Brewer Q & A (Issue 21)

94 Rating – Roughtail Brewing Co. – Hoptometrist

Responses from Roughtail brewmaster Tony Tielli.

Who came up with this beer's recipe?
I came up with the base recipe and it has evolved into its current form via collaboration with one of our other brewers, Matt Denham.

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
We’re really obsessed with aroma at Roughtail, so I have to say that the big passionfruit and citrus aroma from the Galaxy hops is my favorite part.

Where does this beer’s name come from?
One of Blaine’s (Roughtail co-founder and CEO) friends came up with this name and we thought it was funny and would lend itself to a great label, so we went with it!

Is this your "desert island beer?"
Right now, if I had to choose one of our beers, it would be Roughtail Pale Ale. It’s easy-drinking with huge, dank citrus aromas and relatively low alcohol. If I was choosing something other than ours, I’d keep it classic and go with Stone IPA. Can’t go wrong there.

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Dank, citrus aromatics lead to sticky Double IPA goodness.

Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
This was the very first bottle release from Roughtail. When we first started we were only on keg, so it was a big step for us to get onto store shelves with this. The bottling run was an epic 12-hour day with a team of 12 people bottling by hand with Blichmann Beer Guns and capping with hand cappers! Crazy! Now it takes just a few hours to run twice as much beer through our canning line.

94 Rating – Wicked Weed Brewing – Pernicious IPA

Responses from Wicked Weed co-owner Luke Dickinson.

Who came up with this beer's recipe?
It was a collaborative effort between my brother Walt and I. Normally he and I will talk about the concept – what we see it tasting like – then I will take a shot at designing the beer.

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
This beer is so clean and simple that it really allows the hop character to pop. I am a huge fan of big hop flavors with minimal malt contributions and soft bitterness. Pernicious delivers on all of that. 

Where does this beer’s name come from?
Pernicous is derived from our company name Wicked Weed. King Henry VIII called hops "a wicked and pernicous weed." We always wanted to find a beer that could really do that name justice, and I think we did.

Is this your "desert island beer?"
Pernicous is about as close to a desert island beer as I can think of. The other one would have to be Pivo from Firestone Walker.

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
A hop delivery vehicle with huge tropical fruit hop character.

Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?
After a trip to the West coast after the 2014 GABF, Walt and I sat on the plane heading back to NC with one goal in mind, make a killer light-colored, dry, big, and tropical IPA. One year later that beer, Pernicious, took a silver medal at GABF in the heavily populated American IPA category. 

94 Rating – Brewery Ommegang – Grains of Truth

Responses from Ommegang brewmaster Phil Leinhart.

Who came up with this beer's recipe?
Our Innovation Group.

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
The spicy flavor from the addition of rye.

Where does this beer’s name come from?
We believe Grains of Truth is a name that really speaks to the heart of the beer; it honors both the harvest season and the honest farmers whose efforts and craft provide so much to us.

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
Our yeast and the rye create a beguiling, spicy brew.