Our staff is the best!

How did you become involved in brewing?

Brewed barely drinkable beer in college, then started Highland after a 30 year hiatus in engineering. Have concluded that without beer, civilization would not have flourished.

What's your favorite beer?

Highland's Kashmir IPA.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is strength, in water there is bacteria."

What do you like about the beer industry?

The wonderful, interesting people who also appreciate good beer.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Thomas Jefferson, a practical intellectual.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Adventurer - checking out remote places and sampling beers, wines, and cuisines on the way.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

I'm like a Pilsner - easy to meet, complex characteristics, but with a long lasting flavor.

How did you become involved in brewing?

A home-brew kit purchased at a church rummage sale

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Begged and pleaded

What's your favorite beer?

Corsendonk Monk's Brown Ale

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"The moving finger writes; and, having writ moves on: nor all your piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a line, nor all your tears wash out a word of it." - Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

What do you like about the beer industry?

The camaraderie among brewers & beer drinkers

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Stephen Hawking

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Sagacious

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Grand Cru - aged to perfection

How did you become involved in brewing?

In 1969, I was a West Virginia coal miner when the Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. recruited me to sell its answer to Michelob. (Encore - a light lager packaged in a gold spectro-sheen bottle.)

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Highland’s owner Oscar Wong recruited me after I retired from Highland’s local distributor.

What's your favorite beer?

Oatmeal Porter

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

Let each man march to the beat of the drum he hears, no matter how measured nor far away.

What do you like about the beer industry?

It has provided a good living to me for over 42 years and I have made phenomenal friends working in it.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My idols are the incredibly gifted and hard working folks at Highland.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

6’1”,170 lbs, a great fiddler, and a writer of songs

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

An Old Ale, well aged, complex, unafraid of the dark, slightly sweet.

How did you become involved in brewing?

Dad let me drink beer my whole life, but craft beer is a more recent thing. I don't brew - I leave that to our pros.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I wanted a job in 1994 and my father wouldn't hire me! I found a great career outside of the beer industry, proved myself, and 17 years later I found my way back to Highland.

What's your favorite beer?

Depends on my mood. But I drink Gaelic most often.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

Comfort the disturbed. Disturb the comfortable.

What do you like about the beer industry?

There's a lot to like. The best part is being in a growing industry and the excitement and pride in what we are doing as a country, a state, a city, and a company. And the fact that no one raises an eyebrow when you drink a beer in a meeting.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My parents and their opposing talents and personalities, somehow living in the same house.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Happy

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Guiness - dark features but actually a lightweight

How did you become involved in brewing?

I got a job at Highland.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I saw the sign that said "Interns Wanted."

What's your favorite beer?

Otter Creek's Stovepipe Porter

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Let me die in my footsteps, before I go down under the ground."

What do you like about the beer industry?

I like all the people I work with, camaraderie (and smothering myself in yeast)

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Dylan Thomas.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A writer

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Guinness - I take a while to settle, but I'm worth the wait.

How did you become involved in brewing?

Highland Brewing was the first contact I had with the brewing industry.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I was introduced by brewer Andy Gibbon to work on Highland's packaging crew.

What's your favorite beer?

That depends on the season and my motives

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

Lead by example

What do you like about the beer industry?

The glory -- It is a stepping stone into higher society

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My dad. He taught me how to work and be self sufficient.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A rock star and a stunt pilot

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

I'm light and pale like a Pilsner

How did you become involved in brewing?

I’m more interested in consuming than creating

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I was hired as an accounting assistant, a job for which I was uniquely unqualified.

What's your favorite beer?

New Belgium's Ranger IPA  (Please don't fire me Oscar!)

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Life is too important to be taken seriously."  (Oscar Wilde)

What do you like about the beer industry?

The diversity of people who all agree on the need for beer in their lives.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My Mom--for her patience, compassion, integrity, and sugar cookies

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Wise and satisfied

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Northern Brown Ale – somewhat sweet, somewhat nutty, and somewhat fruity

How did you become involved in brewing?

The interest in sustainable living

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Phone calls! Showing up one day a week for 2-1/2 months, refusing to leave when asked nicely, and changing my whole life to follow a passion.

What's your favorite beer?

Inside Passage Ale - Boundary Bay Brewing Company, Bellingham, Washington

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself, and thereby learning his true and hidden strength."  (Jack Kerouac)

What do you like about the beer industry?

The people and the shared passion

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My grandmother, who taught me love and compassion for every human being.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A person whose life flashes before his eyes then dies with a smile on his face knowing he lived life to its fullest with no regrets.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Seasonal, because you only want me around when the time is right.

How did you become involved in brewing?

It was the love of beer at a young age and the realization that I could make it myself much cheaper.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I came in and talked to Reuben (a former brewer at Highland).

What's your favorite beer?

Highland's Kashmir IPA and Diebels Alt

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Didn't even have to use my AK. I'd have to say it was a good day."

What do you like about the beer industry?

The smell of hot caustic in the morning

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Dave Maheen

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Retired on my own island in the Caribbean

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Olympia, because my body is mostly water

How did you become involved in brewing?

I had just moved to Fort Collins, Colorado and went on a brewery tour. I went to work there the next day.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Someone told me that if I wanted to get into the beer business in Asheville that I needed to meet a man by the name of Oscar Wong.

What's your favorite beer?

Highland's Tasgall and Odell's 90 Shilling

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"He who hesitates is lost”

What do you like about the beer industry?

To be a part of a time honored tradition.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My Dad. The strong silent type. The greatest man I ever knew.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A centerfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals and a left winger for the Buffalo Sabres.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Coors Banquet Beer. The original.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I’m Belgian so beer runs in my blood. It was a natural career path.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Begged my way into an internship and never left.

What's your favorite beer?

My Highland favorite is St Terese’s Pale Ale. Non-Highland favorite is Weyerbacher Double Simcoe

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Always do sober what you said you would do drunk.  That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."  (Ernest Hemingway)

What do you like about the beer industry?

The laid back atmosphere, 8am beer tastings, working in an old shipping container.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Oscar Wong - I swear I’m not sucking up. He’s successful yet humble and gives back wholeheartedly to people and the community. And he seems genuinely happy!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Knowledgeable and kind.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Framboise - a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Appears light and fun but can still knock you on your butt.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I've always loved the taste of a good craft brew.  I then got a job with Highland and it was all over...

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

It became a ritual for my wife and I to go to Highland every Friday for pints and games. We were some of their very first customers at the old tasting room/concrete pad. I heard Highland had an opening, and I was then on it like white on rice.

What’s your favorite beer?

Highland's St. Terese's Pale Ale

What’s your favorite quote, etc..?

That dog’ll hunt!

What do you like about the beer industry?

It's like a joy ride through an adult amusement park.

Who is your idol?

My wife and family because they have supported me through thick and thin.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

RICH . . . filthy stinking RICH!

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

American Pale Ale because I'm always Hoppy and perfect for any occasion.

How did you become involved in brewing?

My dad started home brewing when I was little and once I could actually taste what we were making I was hooked.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I was at the right place at the right time with the proper credentials and the proper amount of begging and pleading.

What's your favorite beer?

This one!

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

Cheers!

What do you like about the beer industry?

The Beer! The People! The camaraderie and sharing of knowledge. I love that I meet new people and learn something new every day!

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Big Dave (Byrn)! He’s so tall…

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Areola Ale, girly in appearance with a 7% abv kick.

How did you become involved in brewing?

Well, I'm not actually involved in the brewing... more the resulting brew:  I serve it, I explain it, and happily test it when asked.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

A friend, and a fateful need for a bartender a few years back.

What's your favorite beer?

St T's, numerous coffee porters and that one wonderful batch of Black Mocha Stout that met a mash of cherries earlier this year.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"The party doesn't end when you have kids; it just goes on without you."

What do you like about the beer industry?

The informality, the conversations between people who love really good beer, and the fact that I can do a tour in a flannel shirt.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

I don't have an idol... I just constantly see things in people I admire and aspire to.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A calmer, more balanced version of myself.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Definitely a Doppelbock.

How did you become involved in brewing?

First homebrew @ 19 -- cracked a carboy full of stout in parents' kitchen -- sticky mess!

 

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Just another random gypsy showing up in Asheville

What's your favorite beer?

Highland - Oatmeal Porter. Overall - Central Waters Ouisconsing Red Ale

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

Be here now.

What do you like about the beer industry?

The opportunity for creativity and innovation

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

I look up to my Uncle John for being able to balance activities, fun, and family.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Who's talking about growing up?

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

India Brown Ale - Cool and smooth on the outside -- a little more robust on the inside

How did you become involved in brewing?

A friend in college was a homebrewer. We spent many hours in his basement dorm room sampling his latest brews while watching episodes of the Simpsons…and studying, of course.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I replied to an online ad for Office/Accounting Asst. at a local brewery and was delighted when I found out the brewery was Highland

What's your favorite beer?

My all-time favorite is Highland’s Cold Mountain Winter Ale, but my favorite style is IPA.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

“Wag More, Bark Less”

What do you like about the beer industry?

It’s a good balance--Folks seem pretty relaxed but they work hard to make a good brew (and we all reap the benefits).

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My grandpa, for his mischievous nature, his passion for knowledge, and for never doubting me.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A fine, upstanding, pilsner of the community

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Cold Mountain—A little dark with an ever-changing blend of sweetness and spice.

How did you become involved in brewing?

Have brewed twice - one batch was amazing and the second was horrible. Reading and learning everyday!

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Kind of a long story but let’s just say, it is who you know!! Thank you, Chris Peters.

What's your favorite beer?

Oatmeal Porter

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

I'm a true believer in karma. You get what you give, whether it's bad or good.

What do you like about the beer industry?

Something new every day, surrounded by chill people who enjoy a good time.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My Dad!  He raised three girls as a single father and taught us to be strong and self-sufficient.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

That’s simple. Happy and Healthy.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

I am like a Brown Ale... a little bit nutty!

How did you become involved in brewing?

After turning 21, I found a brew pub called The Mill in Charlotte. Their "49er Gold & Red Oktober" opened my eyes to microbrewing.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I dropped off a resume, and two weeks later I was asking Kevin if the disc golf course was part of training.

What's your favorite beer?

Anything from Samuel Smith, to Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Tasgall...

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Sam Adams, I'm sorry I made fun of your winter ale." - Homer J. Simpson

What do you like about the beer industry?

The rotation of products. A refreshing pint during the summer and a hearty ale over the holidays.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My Dad. He always enjoyed a beer with his family over dinner, and he introduced me to working in a kitchen.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

As a kid, the captain of the Millennium Falcon. Now, a good role model and parent.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Cask Aged Dogfish Head Burton Baton.  A combination of young and old creating the perfect balance in an IPA.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I started working at Asheville Brewing in the kitchen and couldn't keep my head out of the brewery.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Networking works wonders in a small town. Scott Pyatt, John Lyda & Charlie Ball all played a major role and I got juggled around a bit (and still do) but it keeps me enjoying different types of work constantly.

What's your favorite beer?

Stone Brewing Self-Righteous Ale is my favorite right now but it changes often.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin

What do you like about the beer industry?

What's not to like. Good people, good times, good beer, good food & constant change. After being in this industry for 10 years I can't imagine leaving.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Chuck Norris is my idol because he once fought Superman on a bet. The loser had to start wearing his underwear outside his pants.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I refuse to grow up.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

I think I compare best with Victory Brewing Hop Devil, for my devilish good looks & mischievous demeanor.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I started brewing in 5 gallon buckets out of my closet about 2 years ago.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Awesome timing, and Craig's List has been very, very good to me.

What's your favorite beer?

I can enjoy any kind of ale if brewed right, but it is hard to beat a good stout on a cold day.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"If you're going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance."

What do you like about the beer industry?

The people and camaraderie are fantastic.  The inexhaustible stable of beer doesn't hurt either.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My brother and my wife. Two of the best people this world has to offer.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Honest, happy, hopeful and humble.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

A full bodied amber ale.  Well rounded and good for a lot of situations.

How did you become involved in brewing?

When I got hired at Highland.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Volunteering for the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy.

What's your favorite beer?

The one that's in front of me, which is usually St. Terese's.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"What to do with a mistake - recognize it, admit it, learn from it and forget it." - Dean Smith

What do you like about the beer industry?

The process, the product and the people.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My parents because they live and lead by example. If people got paid for volunteering, they would be millionaires.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A professional break dancer.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Miller High Life - Old school and gets along with everyone.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I was working at a restaurant in Portland, Oregon, during the great Pacific Northwest brewing boom of the early nineties. The owner decided to add a brewery and apparently wanted someone who knew absolutely nothing about making beer to operate it as he put me in charge of getting it up and running. Was it not for great mentoring by Jeff Opiel, it would have been disastrous.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Probrewer.com ad and a great reference form Ed and Carol Stoudt

What's your favorite beer?

Stoudt's Gold if I could get it in Asheville. New Belgium Dig seems to keep appearing in my fridge this spring but it is being muscled out now that Little Hump is in bottles for the season.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both.

----François-René de Chateaubriand

What do you like about the beer industry?

The friendships I've forged and the ones I am developing.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My mother, Edith Faye Tatum Sondey, because she lived the above quote.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Huh?

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Extra Special Bitter because I'm extra special.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I started homebrewing with friends before moving to NC.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I started out helping with the Mountain Medleys, and then I wouldn’t leave the brewery alone until they hired me.

What's your favorite beer?

Victory Prima Pils

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"The Dude abides."

What do you like about the beer industry?

I get paid to work with beer. What’s not to like?

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Will I get a raise if I say Oscar Wong?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Batman

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Probably any session beer. I’m pretty laid back and easygoing.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I started working at Highland. Now I try to keep a full carboy in the closet as often as possible.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I met Grant at a party shortly after moving to Asheville. It turned out he ran the tasting room at Highland and I spent most of my adult life behind bars. He promptly hired me and I started that week. I also had the prerequisite beard.

What's your favorite beer?

Little Hump is my favorite brew we make. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA ranks pretty high among the rest… The most honest answer would be the one in my hand at the time.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Some people never truely go crazy, what a terrible life they must lead." - Bukowski

What do you like about the beer industry?

I haven’t really found anything I don’t like. I’m lucky to work with knowledgeable, hardworking folks who have been very patient and helpful toward me since day one. It’s great being even a small part of the beer scene going on here. The never-ending waterfall of fresh, delicious beer also sweetens the pot.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

All of the saints and sinners that kept this train on its tracks over the years, and Tyler Durden.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Thankful that I never grew up.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Cold Mountain Winter Ale, because you either love me or hate me. And I’m tough to get.

How did you become involved in brewing?

How did you become involved in brewing?
I haven’t ventured into home brewing yet but I have lived in Asheville for a long time and like many WNC resident have gained an appreciation for tasty craft beer. Drinking beer has been my involvement in brewing.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I interned for several months during grad school and asked for a job. Lucky me, I got one!

What's your favorite beer?

Currently Little Hump Spring Ale

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.”
        -Thomas Jefferson

What do you like about the beer industry?

The delightful people.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Paul Wellstone

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Healthy,  wealthy and wise.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

India Pale Ale,
I travel well.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I was tired of working overnights in Atlanta, so I started harassing the
guys over at Sweetwater Brewing company. I convinced them that they
needed someone with my particular set of skills (drinking beer,
breakdancing), and luckily they gave me a chance.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I noticed the ad on Probrewer.com and decided a change of pace was a
good idea.

What's your favorite beer?

Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout- Coffee, bourbon, and delicious stout,
the best of all worlds.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk.  That will teach you to
keep your mouth shut!"- Ernest Hemmingway

What do you like about the beer industry?

I like the ever changing landscape and the growth.  You never know what
will be next.  The great people in the industry and festivals don't hurt
either.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Anyone who is willing to go outside of their comfort zone to try
something new.  There is a big world out there go see it!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I never told anybody I was going to grow up!

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Russian Imperial stout- Complex, warm, and intense, generally with a
noticeable alcohol presence.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I got a job running a brew pub when I was in Atlanta.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

By dropping off a well-timed resume.

What's your favorite beer?

I am partial to a good IPA.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"We are going to turn this team around 360 degrees." - Jason Kidd, upon his drafting to the Dallas Mavericks.

What do you like about the beer industry?

Good atmosphere, good people, good music, good beer.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Harrison Ford as Han Solo in the orginal Star Wars movie.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A great golfer. No wait, a great husband. Then, a great golfer.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

I'm like a lager in that I am well-aged.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I wasn’t until I started working for Highland. Then I really got into
brewing.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

found a job at Highland through Cathy and Justin. They
introduced me to the medley line crew.

What's your favorite beer?

I’m old school so my favorite beer would have to be Miller High
Life.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything. - Malcolm X

What do you like about the beer industry?

The people and the endearment and fellowship amongst the team.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My idol is Barack Obama. Once people accept change then more
people become accepted.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be a Chicago Bear.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style?

I’m like a Black Mocha Stout. I’m dark, strong, and once you get a
taste of me, you realize I’m not all that bad.

How did you become involved in brewing?

My girlfriend and I picked up home brewing together - our first beer was so overly hopped that it tasted like you were drinking a plant... we've gotten better since then though!

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

I had been working in Sales/Product Marketing since graduating from college - I decided I had garnered enough experience to start looking for a career move instead of just the next job. I have always believed that a career move would be in an area I was truly passionate in. I was able to be patient and really make the best move- Highland has given me an opportunity to mix my skills with my passion.

What's your favorite beer?

Total Domination IPA by Ninkasi Brewing Company

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

You shouldn't take life too seriously... You'll never get out alive.

What do you like about the beer industry?

I love how genuine the people are.. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't truly care about their job and this industry - everyone is happy all of the time- It's tough to be negative around people like that.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Luckily, a majority of people I meet on a day to day basis in one way or another.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Happy.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

An imperial stout. A bit more aggressive than I look - but also with a complex character that you may not get on the surface. Plus, I'm usually only served in a "short" glass.

How did you become involved in brewing?

Involved: It all started with just one pour. That beer slapped me across
the face with a open hand of furry. I knew then my life would never be
the same and for me the game changed. A few years later was when I tried
my hand at home brewing. I thought to myself, why can't I do this all
the time, or at least surround myself with like minded people.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Job at Highland: In Asheville doing a side project was when I determined
that the mountains were where I belonged. This was the perfect
opportunity. That's when I called up Highland and told them what I could
bring to the table. A good resume also helps!

What's your favorite beer?

Coopers Sparkling Ale, Kashmir IPA

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Don't worry about the mule, just load the wagon."

What do you like about the beer industry?

A name and a business card can turn into one long night!

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

The OG Ronald Reagan

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A Herpetologist.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style?

It would have to be the 75 minute Dogfish
Head IPA. A great blend of smooth and ridged characteristics with a
refreshing profile.

How did you become involved in brewing?

I first became interested in beer because of my love of wine; it was a natural progression. Besides, who could live in Asheville for long and not love beer? It's living art!

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

It pays to know people.

What's your favorite beer?

That's tough. every time I think I've found my favorite beer, I find a new one that I like better. Honestly, any beer I'm drinking with friends is my favorite beer.

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

"Choose to be happy. It is a way of being wise."
-Colette

What do you like about the beer industry?

The camaraderie. It's wonderful to be a part of the Asheville beer family. The beer is a pretty nice perk, too.

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

My little brother.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A pirate princess. With superpowers.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

A Saison. A little fruity, a little funky, a little spicy: I'm hard to define but I'm always refreshing.

How did you become involved in beer?

I started homebrewing at age 19 while attending UNCA to save money on quality craft beer.

How did you find a job at Highland Brewing?

Asheville is a small town and if you make good beer your passion you get to know those in the industry. I was lucky enough to be thought of when a position opened up in the Pilot Brewery helping with production and cellar duties.

What's your favorite beer?

My favorite Highland beer is the St. Teresa. There is no better pale when straight from the tasting room tap. Other than that it's usually the one in front of me..

What's your favorite saying, quote, etc.?

Here's to a good life, and a long one,
Here's to an easy death, and a quick one,
Here's to a good woman, and an honest one
And here's to a cold pint, and another one

What do you like about the beer industry?

Everything! If i had to say its the absolute variety of things you do: creating recipes/flavors/profiles, working in the lab maintaining quality and consistency, casking and cellaring beers, meeting other beerophiles and getting new ideas, figuring out how to make "it" work...the list goes on

Who is your idol, who do you look up to, etc.?

Anyone who has made it doing what they love and still loves what they do.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

The owner of a small Brew Pub.

Compare yourself to a beer brand or style.

Saison...a lot going on and some people think they're weird