The Beer Blogger Interview Series

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

INTRODUCING: CHRIS SPRADLEY

AUTHOR OF: THE LA CRAFT BEER EXAMINER

Beer Blogger Interview

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

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

Texas, mostly Houston

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

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

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

13

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

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

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

Stephen F. Austin State in Nacogdoches, TX.

6. What did you study?

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

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

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

Craft Beer Epiphany

Every craft beer enthusiast has at least one pinnacle craft beer experience that completely changes ones perspective on beer. I refer to this mind-blowing moment as a “craft beer epiphany.”

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

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

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

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

Beer Blog Background

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

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

2. What inspired you to start writing your articles?

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

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

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

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

I’ve met some really awesome beer people!

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

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

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Barleywine, Imperial Stout, IPA

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

IPA’s and spicy food

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

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

2. If you could change your career at this very moment, without any restrictions on what you could do, what would you want to do and why?

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

3. Are you married? Children?

Never married, no kids

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

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

Off The Beaten Path

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

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

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

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

3. If I contracted you to brew a beer (or design a beer recipe) called “The Beer Wench” — what style would you chose and what, if any, extra ingredients would you add?

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

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

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

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

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

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

Everything is better with bacon.

SPECIAL THANKS TO CHRIS FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Nonetheless, St Patrick’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays of all time to celebrate. Although my family has little-to-no known Irish heritage, my parents have always actively observed St. Patrick’s Day as if they were, in fact, Irish.

My mother had an “Irish Catholic” upbringing and attended Boston College (errr enough said). My parents got married in Boston and, to this day, it is one of their favorite destination cities.

If you do not know anything about Boston, know this: they LOVE St. Patrick’s Day. Most of it has to do with the HUGE population of Irish descendants in the area (and well, the state). My parents must have learned a lot while living in Boston because I have memories of my parents throwing the most EPIC St. Patrick’s Day parties when we lived in NY.

Anyways, moral of the story? I love St. Patrick’s Day. I love Irish music and I especially love Irish drinking songs. In fact, my family and I have taken road trips where all we did was listen to Irish drinking songs. And the funny part is how we all know the words!

So now you must be thinking, if I love St. Patrick’s Day so much, WHERE, WHAT and HOW will I be celebrating it this year? Well, let me tell you! The Wench is going to … wait for it, wait for it.

HOLLYWOOD!

WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? WHY?

Hollywood Gets Lucky at the LA St. Patty’s Fest on March 14, 2010

(Hollywood, CA) LA St. Patrick’s Day Festival presented by PINK’S Hot Dogs and Tullemore Dew Irish Whiskey, invites you for a fun-filled day of Irish food, drinks, and live entertainment Sunday, March 14. Presented by event will take place at the Taglyan Complex, 1201 N. Vine St., Hollywood, from 2:00 – 7:00 pm.

Each ticket will grant an all-inclusive interaction with an assortment of breweries, wineries, spirits, great food and dessert.

The event will feature, the world-renowned Claddagh Dance Company, The LA Police Emerald Society, and Drevon the Leprechaun. Plus a live karaoke band, Steel Rod will be on hand to back up attendees as they step up to become a lead singer of own band.

Remember to dress in your most dapper or most casual green clothing, as this is a certified “Green” event, by the State of California. The event promises to bring attendees together, bonding over beer pong, flip cup, or the green champagne, compliments of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly.

The first 150 attendees will receive a complimentary ticket to a Los Angeles Clippers game, courtesy of owners Mr. & Mrs. Donald Sterling.

Tickets are available in advance for $100 per person, at www.stpattysfest.com or at any Vendome Wine and Sprits locations throughout Los Angeles and Orange County. Proceeds of the event will go to The Children’s Tumor Foundation and The Irish Center.

LA St. Patty’s Fest is produced by Barcelona Enterprises, a Los Angeles based events and marketing company.

For more information about the LA St. Patty’s Fest 2010, call (213) 915-8003 or visit the website at www.stpattysfest.com.

The event is sponsored by Feckin Irish Whiskey, Asahi Beer, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Marani Premium Vodka Spirit, Beer Wars, Karl Strauss Brewing Co., Firestone Walker, Buckbean Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing Co., Pig n’ Whistle, Stone Brewing Co., Cabot, Edison, Sweet Leaf Iced Teas, Teteo, RND, Ballast Point Brewing Co., Angel Tequila, Blue Angel, ARGCA, Pacifico Sur Tutunjian, Moonshot, Talin Cellars, See’s Candies, Eternal Artesian Water, Ventura Limoncello Company, BreakAwaySpirits.Com, Kröl Vodka, Pyramid Breweries, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Everybody’s Nuts! Pistachios, Nakhon Beer, Fireman’s Brew, Weihenstephan, Birra Morettia, Fischer, Affligem, North Coast Brewing Co., Green Flash Brewing Co., Glee Gum, Knott’s Berry Farm, Cascadian Farm Organic, Lärabar, Boar’s Head, American Cinematheque, Shamrock Empire Inc.,Tazo, IZZE Sparkling Juice, Granola Garden, Irish Thug, The Irish Center of Southern California, Charity Lives, Don Longo, and Organic Nation. Media sponsors are 100.3 FM The Sound, Los Angeles Circles, IRFT, and Mutineer.

Hope to see you there!

Cheers!