What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?
I am an assistant brewer and lab technician at Brewery 85 in Greenville, S.C. I got into the craft brewing industry through an internship at Brewery 85 while I was working on my undergraduate degree at Clemson University. I had been a homebrewer for several years and had hopes of coming into the industry.

What’s new at Brewery 85?
We recently tapped a Belgian witbier that was the first beer I ever made on our pilot system. The recipe was based on a homebrew recipe I had been using for years. It was an exciting moment.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?
This industry has some of the best people I have ever worked with. All my coworkers are more than just coworkers—they are my friends. I have never been in another industry that was this tight-knit and willing to help one another.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.
A cold pale ale and a great burger. Classic and my go-to on a regular basis.

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology with minors in chemistry and microbiology from Clemson University.

What’s your favorite beer from another brewery?
Old Guard from Service Brewing. I got into the craft beer world while I was stationed at Ft. Stewart in Savannah. Old Guard brings together some of my favorite things about craft beer: house cultured yeast (with Belgian notes), local ingredients (Savannah Bee Company Yaupon Honey), and an underrepresented beer style (biere de garde) all in one glass.

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?
Reading, watching, and listening to anything about history. I am also a big music nerd. My music tastes can vary widely from Merle Haggard to Motorhead (ask my co-brewers, I keep them on their toes). I also am a big fan of board games and miniature wargaming. My wife and I also enjoy visiting and traveling to Renaissance festivals.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?
I sampled some local macro brews while traveling home from my deployment to Afghanistan in 2013 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It was great to see the differences between their macro brews compared to the United States.