DRINK WITH THE WENCH PRESENTS:
The Beer Blogger Interview Series
Curious what goes on in the minds of your favorite beer bloggers? Well, The Beer Wench is and she has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer bloggers that she can — from all over the world. Are you a beer blogger? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!
INTRODUCING: SETH WRIGHT
CO-HOST OF: BEER NATION
Beer Blogger Interview
Full name: Seth Wright
Twitter handle: BeerNationShow
Name of blog: Beer Nation
Current location: Brooklyn
Background “Snapshot”
1. Where did you grow up?
East Village of Manhattan
2. What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond?
Most all, but in HS; Soccer, Basketball and Volleyball. Still play B-ball to stay in shape.
3. How old were you when you had your first beer?
On my own, probably 12 (8th grade)
4. If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer? Where did you have it? What style and brand was it?
Living in NYC it wasn’t that difficult to get beer, we mostly drank 40 oz of Malt liquor (St Ides, Crazy Horse, Colt 45, you know, all the real nasty stuff) throughout high school it was either on some one’s stoop or on the roof of a friends apt building. We usually had the girls work their magic at the local deli, (because they looked older…more like 16 instead of 13). Later on we had smooth deals going on, we would just leave $5 dollars on the counter, walk back through the store, put two 40’s in our backpack and walk out without a word said either direction.
5. Where, if applicable, did you go to college? What did you study? What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?
I went to Union College, majored in Civil Engineering. When I wasn’t studying my ass off, I tried to do as many intramural sports as I could: flag football, ultimate Frisbee, softball…anything that worked out with my schedule. Beer was obviously also involved.
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:
To tell you the truth, I don’t think I had this experience. I was pretty sure after spending my high school years drinking piss that during college I adventured out to six-packs from the 12 pack of swill with locals like Saranac, Magic Hat and Sam Adams. But In the beginning that were some very tasty Sam A’s and Sierra’s that I had decided that I could never go back to drinking macros.
2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first? Detail as many of them as you wish:
About 3 years ago, Mike and I went out to Cali and visited a little brewing company in Santa Rosa and I’m sure you know what happens when you go there, it’s like pure heaven for beer drinkers, I never wanted to leave Russian River and as many others have done, I can’t stop singing the praises. I once had a Dogfish head Indian Brown a year or two ago that I thought was the best tasting thing I’d ever had, that shit really sticks with you. Sometimes it’s the weather, how you feel, what you are eating or even what you just ate that makes the beer oh so delicious or equally unsatisfying.
Beer Blog Background
1. How long have you been filming your show?
The first video went up in Oct. 6, 2009, but the idea was conceived of in Fall 2008.
2. What inspired you to start filming your show?
We are two pretty interesting characters that like a beer a lot and we hadn’t seen the web or TV producing anything that we wanted to watch about the growing craft beer market, so we pitched our idea to a production company and here we are, chugging along.
3. Why did you choose the name of your show?
We go out to explore the craft beer revolution and what name is better than the exploration of the Beer Nation.
4. What are you personal goals for your show? What do you hope to achieve with it?
I’d love to see it succeed to a point that will allow us to keep making a great product. I think our show can continue to promote the craft beer market, one drinker at a time. I already pretty much do that on a daily basis in my personal life, so if I can help do that on a national level, I’d be proud of that.
5. What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer show host?
Well, we are still young, but, riding in the Flying Dog Winnie and enjoying some never before seen Brett Oak Aged Gonzo from their secret stash was pretty cool.
6. What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?
I like what they are doing at Craftbeer.com, I frequent Beer Advocate quite alot and BeerMenus.com was always an idea my brother and I had, but never figured out how to make it work, so I’m glad somebody did.
Beer Talk
1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?
IPA, Belgian IPA and recently Brown Ale
2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?
I’d have to go with Sierra, only because every product is solid, nothing crazy, but it could definitely be my deserted island brewery. I have a close connection with the Victory fellas and I love all their beers, so that would be number two. The hype is not an over-reaction so I’m going with Russian River as my third.
3. If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why?
I went to visit Full Sail Brewery in Hood River and loved everything they stood for. I love the employee owned concept and how environmentally conscious they are. The town is pretty spectacular as well, I would be kite surfing ALL of the time.
4. Are you a homebrewer? If yes, what is the most unique and interesting beer recipes you’ve brewed as a homebrewer?
I have home-brewed a number of times and never felt totally passionate about it. One of my first was a Pliny the elder clone, I still have a bottle, it didn’t even come close to Vinnie’s. Some people just know they were put here to brew beer and I feel like I would better serve the craft beer community by spreading the good word than trying to spread good beer.
5. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they?
No, but I’m a professional licensed Engineer in the State of NY, that should count for something right?
6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?
NY Pizza and beer go pretty damn good together, and the topping alternatives that we see here in the city allow for a plethora of choices in style and flavor profiles.
The Personal Side
1. What is your current day job?
Transportation Engineer
2. If you could change your career at this very moment, without any restrictions on what you could do, what would you want to do and why?
I’ve always wanted to own a craft beer bar, I would continue to do the show of course. Also, this would not be a career move, but growing up in NYC all my life and strangely enjoying driving around it, I always think about how cool it would be to drive a taxi for like a week, maybe even a month….but then like most jobs, I would probably be tired of it.
3. Are you married? Children?
Yes married for 4 years and no children yet.
4. Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies?
I am sports freak and will pretty much play anything. Never was much of a skier though, that might prohibit my living in Hood River Oregon.
Off The Beaten Path
1. If you were a style of beer, what style would be an why?
Because I feel like I’m one of a kind, and I’m not saying it would be very good, but I’d probably be a Gaelic Oatmeal Tripel Chocolate Honey Ale.
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?
Impossible decision, but since this is fictional, let’s say that I’m the first to ever go under the axe and the whole world was watching, because in this world everybody watches the reality series “Executioners and the people they meet” on Court TV. I’d probably use the last beer I drank to be amazing marketing for my good buddy who is aiming to start his own brewing company called 2nd floor brewing. I love his stuff and would want the whole world to see. It would be Court TV highest rating ever, surpassing the Super Bowl. My demise, would be a publicist’s dream.
3. If I contracted you to brew a beer (or design a beer recipe) called “The Beer Wench” — what style would you chose and what, if any, extra ingredients would you add?
It would be saison brewed with sunflower seeds and fresh oregano for that little kick.
4. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
Time-warp man, embedded in his chest is a clock that allows time to go backward, forward, go fast, or slow down.
5. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?
I ran with the Bulls in Spain once, that was intense….actually no I didn’t.
6. What are your thoughts on bacon?
It has its place.
SPECIAL THANKS TO SETH FOR AN EXCELLENT INTERVIEW!
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT INTERVIEW — WITH HIS PARTNER IN CRIME, MIKE!
CHEERS!