What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?

I’m head brewer/brewmaster at Roundhouse Brewery (in Brainerd, Minn.). I got started in craft brewing the way most of us did: as a homebrewer, making five gallons at a time in the garage. I got a feel for the ingredients and how they affect flavor profile, learned how to develop recipes, and learned the hard way about the importance of good cleaning and sanitization practices. I worked part-time as a brewer in a local brewpub, honing those lessons learned in the garage on a commercial nano system.

What’s new at Roundhouse?

We’ll have a couple of limited edition barrel releases coming this summer and fall, and we’re working on a couple of new recipes.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?

That it is really a community. If I need anything from advice to sanitizer, I can get on the phone or send out an email to the community and get whatever I need.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.

Dark stout and chocolate cake.

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?

Getting my kids out on their own. Mostly.

What’s your favorite beer that your brewery does not produce?

There’s no way to pick just one.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?

Asheville, N.C. I visited friends out there and did a tour of the local breweries. It’s a jumping yet laid-back town with a great beer scene.

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?

Introvert stuff. Hunting, hiking, camping, reading.