Talking Beer with Colin McIntosh of Sheets & Giggles

CEO Colin McIntosh, founder of Sheets & Giggles, joins The Beer Connoisseur.

Sheets & Giggles is a company that produces Eucalyptus Lyocell bedding, which is softer, cooler and more eco-friendly than cotton. The sheets are highly regarded and have been featured in The Denver Post, Forbes and Real Simple.

Beer drinkers like to laugh. What’s the funniest drinking story you can share with us?
I've got a lot from college... the funniest one I can remember is from when I was studying abroad in Budapest when I was 20 (of legal drinking age in Hungary!). It was the middle of November, and my three friends who were studying abroad in Vienna came to visit for the weekend. We were going to go to this underground bath party (i.e., Budapest's natural hot springs), which was hosted once a month and was supposed to be amazing. We got in our bathing suits, drank a bunch of Löwenbräu (you could buy a 24-pack of half liters at Tesco for $12), and stepped outside to say hi to someone... and then promptly locked ourselves out of my apartment. So there we were: drunk on a Saturday night, locked outside in 10 degree weather, shirtless, in bathing suits, in Budapest, and without a locksmith to let us back in until the next morning. After freaking out for a bit, we figured out our sleeping situation for the night (phoned a few friends), and then walked about 20 minutes in bathing suits through the snow to get to the venue; the party was an outrageously good time.

Who's the coolest person you've had a beer with?
Pro surfer Rob Machado is a friend, and unequivocally the coolest guy I know. One time, we were at a Padres game together having a Ballast Point, and I asked him when was the last time he had been to a game. He said, "Oh last night, I was here with Tony. We threw out the first pitch!" He was casually talking about Tony Hawk (a longtime friend of his), and they had thrown out the ceremonial first pitch of the MLB season for the Padres the night before in 2015. Again: Coolest guy I know.

What are a few of your favorite craft beers and why?
I love SweetWater from Atlanta (420 is my favorite) – I went to school at Emory and will always have a soft spot for SweetWater. I also love Fremont Brewing's Pale Ale; it reminds me of brewery crawls on Sundays that my friends and I would go on in Seattle when I lived there. Victory Brewing's 9.5% Golden Monkey is an all-time favorite (brewed in Downington, PA).

Do you have a favorite (craft) brewery or breweries and why?
SweetWater in Atlanta is my favorite brewery overall. Sweetwater 420, SweetWater IPA, SweetWater Blue – you can't go wrong. I may be looking back fondly on that one because of my college goggles, though.

Have you attended any beer events or festivals that you particularly enjoyed? What made them stand out?
The Decatur Beer Festival just outside of Atlanta is SO much fun. It's in October every year, and you get a 6 ounce glass for around $40 with unlimited pours. Of course, the Great American Beer Festival here in Denver (starts Sept. 20 this year) is a weekend extravaganza. Can't wait for it!

Are their any benefits for people who drink while bundled up and giggling in your sheets?
Beer always gives me night sweats. Our super-breathable eucalyptus sheets wick away and evaporate moisture better than cotton, so actually yes! It'll be a much more pleasant experience than passing out at the end of the night wrapped in microfiber, which I describe as a sweaty tomb.

What other products from Sheets & Giggles do you have brewing?
We've now got sustainable eucalyptus sheets, duvet covers, pillowcases and even comforters. The comforters will be super plush and ship just in time for the winter to keep you warm when beer can't.

Follow Colin:

WEBSITE: https://sheetsgiggles.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/SheetsGiggles/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/sheetsgiggles/