Chase Healey - Owner/Brewer Prairie Artisan Ales

1. Where is your brewery?

We currently have a brewery in Tulsa, but recently purchased 17 acres south of town that we are building a farm brewery and tasting room.

2. What was the first beer you had that made you realize craft beer was going to bigger part of your life?

​I had an Orval in college and started brewing a week later.

3. What is your favorite style to brew and why?

I like to brew stouts and beers with big hits of malt like C120 and Special B.  The smell those malts make when hitting the mash are awesome!

4. If you were stranded on an island (with a working refrigerator that automatically replenished itself) and you could only have one beer for the rest of your life in that fridge, which would it be?

Fou' Foune

5. What is your favorite music to listen to in the brewery?

I've been into Jamestown Revival lately, but Bob Seger seems to play daily.

6. Which other brewery has inspired you the most? Why?

I'd say Saint Somewhere.  Bob's minimalist approach has inspired me on how to do a lot with a little.  We currently use a skateboard in the brewery.

7. Single hop beer - which hops are you using?

Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, Mosaic.

8. Where is your favorite place to get a beer after work and why?

I like to back my truck up our pond around 8 when the sun is setting.  We pop a couple 750's and sit on the tailgate.

9. What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone who thinks they want to get into the craft beer industry?

Don't open a brewery unless you are qualified enough to work in one.

10. Dogs or cats?

Dogs.  I've got two Boston Terriers.

Luis Brignoni - Founder/Owner of Wynwood Brewing Co.

1.       Where is your brewery?

We’re in the Wynwood Arts District in Miami, FL.

2.       What was the first beer you had that made you realize craft beer was going to be a bigger part of your life?

Avery IPA.

3.       What is your favorite style to brew and Why?

IPA’s.  I love the smell of hops in the boil.  I also love dry hopping em!  Creating different blends or salads of hops.

4.       If you were stranded on an island (with a working refrigerator that automatically replenished itself) and you could only have one beer for the rest of your life in that fridge, which would it be?

It would be between Oskar Blues G’Night and our Wynwood Fox.  I love imperial reds.  I truly appreciate the balance between the malt character and the hops.

5.       What is your favorite music to listen to in the brewery?

All sorts of music.  From salsa to rap.  Depends on the mood.

6.       Which other brewery has inspired you the most? Why?

Recently it has been Great Divide.  I’m a huge fan of their culture and quality.  I also love their brewery.  It’s right in Denver and when we went for CBC it was truly an inspiration.

7.       Single hop beer – which hops are you using?

Tough question! They’re all good. Right now, I’d say Nelson Sauvin.

8.       Where is your favorite place to get a beer after work and why?

Our taproom.  I love talking with some of our regulars and having a pint.

9.       What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone who thinks they want to get into the craft beer industry?

I hope you love cleaning, long days and nights, and working your ass off for little or no pay.  It’s awesome.

10.   Dogs or cats?

Absolutely dogs.

David "Brew Daddy" Rodriguez - Head Cellarman Assistant Brewer Wynwood Brewing

1. Where is your brewery?

Our brewery is located in the heart of the Wynwood Arts District north of Downtown Miami. (565 NW 24th St)

2.       What was the first beer you had that made you realize craft beer was going to be a bigger part of your life?

The beer that opened my mind to the bigger picture was a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. I was amazed at the amount of flavor and frankly never had a pale ale before. The rest is history...

3.       What is your favorite style to brew and Why?

Too many to choose from! I like to brew La Rubia, our blonde ale. It's our flagship beer and must be on point every time. The challenge to replicate a beer where any flaw would stand out is rewarding.

4.       If you were stranded on an island (with a working refrigerator that automatically replenished itself) and you could only have one beer for the rest of your life in that fridge, which would it be?

Magic. City. Pale. Ale. It's a ridiculously sessionable pale ale with a healthy helping of amarillo hops. Thank you sir, may i have another?

5.       What is your favorite music to listen to in the brewery?

Once again, too much to choose from! We listen to all genres of music but you can see us frequently listening to blues, hard rock, rap, and electronic to name a few.

6.       Which other brewery has inspired you the most? Why?

It's tough to pick just one but i'd have to say Funky Buddha. They make some incredible culinary inspired beers and have grown immensely in a very short time. I mean, a peanut butter and jelly beer?! What more can a beer drinker ask for?

7.       Single hop beer – which hops are you using?

El Dorado

8.       Where is your favorite place to get a beer after work and why?

If not a shiftie in the taproom you can find me at Kush or Wood Tavern. Really cool local spots in Wynwood that have great ambiance, beer, and people.

9.       What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone who thinks they want to get into the craft beer industry?

It's 90% cleaning and sanitizing, 10% brewing. Cleanliness is key.

10.   Dogs or cats?

Dogs without a doubt. Who wants an animal that craps in a box?!

Mikkel Borg Bjergsø - Founder & Owner Mikeller

1.       Where is your brewery?

We are based out of Copenhagan, Denmark, but we don’t have a physical brewery, but brew on many different countries and breweries.  Mostly in Belgium, Norway, US, and Denmark.

2.       What was the first beer you had that made you realize craft beer was going to be a bigger part of your life?

IPA from Danish Brøckhouse (now closed).

3.       What is your favorite style to brew and Why?

Spontaneous fermented beers (lambic-stlye).  It is the least controllable and it takes the longest to make.

4.       If you were stranded on an island (with a working refrigerator that automatically replenished itself) and you could only have one beer for the rest of your life in that fridge, which would it be?

Orval.

5.       What is your favorite music to listen to in the brewery?

Many different kinds.

6.       Which other brewery has inspired you the most? Why?

Three Floyds.  They make excellent beers and their approach to brewing and the way they communicate it is next to none.

7.       Single hop beer – which hops are you using?

So many, 20 different kinds.

8.       Where is your favorite place to get a beer after work and why?

One of my own bars.  We have 3 in Copenhagen, 1 in Stockholm, 1 in San Francisco, and 1 in Bangkok.  So far.

9.       What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone who thinks they want to get into the craft beer industry?

Be prepared to work and be realistic.  Your beers are not the best in the world – you should always work to make them better.

10.   Dogs or cats?

Cats for sure.