Chicagoans love their beer (understatement of the century, we know). They also might have an image in their head of what the person who crafts beer looks like. And there’s a good chance brewers look nothing like that. Which isn’t to say local beer makers are all that offended.
They also know what works in beer … and what doesn’t. Peanut butter with your beer, anyone?
At any rate, in honor of Chicago Craft Beer Week, RedEye caught up with five brewers to talk drinking buddies, celebrity sponsors and the Milwaukee Brewers mascot, Bernie.
Our panelists: Tracy Hurst of Metropolitan Brewing, Tracie Barthel of Motor Row Brewing, Mike Pallen of Mikerphone Brewing, Ben and John Saller of Burnt City Brewing, and Scott Coffman of Pipeworks Brewing Co.
What’s the biggest misconception about people who brew beer for a living?
Tracy Hurst, Metropolitan Brewing: That we’re all burly, bearded dudes. Some brewers and brewery owners are women, and men who couldn’t grow facial hair to save their lives.
Tracie Barthel, Motor Row Brewing: Beards!
Mike Pallen, Mikerphone Brewing: That we sit around and drink beer all day. Working at a brewery requires a lot of focus and hard work. We bust ass, clean, clean, clean, and then enjoy two, tree beers.
Ben and John Saller, Burnt City Brewing: People see brewers as being a bunch of fancy, uptight preppies, but we don’t all pop our collars and drive Maseratis.
Scott Coffman, Pipeworks Brewing Co.: That it’s a constant party with beer flowing from every faucet. It is, but not every faucet.
One flavor I thought would never work with beer but actually does is …
Tracy Hurst: … tangerine! I’ve always thought, “Don’t fruit the beer!” But Tangerine Soul Style from Green Flash in San Diego is DOPE.
Tracie Barthel: … peanut butter.
Mike Pallen: … salt. Before I learned about the Gose style, I never imagined salt could be a helpful ingredient. After my first sip of Gose, I was hooked. (One flavor that I think will never work is pizza. I had a beer with basil and oregano to capture that pizza flavor. Worst beverage ever.)
Ben and John Saller: Our Holiday Ale brewed with poinsettias and mistletoe got panned on Yelp, but it really gets the blood flowing.
Scott Coffman: Cheesy beans are a fantastic complement to any beer, but especially doppelbocks.
If you could get a celebrity to endorse your beer, who would it be and why?
Tracy Hurst: This isn’t fair because he doesn’t drink, but Matt Pike. In a post-Lemmy world, Pike keeps us fueled with his face-melting guitar-shredding.
Tracie Barthel: George Wendt (Norm from “Cheers”), because you want to go where everybody knows your name.
Mike Pallen: Dave Grohl. He is a music legend, and after seeing him absolutely kill it at Wrigley even with a broken leg, I was blown away. There are several Mikerphone beers that are influenced by Nirvana and Foo Fighters songs/albums. It would be awesome to have his support and endorsement. And it would be badass to share a few brews with him.
Ben and John Saller: Crocodile Hunter. The reasons are obvious. As are the difficulties.
Scott Coffman: Papa Shango! Have you seen when he put that sick curse on Ultimate Warrior?!
What are the ideal qualities of a drinking buddy?
Tracy Hurst: Someone who says YES. Would you like a shot? YES! It’s 3 a.m., wanna have a totally unnecessary beer? YES!
Tracie Barthel: A great listener that you can laugh and drink too much with and will still be your Trapper Keeper secret keeper the next day.
Mike Pallen: Without even having to ask, your buddy knows when you need another and knows what you like. It also helps when they have the same tolerance as you.
Ben and John Saller: Cash, mostly. Decent bladder size. Low to moderate rage and/or a good right hook.
Scott Coffman: That the drinking buddy is a cat … named Kwingston. And he brought some ice-cold Pabst.
The Milwaukee Brewers have a mascot named Bernie. What’s he missing?
Tracy Hurst: Not a damn thing. I grew up in Milwaukee attending Brewers games at County Stadium. Bernie is perfect as-is.
Tracie Barthel: My attention.
Mike Pallen: I am from Milwaukee and was fortunate enough to hang out in Bernie’s Chalet at the old Milwaukee County Stadium. He rocks a pretty sweet ‘stache, but I would love to see him with a big ol’ beard and a Mikerphone Brewing shirt.
Ben and John Saller: Bernie needs a healthy bullpen, adequate defense, 80 percent of a professional rotation and a mechanical T. rex with a top hat.
Scott Coffman: 524 superdelegates! Our political system is a farce!
@redeyesportschi | chsosa@redeyechicago.com
