1. Where is your brewery?

Russian River Brewing Company

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

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

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

Brett finished beer. I like this style because once the beer is packaged it is ever changing, there is often slight differences each time you taste it.

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?

That is like asking which is your favorite kid (if you have kids)...

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

Typically garage type bands or just some good old fashion rock and roll.

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

Sierra Nevada for sure. Their attention to detail when it comes to all their beers is of course there cornerstone. They also are a great company in general, from the way they treat their employees to the way they run the business side of the brewery. Not necessarily from an annual barrels perspective, but in all other aspects they are a company every craft brewer should strive to emulate.

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

I have been brewing single hop beer since 1997 and have probably used 90% of the hops on the market. Some of the new varieties I have not messed with yet but otherwise we tend to do a lot of single hop work. Our beer is called Hop 2 It and we brew it on a pilot scale and on a full scale batch to sell in our pub. The hop that influenced me the most through this process was an experimental hop I got my hands on back in 1998 or 1999 called YCR-014, in time this experimental became Simcoe.

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

My home, because it is quiet, peaceful, and relaxing.

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

Make sure you have a grasp on the business side of brewing. Brewing is the easy part, running the business and turning your profits into cash is the hard part.

10. Dogs or cats?

Cats, they are more like Brettanomyces.