1. Where is your brewery?

It all started at our pub in downtown Bend, OR in 1988. About 1 mile away, alongside the Deschutes River, is our production facility which was built in 1993. We also have a pub in Portland, OR that opened in 2008.

2. What was the first beer you had that made you realize craft beer was going to be a bigger part of your life?

Mendocino Brewing's Blue Heron Pale Ale. I remember being fascinated by the aroma, flavor and bitterness of this beer compared to the beer you find at most college gatherings. Around the same time I had just purchased my first home brew kit. After a lot more college and a different career I landed my first professional brewing job 8 years later. But I always trace it back to my original home brew experience and the craft beer available in the Bay Area of California that inspired me to a professional brewing career.

3. What is your favorite style to brew and why?

I really enjoy brewing some of our specialty beers. Hop in the Dark, The Abyss, and our Imperial Black Butte Porter Anniversary series. These beers are very challenging from an ingredients point of view, and really test your brewing skills and this is why I enjoy brewing them so much.

4. If you were stranded on an island (with a working refrigerator that automatically replenished itself) and you could only have one beer for the rest of your life in that fridge, which would it be?

I'd go with the Dissident. The automatic replenishing system would create some unique blends over time.

5. What is your favorite music to listen to in the brewery?

This is akin to asking what your favorite beer is. Depends on the weather, my mood, and what is going on around the brewery. But I've been known to move the dial between bluegrass, rock, alternative, R&B/rap to classic 80's.

6. Which other brewery has inspired you the most? Why?

Recently it has been Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project - I love the awareness and education that they are bringing to the sour and "wild" fermentation. I've also been inspired by Boulevard Brewing regarding their brewing systems and the talented and fun staff that is employed there in KC.

7. Single hop beer - which hops are you using?

Mirror Pond Pale Ale - 100% Cascade

8. Where is your favorite place to get a beer after work and why?

At Shifties - our Deschutes Brewery production facility lounge that includes 10 taps - 2 which are cask and 1 nitro handle. We always have a great selection and I love to shoot the bull with my fellow co-owners. We truly have a great group of people at Deschutes Brewery.

9. What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone who thinks they want to get into the craft beer industry?

This is a great question. Remember that there are so many things a craft brewery needs from brewers, QA, packaging, maintenance, sales, marketing, IT, finance, etc. So you don't necessarily need to be a brewer. However, if being a brewer is your goal - get your feet in the door at someplace - don't take no for an answer. Find out if it is the career for you. I know it was for me.

10. Dogs or cats?

Dogs all the way.