Brewer Q & A (Issue 20)

93 Rating – Southbound Brewing Co. – Hop'lin IPA

Responses from Southbound brewmaster Smith Mathews.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe?
Smith: Smith Mathews, Brewmaster/Managing Partner at Southbound.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
Smith: I really love the balance of this beer. The caramel and Munich malts combined with the citrusy, piney aromas and flavors of the hops meet in an awesome equilibrium, making it a very approachable IPA. It's an IPA that both craft beer newcomers and seasoned cicerones can appreciate. 

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
Smith: Its a musical reference and an homage to singer/songwriter Janis Joplin. Her music and life were part of the inspiration for making this beer. 

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”
Smith: If I were stranded on a desert island, this is likely to be the only beer in my cooler. Let's be honest -- I won't be on an island without my cooler, so yes, I guess it would be my desert island beer! 

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Smith: Smooth, medium-bodied IPA with an incredible balance of malt and hops. Was that 11? After having one Hop'lin, nobody is focused on that 11th word -- so it's OK. 
 
BC: Do you know a story -- or have a personal story -- that revolves around this beer?
Smith: I have more than a few stories involving this beer. My favorite would be the good times I've shared with best friends at music festivals, all of us drinking this great beer. We'll leave the specifics out -- if that's cool with you.

93 Rating – Oskar Blues Brewery – Dale's Pale Ale

Responses from Oskar Blues head brewer Tim Matthews.

BC: Who came up with this beer’s recipe? 
Tim: This one goes back in time, as it started from an old homebrew recipe of Dale’s but has evolved over the years for sure.

BC: What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?  
Tim: The aroma and flavor are an incredible marriage between the candy sweetness from English crystal malts and a resinous, spicy hop character.

BC: Where does this beer’s name come from?
Tim: Dale [Katechis] is the owner and founder of Oskar Blues.

BC: Is this your “desert island beer?”   
Tim: You bet!

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less? 
Tim: A candy-covered, citrusy, piney, semi-sweet and solid brew.

BC: Do you know a story -- or have a personal story -- that revolves around this beer? 
Tim: Every time we crack open a box of Centennial Hops or receive a fresh malt shipment, the aroma triggers an image of that Dale's Pale Ale can in our mind. All those bike rides, hikes, water adventures, and ski trips where we drank that beer come to mind immediately and vividly. We get transported by the aroma and the taste because this brew is so well-integrated into our lives inside and outside the brewery.