1. Where is your brewery?

I do all of my brewing at Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis, MO

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

One of my brother-in-laws homebrews. I was really big into wine and whiskey (I was working in a fine-dining restaurant at the time), so beer wasn't on my radar till he started sharing his kitchen creations with me. I was hooked and then started working towards making the craft beer industry a bigger part of my life...

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

Saison. The interpretation of the style is very open and allows the brewer the freedom of experimentation and the freedom of expression. From low ABV and tart to robust and hoppy, it's a fun style to play around with.

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?

Island, so I immediately think its going to be warm, so Firestone Pivo Pils.

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

None. I prefer the peace and quiet. The other brewers listen to really loud music, so when its just me in there, I go with the quiet.

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

I have been thinking about this one for a while and I don't know that I have just one brewery that I can name. My inspiration in this whole thing comes more from the industry as a whole I think. The barrel aging from Perennial, the saisons from Hill Farmstead and Sante Adairius, the lambics of Belgium, the sours of Russian River. Side project does a lot of variety, all of which see time in oak, but that variety comes from my love of different challenging in producing, the want to drink different things all of the time, and a lack of attention span.

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

Amarillo. My cultures are very fruit forward and Amarillo works very well with them in my beers. If I could get another one, it would be Saaz...

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

At home. Between Side Project, Perennial, and now our tasting room, my wife and I spend a lot of time not at home, working... Sometimes its just nice to sit on the couch and open a saison or something sour...

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

Intern first. Too many people's perception of the industry is skewed. They think that brewing is just fun and games when in reality its hard labor and janitorial professionalism. You may love beer, but hate working in a brewery.

10. Dogs or cats?

Ha! Unfortunately, we have neither right now, but I am a dog person...