What is your current position at your brewery and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?
I am a freelance marketing manager for Wiley Roots Brewery in Greeley, Colorado. I manage the brewery’s marketing and social media. I got into the craft beer industry as a home brewer. I founded the Fermentologists, a homebrew club in Aurora, Colorado to meet other homebrewers and learn from professional brewers. Over the years, I have met and befriended several brewers and owners while co-hosting educational events, brewing collaborative beers, and hosting homebrew competitions.
What’s new at Wiley Roots?
Wiley Roots just got bigger! The brewery took over the entire building, adding a production facility to the former distillery space. By moving the brewhouse out of the dining hall, we are able to increase both production capacity and dining hall space. Brewing capacity will increase immediately with the addition of several new fermenters. In addition to the stainless steel space, Wiley Roots will also be able to add barrels for aging stouts, barley wines and wheat wines in addition to the sour barrel aging space.
What’s the best part of being part of the craft brewing community?
Collaboration and shared resources. This community is similar to the information technology sector, as there is a collaborative effort that relies on openness and transparency. I’m an advocate of open source and shared resources, so the relationship aspect of the craft beer industry appeals to me and allows me to work with multiple companies to create products, services, and knowledge together.
Name a favorite beer-food pairing.
Seasons and mixed-culture charcuterie, including pickled vegetables, stinky and moldy soft cheeses, fresh fruit, cold meats, and fresh breads.
What is your greatest achievement unrelated to your job?
Closing my house before my 23rd birthday was a big deal.
What’s your favorite beer from another brewery?
Copper Kettle’s Mexican Chocolate Stout introduced me to craft beer. It blew me away the first time I got it. Yellow Rose from Lone Pint Brewery is a perfect IPA. The Bierstadt Lagerhaus Slow Pour Pilsner is my favorite if it’s on tap. The Little Prince by Jester King is my desert island beer. Dry Dock’s Bligh’s Barleywine is always stored in my cellar for emergencies. Sorry, choosing a beer is impossible.
What is the most memorable travel destination where you had the opportunity to taste the local beer?
So we met on Instagram. It started as a beer swap with a guy from Texas that turned into a great friendship. In September 2016, I flew to join their wedding party and explore the state. Adam and Kathryn took me to little beer bars, local honey holes, bottle sharing (at the wedding) and a few breweries. It was an amazing experience to be part of the Texas craft beer scene for a week. I came home with a suitcase full of world class Texas beer.
What do you like to do during your time away from the brewery?
Pursue my studies, participate in local politics and work in information technology. I maintain the system and security of a small preschool association. I also own my own consultancy firm for small business networks, security, and system building.
