Q & A with 2 Beer Guys (North Shore, MA)

From left to Right: Sean, Ian, Ryan

Sean and Ian are two guys that love beer. Living on the North Shore (of Boston), these guys have it good when it comes to fine beers. Along with drinking good beer, they also educate others in their area about the finer points of craft beer. Thanks for answering my questions! Cheers guys!

Name: 2 Beer Guys

Blog: www.2beerguys.com/blog/

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer?

(2BG) Ian and I are the founders of 2Beerguys.com and we live in Massachusetts on the North Shore. The closest breweries to our homes are Redhook, Portsmouth Brewery, Haverhill Tap, and Mercury Brewing Company. Redhook, Portsmouth, and the Tap all have a restaurant/pub on premise. Mercury Brewing Company is expanding and expects to open their brew pub in 2009. When we are not enjoying a fresh beer at the source, we tend to visit 10 Center Street, The Grog, The Barking Dog, Not Your Average Joes, and Rosie O’Sheas. We are blessed with quality beer offered at our local stores and tend to spend the majority of our time reviewing beer in our homes.

1a. What is 2Beerguys.com all about? (added by Sean)

(2BG) 2 Beer Guys is the North Shore’s definitive source for craft beer education. Through reviews, brewery visits, and discussions with industry folks, we’ve amassed a bit of knowledge on the craft beer market, and hope to share that with you through our stories.

Our mission is to educate and inform our friends and neighbors in an effort to encourage them to enjoy finely-crafted beers that they wouldn’t normally choose. By providing commentary on a variety of offerings from micro and regional breweries, we are enabling those who join with us to enhance their beer experiences. It is our belief that there are hundreds of beers that are frequently overlooked, and it is this belief that drives us to educate on, and promote, craft beer.

(RHP) What made you decide to start a beer blog?

(2BG) We started the blog to allow an interactive interface with other beer lovers. We post information about beer events, beer news and original articles related to our most recent adventures. If you are interested in learning more about beer, I recommend visiting our blog and/or signing up for our RSS feed.

(RHP) Other than blogging, how else are you involved with your love of beer?

(2BG) We are interested in homebrewing and beer education. Our education classes are taught at Leary’s Fine Wine and Spirits in Newburyport, Ma. Our IPA class was a rousing success, as we had another capacity crowd on hand to learn about the history of the IPA, and taste some of the best examples of local and far-reaching IPAs.

Our next class will be focused on stouts and porters, and more info will follow with dates and tasting line-up, so stay tuned to 2beerguys and the blog for more info!

(RHP) If you could visit one brewery, that you’ve never been to, which would it be?

(2BG) First, I would like to mention a brewery that we have gone to that everyone must visit: Stone Brewery, in Escondido, CA. You are probably already familiar with their most famous offerings, Arrogant Bastard Ale, Stone IPA, Ruination IPA and the Old Guardian. Their beers are very aggressive and make a bold statement. We had the pleasure of visiting the brewery in November of 2006. They just opened their new restaurant/beer garden; which is connected to their recently constructed brewery. The restaurant has a unique menu and decor. The ceilings are 2-3 stories tall and a major wall contains a hand carved gargoyle. It is massive and VERY impressive. The outdoor bier gardens have massive fire pits and an amazing bar setup. It is hard to explain in words, but it’s visit destination. It was interesting to see 20+ craft beers available on draft, while only ~7 were their own.

OK. So which brewery would I like to visit. Its hard to just pick one, but I will pick…. New Belgium Brewery. I am impressed in their devotion to their employees and the environment. They encourage healthiness by providing bicycles for the employees to get around the grounds. Also, I believe that it’s a 5 year employee anniversary that they receive a special bike. They have built their brewery around renewable energy using windmills to generate energy. Most important, their beer is very tasty.

(RHP) What comes to mind when you think of Maine?

(2BG) I think of a couple of different random things: vacationland, in-laws, Ringwood/Alan Pugsley, and relaxation. I am proud to say that I have helped convert a couple in-laws into craft beer fans.

Q & A with Joe Sixpack (Philadelphia, PA)

Joe Sixpack is a busy man these days. He is a beer writer for the Philadelphia Daily News, a contributing writer to both Beer Advocate Magazine and Draft and he's just finished a new book! If you haven't seen the AP article, Joe's hometown of Philly was recently dubbed America's Best Beer-Drinking City. Not a bad place to be writing about beer!

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Name: Joe Sixpack (a.k.a. Don Russell)

Blog: http://joesixpack.net/blog/

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer? 

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(JS) Philadelphia. My favorite places are wherever I can find good people drinking great beer, maybe with a beer engine, certainly within a short cab ride from my home.


(RHP) What made you decide to start a beer blog?

(JS) I've been writing about beer in newspapers for 30 years. Writing a beer blog seemed to be the next logical step. Unfortunately, it's a pain in the ass because it cuts into my drinking.


(RHP) Other than blogging, how else are you involved with your love of beer?

(JS) Writing about beer is my fulltime job. In addition to my weekly newspaper column, I contribute to several magazines, I conduct beer tastings and produce videos. I've written two books on beer and organized Philly Beer Week, a 10-day celebration of America's Best Beer-Drinking City.

(RHP) If you could visit one brewery, that you've never been to, which would it be?

(JS) The Tun Tavern, circa 1775. (RHP - not the one in Atlantic City)

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(RHP) What comes to mind when you think of Maine?

(JS) Lobsters. And that big ass snowman they built in Bethel.

(click above for details)

Don Russell (a.k.a Joe Sixpack)'s new book

Q & A with Craft Beer Radio (Pittsbugh, PA)

A few years back I was messing around on iTunes, this was when podcasts were getting more and more popular, and I found something that made me realize that the good beer revolution was everywhere. There it was, a podcast dedicated entirely to craft beer put on by two guys in Pittsburgh.

After listening to Jeff Bearer and Greg Weiss talk about beers that I had drank, and those I hadn’t, and describe them in a way that always made me instantly thirsty, I became hooked. I started uploading their shows on to my iPod and listening to them in my car whenever I was driving any long distances. I soon found myself sitting down and having a beer and listening to them just talk about something that I loved, craft beer!

If you haven’t had a chance to check out their podcast you definitely need to get on it and listen to some of their shows. They do a great job and really put a lot of work into each one.

I was interested to see what Jeff and Greg are like, what they drink and what all goes into a podcast about beer. They were both nice enough to respond, quickly, to my questions.

Cheers Jeff and Greg! Keep up the great work! Also, congrats on the new baby Jeff!

Names: Jeff Bearer and Greg Weiss

Podcast: Craft Beer Radio

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer? Also, what's you're favorite local beer?

(JB) I come from the town with the great football team, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers!

Favorite Places for beer are:

Neighborhood Bar: Mad Mex in Cranberry.
Brewpub: North Country Brewing.
Pittsburgh Bar: hrm, either Fatheads, or the Sharp Edge.

(GW) Definitely the Sharp Edge, one of the absolute best beer bars in the country, chock full of Belgians and crafts beers. There's also D's for over 1000 beers, or maybe Fatheads or Smokin’ Joes. Plenty of good places to go for good beers as long as you know where to look. My favorite local beer? If I were just out on the town and wanted a good beer I'd go for Big Hop IPA from East End Brewing, but if you asked me what the BEST local beer is, I'd very likely say Penn Weizen by Penn Brewing, which is one of the best hefeweizens in the country.

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(RHP) What made you decide to start an internet radio show devoted to your love of craft beer?

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(JB) I found podcasting and was left unsatisfied and sometimes angered by what the existing beer shows provided. I didn't know for sure if I could do better or not, but I thought it would be fun to give it a try. It seemed to work out pretty well, at least that's what I'm told :)

(GW) That's all Jeff's doing. I just was excited to be a part of it. And have been excited to learn all about craft beers along the way.
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(RHP) What is the hardest thing about drinking and talking about beer on a radio show? How have you worked to improve the show since you first aired that premier episode? What sort of set up do you use to produce a show?

(JB) The hardest thing, is to make sure you are providing accurate information to the listener. That was one of the things that I hated about some other beer podcasts, they were just WRONG. And it drove me up the wall. I work hard at making sure that I know what I'm talking about. And I'm always worried about messing up the details.

We are better in general because of all the practice. Greg and I are better at carrying on a conversation, we are better at describing beer, we are better at entertaining. I need to concentrate on clearer annunciation that is the one specific that I work to improve.

(GW) How do you describe a taste? It's a delicate balance of sorts - describing something that is ultimately subjective and not easily definable by understandable or regular descriptors. It's taken us a lot of time, and a lot of episodes, to come up with a suitable "language" that expresses how we interpret the tastes of beer. And it's always evolving. Every show, ideally, gives us something new to think about. Not all shows fit the bill but I think you can tell the ones that do. When we're excited and can't stop talking, it's a good indication that we're learning. That's our trick - we love to learn, and we want to bring the listener along for that ride.

(JB) The Gear is 3 MXL condenser microphones mounted on swing arm stands. They connect to an Alesis MultiMix8 Sound board. Attached to the sound board is an Alesis 3630 compressor that helps keep us from talking too loud on the recording. The mixer is connected to a Windows PC via USB where I use Adobe Audition to record the audio.


(RHP) Are there a lot of other beer related podcasts? What makes you guys unique?

(JB) There are a pile of them, if you look on the bottom right of our website you will find links to many of them. What makes us unique? I dunno, I suppose we do. I think our emphasis on the details and our experience with describing flavor might give us an edge over some podcasts, but there are others that do a very good job.

(GW) We just try to be ourselves and let the chips fall where they may. So far, we've been successful at that, knock on wood. It's a privilege to be able to do this, to drink beer and have other people listen and care about what we think.

(RHP) How has the brewing community embraced the show? Have you made contacts with brewers around the country?

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(JB) Brewers have all been welcoming to us. One thing that was probably most shocking was when I was in San Francisco. I went up to Russian River to check it out before my flight back. When we stopped in, they didn't have any of the "’ation" sour beers available. My server, called Vinnie, who was working a local beer fest, let us buy a bottle out of his private reserve, which was pretty nice. But then Vinnie stopped in after the fest just to give me a tour of the brewery and picked up all the beer. I was still a newb and didn't think of myself as beer media and his hospitality was shocking.

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The biggest problem with using the "beer media" badge with a podcast is that anyone can do it. And many who do use it to get free stuff, don't do the work to cover it. It was very difficult to get a press pass for the GABF last year because they couldn't let every blogger and podcaster in. I worked my ass off covering the fest and hopefully the Brewers Association noticed.

(GW) Fortunately brewers have been very good to our show. From offering up samples, interviews, and even products like t-shirts and hats for giveaways for our listeners, brewers are embracing the "advertising" that our show provides. Which is still grounded in honesty - if we like a beer or dislike a beer, we say so, no matter who made it.

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(RHP) If you could visit one brewery that you've never been to, which would it be and why?

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(JB) That's easy, Cantillon, I'm in awe of the small lambic brewery in Brussels. I just want to shake the brewers hand and buy him a beer. US Brewery.....I'm thinking Ommegang would be a cool place to check out, and since it's only 8 hours away I'll probably be there sometime in the next year or two.

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(GW) I've got two answers. In the US it'd be Lost Abbey/Port Brewing because I admire Tomme Arthur and what he's doing. Some of his beers have been the most magnificent examples of their styles I've ever had. In the world, well, I'd love to go to Westvleteren. There's something remarkable about brewing the "perfect" beer - and by perfect I don't necessarily mean the best, but the beer that absolutely no one wouldn't like.


(RHP) What comes to mind when you think of Maine (beer or otherwise)?

(JB) Allagash, Cadillac Mountain Stout, that place across the bridge from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I love New England and would love to get to check out some of Maine the next time I get up that way.
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(GW) Lobsters. Lobsters, cold weather, proximity to Canada, and frankly, white people. Also Vermont, for some reason, sneaks in there, even though it's a whole other state, separated from Maine by New Hampshire. We Pennsylvania rubes are dumb like that.

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Thanks again Greg and Jeff!

Be sure to check out Craft Beer Radio when you have some free time. Greg and Jeff have archived all of their shows and they are mostly divided by style. They provide a wealth of information and are really enjoyable to listen to. Learn how to subscribe to Craft Beer Radio by going HERE!

Craft Beer Radio is an Internet talk show about craft and micro brewed beers. The mission of the show is to spread the word of good beer. We introduce people to craft beer, and teach them about different beer styles, brewers who make them, and beer history. Whether you are new to craft beer or have been drinking it for more than 20 years we have something for you. - http://www.craftbeerradio.com/

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Q & A with Mary Izett (New York, New York)

Over the years NYC has really taken off when it comes to beer culture. Not only is it a great city for thousands of other reasons, its got some amazing beer bars and some excellent breweries. That being said, someone has to write about all the great beer related things going on there and Mary Izett is one of those people.

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Cheers!

Name: Mary Izett

Blog: www.mylifeoncraft.com

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer? Also, what's you're favorite local beer?

(MI) I live in NYC, favorite bars include Barcade, Jimmy's No 43, Spuyten, Mugs, Blind Tiger, & The Diamond

(RHP) What made you decide to start a beer blog? 

(MI) I absolutely love craft beer and wanted to share that love.  I've been traveling quite a bit lately, drinking in some great places, and NYC has a very happening craft beer scene as well.

(RHP) Other than blogging, how else are you involved with your love of beer?

(MI) I homebrew occasionally and am half of the New York City Degustation Advisory Team. I am former president of the Malted Barley Appreciation Society and am a Certified Beer Judge by the Beer Judging Certification Program.

(RHP) If you could visit one brewery, that you've never been to, which would it be?

(MI) Russian River, am hoping to visit this fall.

(RHP) What comes to mind when you think of Maine?

(MI) Beer & lobster

Q & A with William Brand (San Francisco, CA)

William Brand is a columnist who writes about beer happenings in the Bay Area. I don't think you could ask for a much better location to have such a gig. The vast amount of great beer makes William's home territory quite a mecca! 

Cheers for taking the time to answer my questions William!

Name: William Brand

Blogs: www.ibabuzz.com/beer/ 

and www.beernewsletter.com/blog

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer? Also, what's you're favorite local beer?

(WB) Live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Favorite pubs: Bistro, 1001 B. St., Hayward, CA., Toronado, 547 Haight St., San Francisco, CA, Barclay's, College, Ave., Oakland, CA., EJ Phair's Ale House, Todos Santos Square, Concord, CA.  Favorite beer: Love to quote Portland beer guru Fred Eckardt: "The beer that's closest to hand." Failing that, almost anything from North Coast, Lagunitas, Bear Republic, 21st Amendment (San Francisco), Drake's (San Leandro, CA), Green Flash (San Diego County, CA.).

(RHP) Other than blogging, how else are you involved with your love of beer?

(WB) Write a weekly beer column in the Oakland, CA. Tribune, Contra Costa Times and about a dozen other Bay Area newspapers in the MediaNews Group chain. Write a monthly beer column in the San Jose Mercury-News. Write a regular bi-monthly column in Northwest Brewing News.

(RHP) If you could visit one brewery, that you've never been to, which would it be?

(WB) One brewery, huh?  Orval in Belgium. I hear it's in a scenic valley and they make incredible cheese and bread as well as beer.

(RHP) What comes to mind when you think of Maine?

(WB) Maine? Beautiful, pine-shrouded shoreline along the Atlantic Coast. Snow. Great beer from Allagash.

Q & A with Dr. Fermento (Anchorage, Alaska)

Dr. Fermento is a busy guy. He just returned to Alaska after judging at the Toronodo Barleywine Competition in San Francisco and is settling back into what sounds like a busy schedule of beer writing and working several jobs in several different locations. I feel honored that he took the time to answer my questions and quench my personal thirst to know what the beer culture is like up in Alaska. He is a real testament to dedication in the craft brew industry.

Cheers "Fermz"!

Name: Dr. Fermento (a.k.a. James Roberts)

Blog: www.drfermento.net

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer?

(Dr. F) Anchorage, Alaska. Although there are many breweries, brewpubs and fine quaffing venues in Anchorage and the surrounding area, I find my carcass planted most frequently at Café Amsterdam, (530 E. Benson Blvd: 907.274.0074) a quiet little Belgian-esque café in midtown where the beer is all high end, there are 17 taps serving no rice, no lite, and no ice, and the beer is served in the right glassware, at the right temperature and only by BJCP certified folks that care about what they’re pouring. Life’s too short to get a shitty serve, eh? I don’t have a favorite local beer. As a beer writer, this is the most frequent question I’m asked and in my circle of peers, rather than commit to a single beer, we discuss our respective “Desert Island Six Packs (DISP),” which include six beers that we’d want to have with us were we to be stranded somewhere and have to drink them for the rest of our days. The rule is that beers can be moved in and out of the six pack at whim (until the day of stranding, of course). It’s hard to pick a favorite local beer. With 15 licensed breweries and brewpubs in Alaska and the daily availability of well over 100 different locally produced beers, it’s a tough pick. The one that’s been in my DISP the longest, however is Fairweather IPA from the Moose’s Tooth Brewing Company, (3300 Old Seward Highway: 907.258-2537)a well-known pizzeria that serves it’s own beer (produced offsite). Fairweather IPA is a local cult favorite, and I guess I’m one of the groupies.

(RHP) What made you decide to start a beer blog?

(Dr. F) Oddly enough, I didn’t decide to start a beer blog; someone else decided to start one for me. Although I write a weekly column in The Anchorage Press and a bi-monthly column for The Celebrator Beer News, a fellow beer lover decided it just wasn’t enough (and he’s right), so he created the blog for me. Now I can churn out upwards of eight pages a week for an increasing audience of local beer lovers. I actually enjoy writing the blog more than the other venues because it’s dicier and I don’t get my emotions edited out.

(RHP) Other than blogging, how else are you involved with your love of beer?

(Dr. F) I consider myself an ambassador of good beer, and do what I can to spread the gospel and ruin mainstream schwag drinkers one palate at a time. I was an avid homebrewer for years and actually was President of our local brew club, The Great Northern Brewers, but writing got in the way of that (along with a full time day job and living in a little community called Hope, Alaska, on the weekends where I work remote for a small mining company) and I haven’t brewed in a couple of years. With the price of beer soaring due to the cost of hops and malt, I might be picking up the paddle soon. I had a radio show on KRUA 88.1 called The Doctor Fermento Growler Hour for a couple of years, but because it was broadcast out of a university with a dry campus, the neophrobies got wind of it and it went away.

(RHP) If you could visit one brewery, that you've never been to, which would it be?

(Dr. F) There’s no single brewery I’d visit if I had the chance because I intend to visit them all, either here or in the afterlife, assuming my liver holds out and my spare doesn’t fail. Actually, I’d love to visit the rather inaccessible breweries right here in Alaska including Kodiak Island Brewing Company, The Easy Hooker Brewing Company (Sitka) and a couple of others that require extensive charter air travel or boat travel to get to. From there, it would be a long foray in Belgium.

(RHP) What comes to mind when you think of Maine?

(Dr. F) When I think of Maine I reminisce fondly of my two years there in the Air Force and long forays into the woods and surrounding countryside in 1978-1979, long before craft beer showed up and I was having my coveted Anchor Steam Beer illegally sent to me in regular doses in the mail. I long to visit again because I know there are fabulous hop spots there today and could combine a trip with pleasure and research.

Some more info. from Dr. Fermento:

"I have an extensive travelogue that is available by request and is sent in Word format. I also answer every beer related email query and love to share the foamier aspects of Alaska with anyone with an interest or a planned visit." 

My best email address is at work at jrobertsATpeakalaskaDOTcom with a CC to jamesDOTrobertsATgciDOTnet"

CHEERS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR BEER IN THE LAST FRONTIER!

Q & A with Buttle (Rochester, New York)

Buttle's from upstate New York, an area that could give Maine a run for its money when it comes to cold and snow. He's reviewed some great beers on his site and I'm jealous of the variety he is able to come across at his local beer store! Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions and letting me know about loving beer in "lake effect" country! 

Cheers Buttle!

Name: Buttle (it's a pseudonym; from 'Brazil')

Blog: buttlebeer.blogspot.com

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer? 

(B) Rochester, New York. I buy retail beer at the renowned Beers of the World. Bars? MacGregor's; there are a few locations that have a great selection. Often I don't call the shots wind up at "civilian" bars drinking Sam Adams if they have it. 

(RHP) What made you decide to start a beer blog?

 

(B) I think I just wanted to blog about something. Instead of choosing a topic I was already into, I chose one I was still developing an interest in, and have been using the blog to facilitate that interest.

 

(RHP) Other than blogging, how else are you involved with your love of beer?

(B) Trying to encourage friends/relatives to try craft beer, without being a pest. I'll probably try homebrewing someday, but I can't keep up will all the bottled beers I want to drink, let alone my own. Also, I'm intimidated by any hobby that begins with lessons in proper sanitation.

 

(RHP) If you could visit one brewery, that you've never been to, which would it be?

(B) One of the Belgian Trappist ones. In the US, maybe Victory.

(RHP) What comes to mind when you think of Maine?

 

(B) Allagash is the first thing that comes to mind. Other than beer: lobster, that accent, Stephen King settings, cheap jokes about Bangor, liberal Republicans.  

Q & A with Wes Port & Bull E. Vard (KC, MO)

Bull and Wes live in two different states but together they cover the beer happenings in and around Kansas City (I believe it’s the one in Missouri but I bet if there is good beer in the one in Kansas they cover that too)! Their blog is “The home for Kansas City BEER LOVERS! Find Kansas City HAPPY HOURS, Kansas City bars & pubs, restaurants, special events, pub crawls, etc! New KC bars and reviews will be added weekly. Drinking isn't a sport, it's a JOB. So, drink professionally.”

Both Bull and Wes were nice enough to give responses to some questions on what its like to love beer in America’s heartland.

Cheers guys!

Names: “Bull E. Vard” and “Wes Port”

Blog: kcbeerblog.blogspot.com

(RHP) Where do you live and what are some of your favorite local places to get a beer? Also, what's you're favorite local beer?

(BV) I live in Overland Park, KS a suburb of Kansas City. I enjoy the 75th Street Brewery and Harry's Country Club. My favorite local beer is Boulevard Pale Ale or Boulevard Bully Porter.

(WP) I make downtown Kansas City, Missouri my home--my pad is within waking distance to some GREAT bars! The best local beer comes from Boulevard Brewery. My personal favorite? The stout.

(RHP) What made you decide to start a beer blog?

(BV) I like to expand my opportunities to express my opinion.

(WP) I enjoy creative writing, and I enjoy beer. So, I thought...heck, why not combine the two!? I think our (Bull E. Vard is my cohort) twenty readers really like the posts as well.


(RHP) Other than blogging, how else are you involved with your love of beer?

(BV) I just drink the beer and sometimes read books about it.

(WP) I try to spend at least three days of the week drinking beer and exploring new/favorite local bars. I'm slowly and methodically crossing all of the bars in the city off a huge list. I still have hundreds of taverns to visit--but never fear, I WILL visit them all!