How did you find your way in to a job at a brewery:
I always knew I wanted to find a craft for a profession. Out of high school, while I was applying to trade schools, I started work as a busser in a local brewery. Seeing what the brewers were doing, I convinced them to let me wash the kegs for them and my brewing career was off.
If brewing wouldn’t have happened, what would you be doing:
I would still be working in a trade. My father is a carpenter and my grandfather was an elevator technician, so I am bound to be building and creating.
What is your first memory of beer, any beer:
My first memory of beer would be my father drinking Coors Light when camping at Smith Reservoir with my family.
What is the most important tool or piece of equipment in the brewery:
The palette of the staff members. Tasting the beer throughout the process, and batch to batch, gives the most detailed understanding of the beer.
Ale or Lager and why:
I never pick favorite beers. There is a time and a place for every beer. However, I will normally be ordering whatever is light and sessional.
Do you have a go to style of beer that you can never get sick of drinking:
Anything light and drinkable, it ain't a good beer unless you ask for another.
Describe your ideal brew day:
My dream is to perform the technique called “Parti-gyle”. This involves using as much malt as the vessels will handle and making two beers from one mash.
When brewing, do you prefer fun music, soulful music or gritty music:
Why not all three? I match the music to the beer I am brewing or I put the music on shuffle.
X-box or PS4, why:
X-box, purely because most of my friends have one. I like all game consoles.
Pants or shorts:
Pants! Always! Safety first in the brewery.
Hi fives or fist bumps, and yes we’ll get back to both of those soon!
Elbow bumps!
Jean-Claude Van Damme or Steven Seagal:
Chuck Norris is judging you.
Deserted island time:
2 BEERS YOU'D TAKE
Shiner Bock, Coors Light
2 OUTFITS YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE
Utilitarian pants with lots of pockets, work boots and a beer T-shirt.
Random Mexico vacation tank top, cargo shorts, and brown Birkenstocks
2 FOODS YOU COULD EAT
Taste Tickler (chicken teriyaki sub) and Du's Grill (chicken and beef)
2 ALBUMS YOU COULD LISTEN TO
Paul’s Boutique - Beastie Boys, Metamodern Sounds of Country Music - Sturgill Simpson
2 TOOLS YOU'D WANT
Leatherman Multi tool, and my cell phone aka google and the internet
Nunchucks or throwing stars:
Nunchucks. I’m team Michelangelo
Any beers that have made you say, holy shit!
I'm always more focused on with whom, and where, I'm drinking beer. So the best beers are beers with friends on the beach on new years, or on a dirt road in the woods with my Dad.