Hello and Sláinte y'all!
I've finally landed here after going through four other podcasts (hence the Five Degrees of Separation). I'll get through those in a minute...
As a way of introduction ...
I started brewing back in 1987 when I lived in Atlanta. I had wanted to brew since college but had never gotten around to it. After spending eight years in the DC area and a couple years in England (anyone know the Tap and Spile in Harrogate?) we moved back home to Georgia. I had an awesome basement that stayed about 68 deg F year-round and so it was time to get started! I got Charlie's book and my first fermenting bucket and started making homebrew and cider.
A couple years later we moved to my hometown of Savannah. The town is at sea level (i.e., no basements) and hot as hell most of the year (winter was a Tuesday last year). My homebrew stuff spent seven years in the attic and I had to go back to buying good beer on the market.
After about six years here the stars aligned and I got a job with a "premium beverage" distributor. Officially I'm "the IT guy" but joined the company about the the same time they were thinking of moving beyond spirits and wine. I was able to bring my love of good beer to the table and then became the "Beer Consigliere." I still don't sell but advise the CEO on brands and help the sales staff make new placements.
After a couple years of talking about and sampling good craft and import beers, my son asked if I could help him make some mead for his graduation party a year off. This was the push I needed and so I got my old equipment out, replaced some, upgraded others and joined the local homebrew club, the Savannah Brewers League. Since then I've got ten or so batches under my belt, moved to partial mashing, bought a chest freezer and external temperature control and become addicted to beer-related podcasts!
So...here's the five degrees.
I started listening to Craft Beer Radio since I was involved in evaluating new brands and bringing then to Georgia. When I started brewing again, I found Basic Brewing Radio. Based on comments James made, I checked into Brew Crazy and then Johnny Max let to Jamil's website, Mr Malty. That of course led to The Brewing Network (and its illegitimate children). Now I'm attempting to get through all the archives and trying to listen live to both The Sunday Show and The Jamil Show. At the very least I have lots to listen to during brew sessions.
I look forward to participating in the Forums and sharing both brewing and beer experience with the community. Anyone coming to visit Georgia should let me know. If we can't get together and share pints of ale, I can at least let you know all the best beer places in the State.
Your Brother in Brewing...
David
