What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?

I’m an independent marketing manager for Wiley Roots Brewing Company in Greeley, Colo. I manage the marketing and social media for the brewery. I got started in the craft beer industry as a homebrewer. I founded the Fermentologists, a homebrewing club in Aurora, Colo. to meet other homebrewers and to learn from professional breweries. Over the years, I met several brewers and owners who I became friends with while co-hosting educational events, brewing collaboration beers, and running homebrew competitions.

What’s new at Wiley Roots?

Wiley Roots just expanded! The brewery has taken over the entire building, adding a production facility to the former distillery space. By moving the brewhouse out of the taproom, we are able to expand both the production capacity and the taproom space. Brewing capacity will immediately increase with the addition of several new fermenters. In addition to space for stainless steel, Wiley Roots will also be able to add barrels for aging stouts, barleywines, and wheatwines apart from the sour barrel-aging space.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?

Collaboration and shared resources. This community is similar to the information technology sector, as there is a collaborative effort that builds upon openness and transparency. I am an advocate for open source and shared resources, so the relationship aspect of the craft beer industry is attractive to me and allows me to work with several businesses in building products, services, and knowledge together.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.

Mixed-culture saisons and charcuterie, including pickled vegetables, stinky-moldy-soft cheeses, fresh fruit, cured meats, and fresh baked breads.

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?

Closing on my home before my 23rd birthday was a pretty big deal.

What’s your favorite beer from another brewery?

Mexican Chocolate Stout by Copper Kettle got me into craft beer. It blew my mind the first time I had it. Yellow Rose by Lone Pint Brewery is a perfect IPA. Bierstadt Lagerhaus Slow Pour Pilsner is my go-to if it’s on tap. Jester King’s Le Petit Prince is my desert island beer. Dry Dock’s Bligh’s Barleywine is always stocked in my cellar in case of emergency. Sorry, picking one beer is impossible.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?

So, we met on Instagram. It started out as beer trading with a guy from Texas that turned into a great friendship. In September 2016, I flew down to join their wedding party and explore the state. Adam and Kathryn took me to small beer bars, local honey holes, a bottle share (at the wedding), and a few breweries. It was an incredible experience to become part of the Texas craft beer scene for a week. I flew home with a suitcase full of world-class Texas beer.

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?

Continue my education, participate in local politics, and work in information technology. I maintain the system and security of a small early education non-profit. I also own my own consulting company for small business networking, security, and system building.