What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?
I’m one of the representatives of the American Homebrewers Association Governing Committee. The Brewers Association understands the keen link between homebrewers and professional brewers and brewery owners. I’ve been homebrewing for 10 years and love the community of brewers.

What’s new with your homebrewing setup?
We just added a new glycol chiller to our home brewery. It has really improved the range of beers we can successfully brew.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?
The diversity of people, the comradery, and willingness to help out. There is always a new tip or skill to learn just being around craft brewers.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.
Anything from the grill or the smoker and an amber ale (with cheese…)!

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?
I’m a civil engineer in my “regular” life and have been part of improving public works in the Seattle area. I’m very proud to be a servant leader in partnership with our public leaders, and recently was the construction manager on a $110 million new bascule (moveable leaf) bridge.

What’s your favorite beer from another brewery?
Irish Death from Iron Horse Brewery.

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?
When I’m not brewing or doing the civil engineer thing, we are usually on our boat fishing, crabbing, shrimping, or relaxing in the beautiful San Juan Islands.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?
I have a lot of “Beercation” tales. I was in Egypt back in the mid-90s during August and cruising the Nile River. Egypt is a very “dry” country in support of its Muslim traditions, but they still tried to satisfy the tourists. Since it was in excess of 100°F each day, we were only happy to go back to our riverboat hotel with its air conditioned splendor. However, the only beer they had was the “local” beer (no longer made), bottled in clear glass bottles. While it was so light you could easily see through it and a few were skunked, a beer is a beer and we celebrated the efforts of the brewer and the beauty of Egypt while “re-hydrating” with their offerings.