Why I Write
I think it’s quite obvious that if you’re even reading this post, then you’re a fan of beer. The question then is what compels someone to go beyond being just another beer geek (which I am) to wanting to be a beer writer.
It was during a trip to visit some family and friends in Eugene, OR back in the winter of 2006 that I found myself at the Eugene City Brewery and Rogue Ales with my wife. This was a favorite hangout of my friends when I lived in Eugene and I had a craving for one of our Choco-Nuts (a half and half of Rogue Chocolate Stout and Hazelnut Brown). After knocking back a pint, I decided it was time to go for the uncut dope and get a pint of straight Chocolate Stout.
While I’ve always been a big fan of this beer, something about it set me off. I went mad, savoring each sip, diving deeper into the beer with each drink and finding myself completely in love (apologies to my company at the time). I couldn’t help it, I thought about the beer for the rest of the day.
What struck me was how long this experience stayed with me. Not only was it the Chocolate Stout, it was every other beer I tried. All of a sudden, all of the homebrewing experiences and experiments made sense. I could pick apart the malt and hops. The flavors weren’t just vague muddled impressions but stood out and announced themselves on my tongue.
With this new found appreciation of beer I needed to tell someone about it. Problem was, I didn’t have anyone to listen to my beer rantings. So I turned to the place where someone can rant and rave to their heart’s desire: the internet. Surprisingly, people began to read.
So here I am, 2 years after finally starting my site, still raving to the digital universe. My passion for beer hasn’t wavered. I love drinking beer, talking about beer and sharing my experience with anyone who will listen. I look forward to writing for the Hop Press and hope a few of you indulge me in this endeavor. If not for me, then do it for my wife. She’s the one who has to listen if the readers won’t.
