DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @AlaskanBrewing

Luke Bauer

Brewery: Alaskan Brewing Company
Location: Juneau, AK
Personal Twitter Handle: @lukebauer 

What is your “official” position with Alaskan Brewing??

“Marketing Specialist”

What is your favorite beer from Alaskan Brewing?

Freeride APA, all the way. It’s got a very crisp, citrusy, hop-forward aroma and flavor without being palate-destroyingly bitter. I can drink more than one (or five) without overwhelming my ability to taste something else. It’s a perfect combo of American hop character and session-ability.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Almost anything with cheese, which is actually sort of a catch-all. The enormous array of cheese flavors and the obvious surfeit of American craft beer styles and brands means that just about any flavor craving can be satisfied with these two. But within that category, huge, complicated, malt-forward beers like our Troppelbock (an oak-aged Imperial Doppelbock) paired with really sharp, aged Irish cheddars happen to be a strong contender for favorite.

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

I had to dig through the style guidelines for this one. Gonna have to go with American Barleywine. I have a pretty intense, rich, bold, assertive, and complex personality (with some overt booziness). Those that like me tend to like me a lot, but I’m not for everyone.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?

As much as I love the flavor of a great beer, the real beauty of craft beer for me is the people who make it. There are few industries that require such broad knowledge and skill bases to really succeed. To be a great craft brewer demands that a person master a farmer’s understanding of his land and produce, an ability to suffer through long, hard, and sometimes dangerous hours of labor, a scientist’s love of measurement and rigorous testing to command consistency, a professional taster’s palate, the agile mind of an entrepreneur, the ability to talk to anyone, and a whole lot more—usually found in the same person (like my employers, who really impress me). I’ve worked in quite a few postitions within this industry and I never stop meeting really fascinating, talented people.

Oh, and the beer. I do love drinking craft beer.

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Special thanks to Luke for being such a great craft beer ambassador! If you aren’t following them already, definitely make sure to follow @AlaskanBrewing on Twitter and Instagram!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft beer brands? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @ZauberBrewing

Cheryl Harrison

Brewery: Zauber Brewing
Location: Columbus, OH (I-O)
Personal Twitter Handle: @CherylHarrison

What is your “official” position with Zauber??
Community Manager

What is your favorite beer from Zauber?
Buxom Blonde. Zauber’s Brewmaster Geoff Towne describes the beer on our website as “A buxom blonde named Abby, healthy, attractive, vigiours, zaftig, full figured, curvaceous, ample bodied…”

… she tastes as sexy as she sounds.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
I LOVE cheese, and I think blue cheese paired with an extra hoppy American IPA (or Zauber’s Belgian IPA Berzerker) is the perfect assault on your tastebuds.

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
Hmm. I mean that buxom blonde description fits me pretty well haha. Well, minus the blonde part.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
Craft beer for me started as a way to try new things and meet new people (and maybe also get drunk.) It evolved into a passion to support the local businesses who brew and to appreciate the artisan brewers all around the world (and maybe also get drunk.) With Zauber I get to do both: help grow a new local business (Zauber just tapped early this year!) and bring attention and appreciation, to great beer.

Brains and beauty, in addition to being a social media and PR wiz, Cheryl runs Drink Up Columbus — one of the most popular alcohol-themed blogs in the city of Columbus. And a little known fact? Cheryl and I actually worked together for the same communications and marketing firm in Columbus, OH! Something must be in the water there….

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft beer brands? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @allaboutbeer

Win Bassett

Company: All About Beer Magazine
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Personal Twitter Handle: @winbassett

What is your “official” position with All About Beer??
Social Media & Beer Education

What is your favorite style of beer?
Depends on the weather, time of year, time of day, and company, but I tend to gravitate toward to the hoppy and wild varieties.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
A light, spicy saison with a huge bowl of raw living foods.

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
Something wild. I just want to chill in a coolship in an old farmhouse all day.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
The wonderful result of a passionate and hard working community of which I’m proud to be a part. Cheers!

Intelligent, handsome and extremely passionate about beer – Win Bassett has got it all (hint. hint, ladies). But all that aside, @allaboutbeer is a great Twitter account to follow if you want links to interesting beer editorial and the most update beer news. Cheers!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @VictoryBeer

“At Victory, we have two people doing the twitter ‘talking.’ You’ll see the end of our posts with ^KN or ^BC. BC = Bill Covaleski. KN = Karen Noonan.”

Bill Covaleski

Brewery: Victory Brewing
Location: Downingtown, PA

What is your “official” position with Victory?
Brewmaster & President

What is your favorite beer from Victory?
Prima Pils runs through my veins.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
Old Horizontal and Capra Verde cheese, a goat’s milk cheese in the gorgonzola style.

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
Pilsner. Maybe a bit uncouth and somewhat sharp to the uninitiated, my finer points are only known to the perceptive.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
Life itself. I’ve put my life into the craft of great beer and it always rewards me.

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Karen Noonan

Brewery: Victory Brewing
Location: Downingtown, PA

What is your “official” position with Victory?
Communications Manager

What is your favorite beer from Victory?
Victory Lager for its subtle complexity and its ability to transform macro drinkers into craft beer enthusiasts.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
HopDevil with super spicy pasta Fra Diablo. Putting the two devils together makes for an evil pairing. I love how the caramel malt base of the HopDevil balances the fire of the diablo sauce.

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
Instead of being a specific style, I’ll be a specific brand. I’d be Victory Golden Monkey if only so I can steal the tagline: strong and sensual Oh, and as we’ve said many times before, you must Respect the Monkey.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
Craft beer means creativity. The creativity isn’t just for those of us who work in craft beer either. Consumers get to be inspired by the flavors too. There are endless flavor possibilities and combinations.

What an amazing two Victory has tag-teaming the social media! (And not too bad on the eyes either!) Victory was THE very first brewery I toured (way back in the early Wench days) and is still one of my favorites to date. Make sure to Respect the Monkey and follow them on Twitter! Cheers!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @FlyingDog

Erin Biles

Brewery: Flying Dog
Location: Frederick, MD
Personal Twitter Handle: @erinbiles (But don’t follow me. It’s a waste of time. I’m so immersed in the Flying Dog account that I rarely tweet for myself. And if I do, it’s usually because I’ve had a few too many or I’m eating something really good. I know, such a cliche.)

What is your “official” position with Flying Dog?
Officially, I’m the Director of Public Relations. But as with most craft breweries and companies the size of Flying Dog, I end up wearing a lot of hats. Currently, it’s a sombrero. I’m working on the tequila selection for our upcoming employee holiday party…

What is your favorite beer from Flying Dog?
This past year, we started a Single Hop Imperial IPA series. Our second release, brewed with El Dorado hops, made me weak in the knees. Overwhelmingly sharp citrus hop notes with a clean, dry finish. Plus, El Dorado is a fairly new hop variety. Only 1.5 acres were harvested in 2010, so it was really cool to be the first (more mainstream) craft brewery to use them.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
Our Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA with triple creme brie and organic orange ginger marmalade. Raging Bitch is so complex, your palate says “what the hell is going on?” when you take that first sip. We play with beer and food a lot here and were elated when we found an equally complex food combination that perfectly complements all of the Bitch’s WTF?! elements.

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
A classic pale ale. A balance between sweetness and bitterness sounds about right.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
Craft beer is art form. We don’t just make beer. We make art.

If there is anyone who rocks at both art inside and outside of the bottle, it’s Flying Dog! And a woman behind their awesome PR and social media marketing efforts? Yeah, gotta love that Cheers Erin!

Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @GLBC_Cleveland

Marissa DeSantis

Brewery: Great Lakes Brewing Company
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Personal Twitter Handle: @marissadesantis

What is your “official” position with Great Lakes??
Communications Assistant

What is your favorite beer from Great Lakes?
My favorite year-round offering is Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. I think it’s a perfect representation of the style, and it’s so robust and flavorful. Being able to drink a porter this excellent year-round makes me appreciate it even more.

My favorite Brewpub Exclusive is our roasty, hoppy Rally Drum Red Ale. It’s named after the super-fan who’s played his bass drum at every Indians home game for years. This was one of the first Pub Exclusive beers we created after I started working for Great Lakes Brewing Company, so it has definite sentimental value. My baseball and glove are pictured on Rally Drum’s tap sticker. I’m a huge baseball fan.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
I add beer to almost everything I bake or cook. Pies in particular are a favorite to experiment with. I love adding a tart sour to a cherry pie or a bourbon-barrel stout to a pecan pie. A sweet wheat beer can add a fresh, earthy taste to a berry pie. I made a terrific bread pudding with our Edmund Fitzgerald once–it didn’t last too long!

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
I think I’m most like a hoppy IPA. I’m bright, I’ve got a dry sense of humor, I’m a complex person with plenty of layers and flavors, and I’m loved by the geeks. I’d probably be in a can too, because I like to travel and attend outdoor concerts.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
Craft beer is a unifier. It makes people happy. When I tell people I work for Great Lakes Brewing Company, they’re so excited to share their GLBC stories and discuss their favorite beers. During my college years, I was fortunate enough to live next door to an excellent Brewpub, and their brewer was a wonderful guide in my early stages of beer appreciation. He told me, “beer brings people together.” And when you’re talking about a unique, handcrafted, flavorful product, that connection grows even stronger. I always make it a point to talk to the stranger who brings a good craft six-pack to a party. Chances are, he or she is one of my people. I like that.

Marissa boasts not only brains and beauty, but lots of intense passion for and knowledge of craft beer. Who can argue with that? Take my word for it, this badass craft beer chick is totally worth following! Cheers!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @LeftHandBrewing

Emily Armstrong

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Personal Twitter Handle: @LHBeerGirl

What is your “official” position with Left Hand??
Marketing & PR Coordinator

What is your favorite beer from Left Hand?
Smokejumper Smoked Imperial Porter

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
Milk Stout Nitro float with coffee ice cream

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
My sense of humor is a bit dry … and although I’m easy going, I can get down to brass tacks real fast when needed. So I’m going to say an APA….

Defintion from Beer Advocate: Generally, expect a good balance of malt and hops. Fruity esters and diacetyl can vary from none to moderate, and bitterness can range from lightly floral to pungent.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
Passion, hard work, fun, and happy palates & full bellies!

Not only is Emily a badass chick in the craft beer industry, she is also fun and exciting to follow on Twitter! Trust me, follow her!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Many craft breweries have multiple twitter handles (for various roles in the company and territories for sales), but few have quirky and fun Twitter accounts… Well, that is except @DeschutesBeer, who gave its mobile bar, which is in the shape of a barrel, it’s very own Twitter account. Meet the two fun guys behind @dbwoody — FYI, DB = Deschutes Brewery.

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Behind the Twitter Avatar: @dbwoody

Joey Pleich

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Locations: Bend, OR

What is your “official” position with Deschutes?
Brand Sales Ambassador

What is your favorite beer from Deschutes?
Hands down The Dissident!!! It is a Flanders Style Sour Brown with crushed sour cherries, fermented with wild yeast and aged in Pinot Noir and Cabernet wine barrels. It is extremely complex but beautifully rounded… I swear if this beer was a woman I would put a ring on it!

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
My Favorite beer food pairing would have to be a big balanced IPA (Hop Henge) and spicy Thai food. They compliment each other so well and its always nice to have something cold and delicious to sooth the fire on your palate.

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
Wow, that’s a good question… If I were any style of beer I would want to be a Belgian Quad. It is bold and complex with a great depth of history and culture put into its creation yet it’s smooth, very palatable, and it never really leaves a bitter flavor in your mouth. So If I can match my personality to the attributes to beers like the Stoic and St. Bernardus Abt 12 that would be ideally me in a bottle.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
To me Craft Beer is more than a good pale ale or an imperial stout that will knock you on your ass, it is really a culture. I view craft beer as an art. No two are truly the same and everyone celebrates each others masterpieces. So, for me that is why I feel so incredibly lucky to be where I am… It’s the best job in the world!

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Behind the Twitter Avatar: @dbwoody

Sean McBride aka: McBubbles

Brewery: Deschutes Brewery
Location: Bend, OR
Personal Twitter Handle: @smcbride03

What is your “official” position with Deschutes?
Brand Sales Ambassador

What is your favorite beer from Deschutes?
Hop Henge because Joey picked The Dissident. It is my number 2 beer that is a perfect balance of hops, malts, and alcohol. 6 hop additions make this 95 IBU beer a festival in your mouth while the sweetness from the malt and the spice from the 9% ABV will knock your socks off.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
Simple…Anything from our pubs. Most of the dishes are beer infused and pair with a beer on tap. Even the menu helps by giving you options. Chef Jeff and Matt’s specials will tame any hunger while giving your mouth something to cheer about.

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
I’d have to be a lambic because I am sweet, brightly colored, and a little wild! Call this my guilty pleasure but I always have one sitting in my cellar.

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
The history of many bad batches of beer to get to what we all love and enjoy today. It is the blood, sweat, and tears shed by the home brewers. These pioneers in the 1980s that decided to take their garage concoctions to the next level and share the American dream with all. Cheers!

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Cheers!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @TallgrassBeer

Barb Saverino

Brewery: Tallgrass Brewing
Location: Manhattan, KS

What is your “official” position with Tallgrass??
Social Media Mgr & Accounts Payable Mgr. translated to Facebook Financializer!

What is your favorite beer from Tallgrass?
I love all our beers but my go-to tends to be Ale. It’s easy to drink any day of the week!

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
Tallgrass Oasis with something spicy! It pairs great with Thai food; adds the perfect kick!

If you were a style of beer, what would you be and why?
I think I would be an English Brown Ale. I think I have a fairly sweet personality but I can definitely be a bit nutty from time to time! Thankfully it all balances out really well!

And last but not least, what does craft beer mean to you?
To me Craft beer is my job and my lifestyle. It’s all about enjoying what I drink and how I drink it. It means I don’t have to chug my beer. I can savor the flavor and enjoy it!

Huzzah! Another woman behind the Twitter avatar of a brewery! If you’ve never picked up a can of Tallgrass beer, I highly recommend it (esp the IPA). Cheers!

DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
Behind the Twitter Avatar Series

Are you curious about the men and women “hiding” behind Twitter avatar of the world’s most beloved craft breweries? Well, you are not alone. The Wench has gone behind the scenes to reveal and introduce you to the individuals who possess the ever coveted social media positions in the craft beer industry.

Behind the Twitter Avatar: @21stAmendment

Shaun O’Sullivan

Brewery: 21st Amendment Brewery
Location: San Francisco, California USA

What is your “official” position with 21st Amendment?

Co-Founder/Brewmaster

What is your favorite beer from 21st Amendment?

Usually the one in front of me, but as most West coast brewers and brewers in general I opt for IPAs, such as our Brew Free! or Die IPA or Back in Black Black IPA. Brewers are like heroin addicts when it comes to hops, the stronger the better. I’ve been known to drink a couple of cans of Hop Crisis, our imperial IPA in one sitting, but never shot gunned..never.

What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

I have a soft spot in my heart and stomach for chicken wings with Jamaican jerk sauce, especially from Fire on the Mountain in Portland, Oregon. That and an IPA…hellooooo heaven!!!

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

Saison, the BJCP describes the Saison style as: ” A refreshing, medium to strong fruity/spicy ale with a distinctive yellow-orange color, highly carbonated, well hopped, and dry with a quenching acidity..” That pretty much sums me up, strong/fruity/yellow/full of gas at times/sightly bitter, but only slightly/dry sense of humor/and quenching in the right places/

What does craft beer mean to you?

It saved me from a mediocre life in a soulless career and possibly asking the question we all hate to ask later in life, “what if?” It has enabled me to enjoy life’s rich pageantry. Becoming a brewer – A Must! Pursue your dreams folks!

Shaun, your beer has definitely saved me from a mediocre drinking life. Super honored to not just follow you on Twitter, but be a friend in person. Speaking of… you owe me a beer!