Tag: 2010

Age: 52

How long have you been a Baron? Only a couple of months now.

How long have you been brewing? 11 years overall but really just the last year seriously.

What style do you brew most often? American Ales, Belgiam Wits, Hefe-Weisse, Dunkel Lagers. At this point I’m still trying to find a favorite.

What got you into brewing? Discovering that homebrewed beer is much better than stuff you buy and tasting kegs at parties in the 80s and 90s. In 1999 a good friend named Tom took the time to help me with my initial modest equipment purchase to do an ex- tract honey-weisse. After one successful extract batch I went on a homebrew hiatus for 10 years until last year when I was on a busi- ness trip with another colleague that was into homebrewing and visited the Brasserie Dubisson close to the France/Belgium border and went on a behind the scene tour of this very old brewery with an interesting guide. We ended up asking all sorts of brewing ques- tions and this re-sparked my interest.

How often do you brew? I started brewing for parties like Thanksgiving or Christmas and was tired of running out of beer too fast so now I’m averaging about twice a month; eight batches since June this year. I’m just making the switch to AG for my next batch with my new 15 Gallon kettle and wort chiller.

Do you brew solo or with other people? Mostly solo but I invite friends over who are interested.

What is your favorite style and why? A nice frothy Hefe-Weisse I guess. Taste, aroma, and low hops. Getting into Munich Dunkel Lagers lately… Again low hops, smooth creamy character.

What is your favorite beer? Has been Blue Moon for a few years along with Hacker-Schoor Hefe-Weisse. Now liking Hoegaarden and Hofbrau Dunkel Lagers.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? 60%- 40% and getting lower. I’m looking to eventually keep 3 – 5 kegs on tap with some lagering space in a chest freezer.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? The picnic.

What is the next Baron function for which you plan on volunteering? One of the local competitions next summer/fall.

Age: 39

How long have you been a Baron? 2 years.

How long have you been brewing? 6 years.

What style do you brew most often? IPA (All Grain).

What got you into brewing? Gift from wife (but it was gonna happen anyways)

How often do you brew? Spring, Summer and Fall every 2 weeks (Winter very seldom)

Do you brew solo or with other people? Solo.

What is your favorite style and why? IPA…I am a hop head.

What is your favorite beer? Lagunitas Maximus IPA.

What is your favorite brewery and why? Tyranena. It is close, I like the IPA, Porter and Scurvy, and I like the atmosphere in the summer months.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? 50:50

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? Christmas party because I won something.

What is the next Baron function for which you plan on volunteering? Haven’t decided yet.

Age: 37

How long have you been a Baron? 5 months.

How long have you been brewing? 6 months.

What style do you brew most often? Since I have only brewed 13 batches, I would have to say IPA.

What got you into brewing? I enjoyed craft beer to begin with and after watching an episode of Good Eats where Alton Brown brews a brown ale I was hooked. I knew once I started brewing, it would consume me. That’s just my personality. I held off for several years til the time was right and now it is my main hobby.

How often do you brew? At least twice per month.

Do you brew solo or with other people? Both – I have been having brew day parties where attendees must bring one bottle of craft beer to share and usually have some good table fare for everyone to eat.

What is your favorite style and why? Although a tough question because I’ll drink any style, I still am a hop head at heart and really enjoy big IPAs. The dramatic taste profiles IPAs bring to the table is never ending.

What is your favorite beer? My favorite year round beer is Weyerbacher Double Simcoe and seasonal is Founders Harvest Ale.

What is your favorite brewery and why? Although it may seem cliché, I really like Dogfish Head. I don’t necessarily enjoy all of the styles they brew, but the fact they are in the business for all the right reasons is impressive. I have met Sam Caligione on a couple different occasions and have exchanged emails and he truly practices what he preaches. The fact that he is not afraid of how much beer he sells using unorthodox brewing methods and strange ingredients is pushing beer to new areas.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? Since my homebrew is starting to pile up in the basement it’s now 70% home 30% commercial.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? The tour of Lakefront.

What is the next Baron function you plan on volunteering? Currently the wheels are in motion for me to roast a pig at this year’s picnic.

Age: 40

How long have you been a Baron? 6 years’ish.

How long have you been brewing? 8 years.

What style do you brew most often? Kolsch, Porter, Irish Red.

What got you into brewing? Was given some homebrew and decided to start making it.

How often do you brew? 1-2 times a month

Do you brew solo or with other people? Brew solo but always seem to have people over to “help.”

What is your favorite style and why? Kolsch in the summertime Ocotberfest in the fall and Mai Bocks in the spring. I love the German styles, clean malty not overly hopped.

What is your favorite beer? Goose Island Summertime (at least right now it is).

What is your favorite brewery and why? Capitol Brewery Great selection and all the beers are just good.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? 60/40.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? Unibroue Belgian night which also lead to my least favorite day after a Baron’s meeting (rough day at work).

What is the next Baron function you plan on volunteering? When life and work permit I always try to help out with State Fair judging, Brew U, and WOB.

Age: 36

How long have you been a Baron? 2 years.

How long have you been brewing? 8 years (1 year Extract) (7 years All-grain).

What style do you brew most often? I brew a lot of IPA’s and Belgian Style beers.

What got you into brewing? I love to cook. I think that brewing is a natural extension of cooking. I also grew up in a familywhere we made a lot of homemade wines and spirits.

How often do you brew? I try to brew 10 gallons a month.

Do you brew solo or with other people? I’m a better brewer when I brew solo, but I usually have people over.

What is your favorite style and why? Wow that’s a tough one. It’s like asking who your favorite child is. Belgian Dark Strong and American IPA’s are my favorite. For IPA’s, I love the citrus aroma backed up with a nice malty background. For Belgian Dark Strong’s, I love the caramel/malty/ melanoiden taste with a bone dry finish.

What is your favorite beer? Russian River’s Pliney the Elder double IPA is the best beer I have ever had. Bar none.

What is your favorite brewery and why?

1. New Glarus unplugged beers because of the varieties they produce.
2. Russian River because of their Double IPA and sour beers. If you’re ever in San Francisco you have to visit the brewery.
3. Unibroue because all their beer are great and under $8.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? 80% homebrew 20% Commercial.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? The Lakefront Brewing Company meetings. It’s fun to walk around the brew house.

Age: 37

How long have you been a Baron? About a year and a half.

How long have you been brewing? I don’t brew right now, but I have “assisted” my friend Kevin Meves a couple times.

What got you into brewing? I don’t brew alone as of yet, but I want to learn so that when I go back to Puerto Rico (my home country) I can make beers that are not available commercially. I need to sign up for one of those “Brew U” introductory classes.

What is your favorite style and why? American IPA, I really love the hops grown in the Pacific Northwest.

What is your favorite beer? Three Floyds Alpha King pale Ale.

What is your favorite brewery and why? Bells, they make some of the most wonderful beers in the mid- west.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? Pretty much commercial right now since I rely on others for the homebrew.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? The Stone Brewing night was very memorable.

Are you planning on working at this summers World of Beer? Sign me up!

Age: 34

How long have you been a Baron? Two months.

How long have you been brewing? I have brewed 46 batches over the last 4 years.

What style do you brew most often? I am still experimenting and trying as many different styles as possible, but I usually always have an IPA on tap.

What got you into brewing? I listened to the Brewing Network when they first started and after about six months figured I would give brewing a try and haven’t stopped since.

How often do you brew? I usually try to brew once or twice a month making two five gallon batches at a time.

Do you brew solo or with other people? Typically solo but my father-in-law has taken an interest in brewing and he occassionally helps.

What is your favorite style and why? I like most styles and prefer to mix it up as much as possible. My answer to this question would probably change every time someone would ask, but for now I would say Porters or Sour beers.

What is your favorite beer? I will have to borrow someone else’s expression and say the one currently in front of me. There are too many good craft beers to choose only one. I do have quite a stockpile of Bourbon County Stout though.

What is your favorite brewery and why? Goose Island. I used to live five minutes away and really enjoyed all the great beers Wil was producing. Locally I am a fan of New Glarus. I like the creativity of the beers they make for their Unplugged series.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? 50/50

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? I have only been to two and enjoyed both of them. I did have fun serving beer at the Barons booth for Blessing of the Bock.

Are you planning on working at this summers World of Beer? I haven’t volunteered yet, but I am interested in helping.