Tag: meet the baron

Age: 31. Which still feels a bit weird to say.

How long have you been a Baron? Just about 7 months. I joined back in July ’13 after relocating to Milwaukee.

How long have you been brewing? 7 years or so.

What style do you most often brew? Overall, it’s a tie between American Pale Ales and Saisons. The APA is my favorite, and the Saison is Colleen’s (my wife). Since moving to Milwaukee I have room in the apartment for a lagering freezer, so I’ve been churning out a lot of lagers recently.

What got you into brewing? My parents got me a Mr. Beer kit for my 24th birthday. I made a (horrible) first batch and, while I knew making beer was just about the coolest hobby to have, my instincts told me to look beyond Mr. Beer. I’ve heard you can make decent beer with it, but I went online and grabbed a basic kit setup and the rest is history.

How often do you brew? I try to brew every 2-3 weeks.

Do you brew solo or with other people? Most often I brew solo. I have a lot of fun brewing with other brewers. It’s a great way to pick up new tips and tricks. My homebrewing-curious friends and neighbors have a standing invitation to come over on brew days. In fact, over Christmas I had my cousin over and we brewed a Belgain Dark Strong. It was his first experience with homeberwing. Maybe he’ll catch the bug now!

What is your favorite style and why? American Pale Ale. I think there is a lot of latitude in the style. I love the firm and floral hop character that isn’t out to punch you in the mouth. My favorites also have a noticeable malt character – bready and/or biscuity.

What is your favorite beer? Pride and Joy by Three Floyds. I know they call it a Mild, but to me that is an APA all the way. It was love at first sip!

What is your favorite brewery and why? You caught me on a Monday, so today it’s Half Acre out of Chicago. I have liked everything I’ve had from them. Also, their involvement with the cycling community, their collaboration beers, and their environmental awareness all strike a chord with me. They have some amazing art for their labels too! Ask me tomorrow and it could be Bell’s or Shorts or Founders or New Glarus. It’s hard to keep a favorite!

What is your commmercial to homebrew consumption ratio? Probably about 50-50. I try to give away as much of my homebrew as possible. After a gallon or two, I know if I made the beer I wanted to, and have some notes on what to change in the next iteration. The rest is up for grabs. I’ve got to keep some kegs open for new brews!

Have you ever entered a competition? Yes, a few. I used to live in Boston (Jamaica Plain, actually) and was walking distance to the Sam Adams brewery. The first competition I entered was their Longshot. Since then, I try to enter a couple each year. I am currently taking the BJCP classes, so competitions are popping up on my radar a bit more these days. I hope enter and steward several this year. Maybe I’ll get to judge one with a little luck (and a passing score on the tasting exam)!

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? Tough question, but I’ll have to go with the Christmas party. The food, the amazing beer selection, the raffle, and of course the elections!

What is your day job? I am a software engineer for Tremor Video, an online video advertisement company. I work out of my apartment and from various Colectivo cafes across the city. You have probably seen some of our ads online, and if so, you have my apologies. I don’t make the ads, but I do make the internal application that our designers use to make them.

Age: 57

How long have you been a Baron? Since 2008

What style do you brew most often? I always have an Amber Ale on tap as friends and neighbors like that one. I also like to have a Pale Ale on tap.

What got you into brewing? I got into brewing because of David Glazewski. We work together and he brought some homebrew to a company picnic and I thought it was awesome.

How often do you brew? I brew when my supply starts to run low, maybe 4 to 5 times a year. I usually do 10 gallon batches. Unless it is a high gravity brew, then only 5 gallons because my mash tun is too small. I don’t brew as often as I would like to, not enough people come over to drink my beers. Especially in the summer. During Packer season a lot more gets consumed at Packer parties than during the rest of the year. I wish I knew people that liked to drink beer. If anyone knows somebody like that I’m willing to share. 😉

Do you brew solo or with other people? I am a solo brewer, sometimes I have somebody to come over to watch and drink beer while I brew.

What is your favorite style and why? I don’t know if I have a favorite style. I do like Belgians, Stouts, Porters, Pale and IPAs. It depends on what I am in the mood for. I enjoy most styles of beer, mead, cider, wine, whiskey, brandy, schnapps, and Aqua Velva anything with alcohol. I am of German and Irish ancestry, enough said.

What is your favorite brewery and why? Omergang, Tyranena, Lakefront, Founders, and New Holland

What is your commmercial to homebrew consumption ratio? 1 to 1 or close to it.

Have you ever entered a competition? The competitions that I have entered were State Fair in 2010, I won 1st place for a Oktoberfest, 1st place for Best of the German beer categories and was runner up for best of show. Even though my beer was an ale not a lager. I won a silver medal in the Midwinter Comp.; I think it was 2011 for a pale ale. And just recently I won 1st place for my Hefeweizen, that beer also took best of show. I was very surprised, that is a beer style that does not seem to win best of show very often.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? Besides the November Belgian nights, I enjoy when we have knowledgeable speakers, whether they are commercial or a Baron i.e. Dave Campbell’s talk about some of his gadgets.

What is your day job? My vocation is machinist. I have been working as a machinist since I was a sophomore in high school. I currently work for a contract machine shop. We machine a variety of products from aerospace, mining, oil exploration, food production equipment and the rollers that make M&M’s, Skittles and Reese’s Pieces.

Age: 24

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

How long have you been brewing? About a year.

What got you into brewing? Did a study abroad in Germany and got hooked on good beer. From there I wanted to start making my own beer.

What kind of equipment do you brew on? Started off doing extract brewing in my kitchen. I now have a 3 tier system and do all grain brewing.

Do you brew solo or with other people? Usually brew solo, but sometimes with other people.

What is your favorite style and why? Since I lived in Germany for a bit I like all the German styles of beer and also tend to brew the German styles as well.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? About 50/50. I keg all of my beer, but also keep bottles of commercial beer in the kegerator.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? I sadly had to miss the Belgium night last year, which I hear is a lot of fun. So for me the holiday party is the best meeting.

Have you served as an officer of the club or would you like to? Never been an officer, but would be interested at some point.

What is the strangest of funniest thing that has happened to you while homebrewing? First time I brewed was an extract kit and once I had the glass carboy sanitized I didn’t realize how slick the sanitizer made the carboy and I dropped the empty carboy on a tile floor. Luckily it didn’t break or chip.

Age: 34

How long have you been a Baron? Over 2 years.

How long have you been brewing? Approx 2 years. Brewed extract beers for around 6 months then stepped up to All Grain and never looked back.

What style do you brew most often? I don’t feel like I stick to any specific style. But I admit I do like hoppy beers.

What got you into brewing? I always wanted to try brewing. I love cooking and to me it was an extension to that. It helped having friends and the club push me into it as well.

How often do you brew? 1-2 times a month. My wife loves beer as much as I do.

Do you brew solo or with other people? Solo mostly but it is always fun to brew with friends whenever possible.

What is your favorite style and why? I wouldn’t say I have a favorite. Belgians and Hoppy beers I like the best. I like sticking to styles but sometimes thinking outside the box is just as good. There are all kinds of good beer out there not in “style”.

What is your favorite beer? I love many Craft brewers, but no favorite. Bell’s, Stone, Dogfish, Three Floyds, Southern Tier are all up on the top of my list.

What is your favorite brewery and why? Hard Hops Brewery because I can make whatever I want.

What has been your favorite Baron meeting? I have always enjoyed all the Barons meetings. The Christmas parties and Unibroue (one of the Belgian meetings) are my favorites.

What is your commercial to homebrew consumption ratio? 50/50. I like variety so until I can have an endless amount of beers on tap I will probably always explore commercial beers. There are many beers I like to try but don’t want to drink 5 gallons of so a bomber or 6-pack is perfect.

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!