in The Cruise Room

Steve Parkes, American Brewers Guild

_________________________________________________

Most Photographed Man (In Person & Cardboard Form)

Charlie Papazian

_________________________________________________

Number One Way to Cause a Hangover

Last Call at Whiskey Bar

_________________________________________________

Number One Way to Cure a Hangover

Bacon Bloody Marys at Stuebens

_________________________________________________

Best Beer Bar in Denver (and quite possibly The World)

Falling Rock Taphouse

_________________________________________________

Best NEW Denver Craft Beer Destination

Tie between:

FreshCraft

Star Bar

_________________________________________________

Best Worst Idea at the End of the Night

Whiskey Bar

_________________________________________________

Swankiest Cocktail

(Accompanied by a swanky head bob and a shimmy)

Guava Sexy, The Cruise Room

_________________________________________________

Best Street Food in Denver

Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs

_________________________________________________

Best Get-Away (Hideaway) Inside the Convention Center

Farm To Table Food Pavilion

_________________________________________________

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

_________________________________________________

THE Most Epic MOMENT During GABF

(Left to Right: Vinnie, Dave, Jennifer, Natalie, Brett, Jay)

The Big Daddy + Jennifer Smith “Impromptu Wedding”

Who: Dave Keene + Jennifer Smith of Toronado

Best Man = Vinnie Chilurzo

Best Woman = Natalie Chilurzo

“Father” of the Bride = Jay Brooks

The Reverend = Brett Joyce

Where: Russian River Booth, GABF Convention Floor

When: Saturday Night

_________________________________________________

Naturally, the list could go on forever. Have a spoof award that you would like to give out? Leave a comment below!

CHEERS!

One of the perks of being a chick at a beer festival (or sporting event) is the relatively short bathroom lines (as compared to the men’s lines). Unless, of course, the event features co-ed port-a-potties. In that scenario, lines can be ENDLESS and EXCRUCIATING. It is truly a fight against the clock.

Beer events and stadiums are not the only venues where waiting on line for the bathroom reminds me of a situation similar to the “heart pounding through the chest, sweaty palms, strenuous suspense of dismantling of a bomb with only 10 seconds left on the clock.” Having to go pee in crowded bars with only one bathroom, tailgating parties in stadium parking lots hours before the doors open with access to toilets, long road trips with too much caffeine with no rest area in sight, standing in the middle of the NYC crowded streets during the Thanksgiving Day Parade and not being allowed to use the restrooms in local establishments, being stuck in the window seat of a cross country flight when your neighbors are sleeping and you cannot wake them up for the life of you — those are all moments when your bladder stands the test of time.

I am certain that at some point in your beverage consumption career, you learned to play the “wait as long as physically possible before you break the seal” game. And we all know the tragic circumstances that surrounds the breaking of the seal.

Well kids, have no fear. I have fantastic news. We no longer need to worry about breaking the seal or doing the embarrassing “pee pee” dance in public! Thanks to the brilliant minds behind DontBreakTheSeal.com … all of our bladder prayers have been answered.

From two Miami buds who lost too many “babes” when their game was interrupted by visits to the little boys’ room, BATHROOM BUDDY is a Tylenol-sized capsule based on military technology that stops you from peeing for a solid eight hours, so you can enjoy a night on the town without visiting a single urinal, at least until it’s time to change the cakes again. How it works: once in your gut, BB expands to a softball-sized, readily digestible microfiber sponge (think those sink-borne dino pills from childhood), that soaks up sloshing liquid while allowing booze to be metabolized; after eight hours the Buddy’s processed as solid food, a familiar experience for all except Rip Torn.

Bathroom Buddy is useful for more than just partying. It’s also great for:

• Avoiding piss stops on road trips
• Making sure you don’t have to leave the eyesight of that babe you’re working at the bar, and lose her to some guy who pissed more recently. After all, it’s is slogan: “We stop urine, to make sure you’re in.”
• Winning bets with your friends about who can “hold it” the longest
• Take care of your incontinent elderly family members and saving on adult diapers
• Walking your dog only once every 24 hours

To order BATHROOM BUDDY — Visit the official website and fill out the form!

Happy Belated April Fool’s! Compliments of: ThrillList.com

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. For 3 months now, Drink With The Wench has been interviewing beer bloggers from all over the country.

In honor of April Fool’s Day, The Beer Wench has decided to do a parody on her interview series. Hopefully, it is well received and at least one person finds some entertainment value in it… even if it is only my mother.

THE WENCH PRESENTS:

An April Fool’s Day Spoof

FEATURED INTERVIEW: IF GARY VEE WAS A BEER BLOGGER

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Gary VAY-NER-CHUK
Internet nickname: Gary Vee
Twitter handle: @garyvee
Name of blog: Beer Library TV … aka THE THUNDER SHOW … aka The Internet’s Most PASSIONATE Beer Program.
Current location: New York, NY

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Technically, I was born in Belarus and grew up in New York, NY. Half of my childhood was spent working in my parent’s liquor store and the other half was spent peddling baseball cards for cash.

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

Sports? Me play sports? Have you seen me? I’m practically a midget! I would have gotten killed …

I prefer to limit my sports involvement to pure fanaticism … Jets Jets Jets!

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

I did not have my first beer until I reached the legal age of 21. Why? Because I was a little goody-two-shoes. Well that, and my parents put the threat of God in me.

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 first experience ever actually drinking beer was doing a keg stand on my 21st birthday. I think it was PBR … but then, my memories of that night are very hazy. But I do remember that PBR did, in fact, taste like carbonated piss water. And trust me, I would know. I have tried it.

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.”

What was your first craft beer epiphany? Recall as many details about it as you can:

After immigrating from Russia, my parents started their own liquor store in NYC. I got really bored while working the cash register so I started reading all of the late Michael Jackson’s beer books. No kids, I am not talking about the (also late) pop sensation and child molester Michael Jackson. I am referring to The Beer Hunter.

Because tasting beer was technically illegal and I was too much of a wimp to sneak sips of it from my parents, I set out on a mission to train my palate “backwards”. To study various flavors associated with beer, I chewed on fresh hops, dried hops, various levels of toasted barley … and even more obscure things like grass, dirt, rocks, tobacco and wood. I probably consumed more New Jersey grass in my teens than any lawn mower.

The flavor profiles of certain beer styles were much harder to “recreate” than others. My worst experience training my palate backwards was with “The Gueuze.” The descriptors for the gueuze said barnyard, horse blanket and lactic acid.

Much to my distain, I set out to mimic the gueuze style as best as possible. I licked a horse saddle, nibbled on a horse blanket that had remnants of manure on it, quickly shoved some sweet hay in my mouth and then washed it all down with a swig of apple cider vinegar.

The real epiphany came when I actually got to drink a real gueuze. I may have gone a little extreme with the whole “backwards” palate training experience. I don’t think I will ever need to chew on a manure stained horse blanket again any time in the near future!

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been running Beer Library TV?

I launched Beer Library TV in February of 2006.

2. What inspired you to start Beer Library TV?

I was sick an tired of all the beer snobs taking the THUNDER out of beer. All of the negative reviews and ratings on various beer forums really irritated me. I mean cmon now, this isn’t the wine industry! The craft beer industry does not need arrogant beer elitists scoring beer and dictating market trends. Ratings are, well, over-rated. IMO. Leave ratings to the wine industry.

3. Why did you chose the name Beer Library TV?

Drink With The Wench was taken …

4. Why did you chose a beer vlog over a wine vlog? Your parents store obviously sold both beverages…

Are you seriously asking me this question? EVERYONE knows that beer is the finest beverage on earth. If Jesus had turned water into beer instead of wine, the world would have been a much better place. IMO.

Also, beer is way cooler than wine because when we taste beer we actually swallow it. What is up with all those wine geeks spitting out wine? Hello! Somebody call in the booze patrol, that is some seriously criminal wastage of alcohol!

5. What are you personal goals for Beer Library TV? What do you hope to achieve with it?

First, I want people to try different beers. How can you have a favorite if you only know a few? Second, I tell people to trust their palates. If a beer appeals to your palate, then it’s a good choice. Don’t feel pressured to like popular brands or what experts recommend. Buy what ‘brings the thunder’ for you.

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

Hello! Have you not seen my appearances all over National TV? I am kind of a big deal. I was recently named on AskMen.com’s list of the Top 49 Most Influential Men of 2009. Booyah bitches!

Also, there was this one time during my book tour that I was molested by The Beer Wench with a rubber chicken. His name was Don Quixote. And I’m not gonna lie. It was kind of hot.

7. What is your favorite beer blog/beer website?

Errr, obviously my all time favorite beer website is Drink With The Wench. No brainer!

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

How does one chose a favorite star in the sky? I like my beers to be like me — bold and complex (Oak-aged Imperial Stout), funky and wild (Gueze), but still down to earth and approachable (Scottish Mild).

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

I prefer the little guys (like me!) and the under-rated underdogs (like the Jets!).

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

I would probably work for Dogfish Head Brewery. Like them, I am quite “off-centered.” Oh, and they might be the only brewery actually crazy enough to let me with for them. Well, maybe BrewDog would be crazy enough to hire me … but then, those guys kind of scare me and I think that I would end up dying from alcohol poisoning if I had to work there.

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

I don’t believe in stuffy beer certifications.

5. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

BACON and Rauschbier = slam dunk. I also enjoy Lucky Charms with a nice Framboise.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I spend most of my days CRUSHING IT — all over the interwebs.

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 own the Jets and CRUSH IT in the Super Bowl.

3. Are you married? Children?

Married? Sometimes … I “work” about 15 hours a day. Last time I checked, I had a wife named Lizzie.

Children? I have a daughter Misha … and I think she is mine, but I never got the results back from the blood test.

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

JETS JETS JETS!

I used to collect baseball cards, but then I realized that collecting baseball cards does not get you drunk. Or laid. So I switched to beer.

Off The Beaten Path

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

I would be an Imperial IPA, continuously hopped for 2 hours and dry hopped 4 times in fermentation then aged in Bourbon Barrels and spiked with Brettanomyces at bottling. Doesn’t make any sense does it? Sounds crazy right? That is EXACTLY why it fits my personality. BIG BOLD, in your face, over the top and absolutely wild. Yes, that is the GaryVee style of beer.

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?

Garret Oliver’s illusive Bacon Beer.

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 bacon gueuze. Don’t ask me how it’s made. But that is what I would make as a tribute to The Wench.

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

You know the kid in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory who gets shrunk down and then gets zapped into the TV? That is kind of what I want to be able to do — except with the Internet. I want the power to actually climb inside my computer and live not just ON, but IN the internet.

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

I survived getting molested by The Beer Wench with a rubber chicken. I have had nightmares about it ever since …

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Bring on the THUNDER!

HAPPY APRIL FOOL’S DAY!

CHEERS!

OH, and BTW. The rubber chicken molestation of Gary Vee? That soooooo happened…

Are you a candle loving pyromaniac, but have no tolerance for overwhelming “girlie” scents such Vanilla Bean Cupcake With Pink Sprinkles and Mom’s Fresh Baked Banana Bread???

Well have no fear, there is hope yet!

The brilliant minds behind Koi Kouture recently launched a line of “Man Candles” … errr I mean “Mandles.” Each “Mandle” comes in a recycled Rogue Brewery, Stone Brewing Co. or New Belgium beer bottle.

According to the Etsy site, each bottle has been handcrafted in “a studio full of power tools and beer, while Whitesnake plays in the background.”

How … manly of them. Just add some facial stubble, some Lee’s bluejeans and a shotgun — and you have one killer “Man Candle Making Man Fest.”

These candles are made from 22 oz. beer bottles since, according to Koi Kouture, “men drink big beers and like big candles.” Each candle is between 16 and 18 ounces.

There is a disclaimer though, Koi Kouture does recognize that they cannot alienate the fairer sex and admits that these candles are also for the “awesome girls” that drink beer like “real men.” Awww, shucks. Thanks guys…

In my opinion, the “best” aspect of this concept is that fact that they are using CRAFT BEER bottles for the candles. Which is further proof that “real men” and “awesome girls” don’t just drink beer, they drink craft beer. VIVA LA BEER WARS!

Another fun attribute is that each candle is custom made. The customer not only has the option of choosing the scent, but they also can choose WHICH Rogue Ales beer bottle to put it in! Rock on! Curious about what a “Mandle” scent actually entails?

Here are the scents you can choose from:

HOOTERS WAITRESS SCENTED: Suntan Oil with the faint smell of old deep fryer oil. 

HUNGRY MAN TV DINNER SCENTED: Roast Beef with Creamed Corn (real enough to make you throw up in your mouth a little)

STRIPPER BREATH SCENTED: Watermelon Jolly Rancher with a little stale smoke

HAM & CHEESE SANDWICH ON RYE SCENTED: Ham and cheese on rye…with a tiny bit of mustard. 

MUNCHIES SCENTED: Fritos with an underlying layer of dried pot and a tiny bit of smoke. 

CARNY: Cotton Candy and Corn Dogs…with a little motor oil.

TRAILER PARK: Motor Oil, Fresh Dirt and despair (not really)

CAMPING: Roasted Marshmallow and Firewood

OH NO, IT’S THE COPS!: Coffee and Donuts

ROAD TRIP: Beef Jerky

OLD SPICE (Because the new commercials are amazing!)

PINK STARBURST

SUNTAN OIL

CRAZY OLD FISHERMAN: Fishing Boat and Old Spice

AXE BODY SPRAY: Just like the one your little brother in college wears.

FRESH CUT GRASS: Men love nothing more than mowing the lawn and drinking a beer. 

LEATHER: Just like the leather couch in a bachelor pad

THE RECYCLED BEER BOTTLE CHOICES:

Rogue Brewery American Amber Ale
Rogue Capt. Sig’s Northwestern Ale
Rogue Brewery Shakespeare Stout
Rogue Brewery Kell’s Irish Style Lager
Rogue Brewery Smoke Ale
Rogue Brewery Orange Honey Wheat
Rogue Brewery Juniper Pale Ale
Rogue Brewery Hazelnut Brown
Rogue Brewery Chipolte Ale
Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale
Stone IPA
Stone Ruination IPA
Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
New Belgium Lip of Faith

Costing about $28 bucks a pop and another 6 bucks in shipping, these candles are not exactly “cheap.” But then, they are completely hand-crafted and the idea is very unique and novel. I would say that they are worth it. Now I know what I am getting all of my craft beer enthusiast friends for future gifts!!!

FOR UPDATES ON KOI KOUTURE’S LATEST MANDLE CREATIONS AND NEW SCENTS, FOLLW THEM ON TWITTER @KOIKOUTURE AND BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK!

CHEERS!