Tristan Chan

Founder

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Great Divide’s Grand Cru

Tristan created this blog as a means for his friends share a nation-wide porch drink and he hopes that you’ll join the revolution. When not working on the site, you’ll likely find him obsessing over Kentucky basketball, hiking, skiing, dunking on fools (lets be real he can’t dunk), throwing a frisbee, otherwise known as “Colorado-ing”.

Mathew Powers

National Content Editor

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Current: Homer Glen, IL

Favorite Beer: Matt doesn’t believe in beer monogamy.

Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.” Well, Matt believes he knows why. His graduate work involved research into American beer history, and he composed a memoir remarking on his path towards becoming a full-fledged beer geek. Besides writing about beer, Matt also enjoys sports, music, humor, cars, camping, reading academic research and spending time with his family.

Abby Schmeling

Social Media Manager & Editor

Hometown: Detroit

Current: Chicago

Favorite Beer: Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

Born and raised in Detroit, Abby now calls Chicago home. She spends her workdays as an editorial manager and strategist, and has paired that professional expertise with her passion for beer at PorchDrinking and by starting Chicago Beer Club (@chibeerclub).

While Michigan beer holds a special place in her heart, Abby looks for the local brew wherever she goes. When she’s not working or brewery hopping, you can find Abby running, writing or playing with her dog.

Chris & Sylvia Hollands

Mountain Region Editors

Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT

Current: Herriman, UT

Favorite Beer: Goose Island Bourban County

A #craftbeercouple who love experiencing new beers while exploring all this world has to offer! You will often catch us at a concert or traveling from brewery to brewery. The craft beer community is an amazing group and we are so proud to be a part of it. Cheers! Follow us on Instagram @chrishollands & @sylily

Katelyn Pelak

Staff Writer

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Current: Seattle, WA

Favorite Beer: Founders Breakfast Stout

Katelyn currently resides in Seattle, a city she adores, but she learned to drink in the Midwest. Her passion for beer was instilled while homebrewing with her father and was nurtured by the demanding social life of a Big Ten student. When she’s not writing for PD or working for a Seattle-based tech giant, she can be found swimming, biking, and running. Lover of farmers’ markets, porches, and the heaviest of stouts, follow her on Twitter @BeerBlonde.

Cory Pelc

Staff Writer

Hometown: Cañon City, CO

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel

Cory is a social worker by day and is a doorman at a music venue by night. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family, eating rad food, whittling on his patio, meditating, watching zombie movies, drinking whiskey, going to concerts, and collecting beers for his cellar.

Pam Catoe

Southwest Region Editor

Hometown: Houston, TX

Current: Austin, TX

Favorite Beer: Independence White Rabbit

A Texas girl through and through, Pam’s love for craft beer started with her discovery of Celis White by famed brewmaster Pierre Celis. She is a constant advocate for Austin’s burgeoning beer scene as a writer for Craft Beer Austin and as an organizer for Beer Necessities, a group dedicated solely to beer loving ladies.

By day she works in high tech semiconductor and spends her free time devouring the latest SciFi novel or playing Catan with the kiddos.You can follow all of her beer related shenanigans on Twitter and Instagram @PamCraftBeerATX

Chris Day

Webmaster

Hometown: Blacksburg, VA

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: A perfectly aged Odell Avant Peche

The only thing I love more than drinking a great beer is sharing one with friends. When I’m not doing that, you’ll probably find me obsessively analyzing data, reading, or riding my bike.

Chris Knost

Staff Writer

Hometown: Maumee, OH

Current: Cincinnati, OH

Favorite Beer: North Coast Co. Pranqster

When Chris isn’t behind his computer, he feeds his hunger for adventure by camping, going to sporting events, and visiting friends and family in places near and far. Follow him @chris__knost or check out his portfolio at chrisknost.com

Brad Hartsock

Writer

Hometown: Pikeville, KY

Current: Seattle, WA

Favorite Beer: Fremont Interurban IPA

Brad’s Kentucky roots are responsible for his love of bourbon and his writing for Porchdrinking.com as he started after watching a Kentucky Wildcats game at the College Inn in Denver with Scott and Tristan. A Seattleite now, he believes the only thing more fun that drinking beer is homebrewing beer and the only thing more fun than homebrewing beer is homebrewing beer while drinking beer

Brian Phipps

Writer

Hometown: Littleton, CO

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Breckenridge Brewery’s Vanilla Porter

Brian Phipps is the Founder & a Strategist at Confluence in Denver, Colorado, that consults businesses to increase their positive impacts in their corporate giving and social responsibility practices. Confluence offers CSR strategy creation, implementation, and management. To find out more go to www.ConfluenceLLC.com.

Chris Hilliard

Writer

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Current: Chapel Hill/Durham

Favorite Beer: Can’t pick just one.

I enjoy beer, and I enjoy writing. Putting the two together was inevitable. Outside of that, I enjoy reading, I write music reviews at www.netlabelism.com, and I write fiction as well. During the day, I work in clinical cancer research, and I moonlight as — dare I say it? — an artist.

Colin Clancy

Writer

Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI

Current: Park City, UT

Favorite Beer: Bells Two Hearted Ale

Colin lives in his 35-foot Winnebago Adventurer with his dog, Daisy. His website, bigwaterapparel.com, sells hand screen-printed goodness, and he homebrews a mean Belgian Wit.

Drew Troller

Writer

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Current: Los Angeles

Favorite Beer: Rogue Brewing – Dead Guy Ale

I work in TV, I love the Reds and the Packers, and I have the world’s cutest terrier.

Holly Gerard

Writer

Hometown: Littleton, CO

Current: Lakewood, CO

Favorite Beer: This is too hard to answer…

Holly is a Colorado native and proud of it (although the ocean is always calling)! While she isn’t seeking out the best beers Colorado has to offer, she can be found filling up her hard drive with tons and tons of photos, hiking the mountains for incredible views, dreaming of her next vacation out of state (to seek out additional beers and additional views), at an Avett Brothers show, binging on Instagram, at a Colorado Rockies game, or shopping at Nordstrom. Holly holds a Cicerone Certified Beer Server Certification and has the goal of becoming a Certified Cicerone soon!

Justin Vicroy

Writer

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Russian River’s Pliny the Elder

Vic is notorious for having a fridge stocked with nothing but Pliny the Elder. He also happens to be one of the biggest influences on getting our founder obsessed with craft beer. He also ralphed in our founder’s car… they called it even

Kate Stark

Writer

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

Current: Covington, KY

Favorite Beer: Triple Digit Chickow!

Kate has always had a penchant for organization. At Miami University, it manifested in an elaborately color-coded schedule, excel sheets to ensure she had the most efficient course load, and a focus on broadcast journalism. Following a stint as a TV news producer, Kate turned her skills towards project management. She now uses her powers for good, coordinating the schedules of more than 80 PorchDrinking.com staffers to create a framework in which they can shine creatively. Kate gets to express her creative side as a ballet dancer, performing around Cincinnati with de la Dance Company and Pones Inc.

Michael Wronski

Writer

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Current: Chicago, IL

Favorite Beer: Feierling Inselhopf

Mike was born and raised in Chicago and its suburbs. He gained an appreciation for fresh, locally made beer while neglecting his studies during a college semester abroad in Freiburg, Germany. Now, whenever Mike isn’t appreciating the various shades of beige in his cubicle walls, he’s inappropriately using company time to plan his next brewery trip. In his free time, Mike likes pursuing frustrating tasks like smoking pork shoulder in 7 degree weather, learning Chinese, baking bread at 3am on a work night, cheering for the Cubs and acting surprised when things don’t go as planned. Mike has a business degree from Purdue and is working towards becoming the next Anthony Bourdain via a House of Cards worthy scheme.

Philip Joyce

Writer

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Current: Boulder, CO

Favorite Beer: Firestone Walker Double Jack

You can generally find me home brewing in my driveway, seeking out an epic beer release in the front range or BBQing sides of animals on my smoker. When more time allows you’ll find me exploring someplace/something outdoors by mountain bike, kayak or hiking boots.

Scott Hoffman

Writer

Hometown: Bartlett, IL

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Russian River’s Pliny the Elder

Made my way over to Denver from Chicago 3 years ago, but I’m still a Chicagoan at heart. You can typically find me cheering on the White Sox and Bears from 1k miles away while simultaneously judging Denver’s attempts to make a decent deep dish pizza.

Sonny Chan

Writer

Hometown: Portland, OR

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Samuel Adams Oktoberfest

Sonny can usually be found playing ultimate frisbee, breaking a sweat at CrossFit, or drinking at beer festivals. His next major beer festival is Oktoberfest in Munich.

Patrick Combs

Writer

Hometown: Denver, CO

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Fuller’s London Pride

Patrick Combs, Advanced Cicerone®, is on a lifelong quest to understand what can make a beer world-class on a molecular level. As the Production Manager at Cerebral Brewing, he combines his passion for science with the art of brewing. Like many other industry professionals, Combs discovered a love for beer when he began homebrewing over a decade ago. In February 2017, Combs joined the ranks of less than 100 people to successfully pass the Advanced Cicerone® exam. He hopes to continue his quest for beer knowledge by sitting for the Master Cicerone® exam in 2019.

Simon Offord

Writer

Hometown: Dana Point, CA

Current: San Francisco, CA

Favorite Beer: Cellarmaker Quad Dobis

Simon is an IPA and craft brew lover, who spends most of his free time searching out new beers and breweries, especially those that allow his dog to come along. Simon’s beer palate has expanded significantly since his days as a Gaucho in Santa Barbara, and he does not believe there is a better place in the world to drink craft brews than Northern California.

When Simon is not practicing the law or writing for Porchdrinking.com or CaliforniaIPAs.com, you can probably find him playing or watching basketball or traveling with his wife. Follow Simon on Instagram @CaliforniaIPA

Jeremiah Cornelius

Events Editor/Writer

Hometown: Elgin, IL

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine

Born and raised in the Midwest, Jeremy moved to Denver in 2013 to live in a city and state with an abundance of room for adventure and a lot of great craft beer. Jeremy enjoys many Colorado outdoor activities including hiking, backpacking, cycling, and skiing. You will also find Jeremy embarking on adventures with his girlfriend, checking out new and favorite breweries, and obsessively following his alma mater, Marquette, in basketball.

Eric Griffin

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Sandwich, MA

Current: Tuscaloosa, AL

Favorite Beer: ‘O.W.K.’

Eric Griffin is an LA-based artist, writer, and beer aficionado. His work has been featured in various art exhibitions in Virginia and in media outlets such as the Huffington Post and past catalogs for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. He has also been nationally recognized at Carnegie Hall for a piece that earned him Scholastic’s American Visions award. His client outreach spans multiple states, with mural commissions in Alabama and Los Angeles, and graphic design work for companies working out of Southwest Virginia. Eric is a huge beer trader and collector, always open to new connections and opportunities to try any style of beer from breweries all over the U.S. Follow Eric on Instagram: @wicked_beer

Robert French

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Fullerton, CA

Current: Sacremento, CA

Favorite Beer: Bootleggers Far Out IPA

Robert is a Southern California native, who recently relocated with his wife to Sacramento to be closer to his daughter and her family. By day he works the streets. Literally, he manage road maintenance and improvement projects. When he’s not on the street, you might find him homebrewing and beer-seeking. He makes a point of traveling for beer whenever he gets the chance. In fact, he has a yearly goal of hitting at least 100 different breweries/taprooms. If not drinking beer he can often be found vising wineries, exploring the local food scene or cooking. He also has a personal blog at www.threefrenchs.com and can be found on twitter and Instagram both @threefrenchs. Also on Facebook.

Brian Haitz

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Cincinatti, OH

Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: 40 West IPA, WestFax Brewing Co.

Brian hails from the Midwest, but Colorado is definitely home. Among his love for beer he also delights in fishing, hiking, baseball, days up in the mountains and days down in his basement. If you’re ever on the west side of Denver, you’ll likely find him sitting outside trying a new local brew while listening to a Reds or Broncos game. When having a beer with Brian, you can always expect a humorous time with a great beard in view. You can follow Brian on Twitter @BrianHaitz

Daniel Moran

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Evanston, IL

Current: Chicago, IL

Favorite Beer: Bell’s Two Hearted Ale, Great Lakes Chillwave, and Half Acre Galactic Double Daisy Cutter

I got into craft beer through going to Phish shows, trying different brews as I racked up different shows in different areas of the country. I’m thrilled about how craft beer culture has grown since then, when New Belgium brews didn’t even make it west of the Mississippi.

By day, I work in customer success for a web development firm. When I’m not working, I can be found exploring Chicago’s food and beverage scene, cheering on Chicago sports teams, watching futbol, reading, and arguing about which NEIPA tastes the most like a Creamsicle.

Follow me on Instagram @namesrhyme or on Twitter @1DanMoran

Justin Graziano

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA

Current: Denver, CO

Born & Raised in Santa Clarita, California and relocated to Denver, Colorado in 2017 seeking new adventure and quickly found myself loving the world of beer photography. I created an Instagram account called @beerbreathco that has driven me to many new paths and journeys. I enjoy lifestyle, nature, and product photography. In my spare time I enjoy long walks to the fridge and pizza.

Ana Plefka

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Chicago (suburbs)

Current: Chicago (north side)

Favorite Beer: Eille by Off Color Brewing

Ana is a PR professional living on Chicago’s north side. When not working, you can find her perusing the nearest bottle shop for a saison to try, exploring the city’s restaurant scene, listening to ABBA, adding to an encyclopedic knowledge of celebrities and their filmography history, attempting to brew her own beer, or doing a variety of those things simultaneously.

Jessica Spengler

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Rhinelander, WI

Current: Grand Rapids, MI

Favorite Beer: The next one

Michigan-based writer Jessica Spengler has lived all over, from small town Wisconsin to the great streets of Brooklyn, and a few places in between. Her love of craft beer spurred her writing career, which spans 10 years and multiple publications. She is currently a senior staff writer and assistant editor for Bricker Publishing, publishers of The Grapevine Magazine and Beverage Master: Craft Spirits and Brews. When she’s not studying the proper pumps for wineries or the right size tank for your brewery, she sips any IPA she can get her hands on while delving into prohibition history and true crime.

Rachel Morrison

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Naperville, IL

Favorite Beer: IPAs are my favorite, while I don’t necessarily have one favorite, I love End All IPA by Solemn Oath Brewery and TORO! by Forbidden Root.

Rachel has a background in marketing and currently works for a data and technology startup in Chicago. She would rather work in beer. For now, she is wrapping up the Business of Craft Beer Program at the College of DuPage, home brewing, teaching beer yoga, and photographing and writing about beer. She’s passionate about fitness and traveling as much as possible.
Instagram: @beergogglesblog

Tim Haran

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Sandy, UT
T
Current: Cottonwood Heights, UT

Favorite Beer: It’s always changing, but Elephino Double IPA (Red Rock) and Fresh Squeezed IPA (Deschutes) often hold the title.

Tim is a former journalist who enjoys writing about beer. In 2018 he founded UtahBeerNews.com, a website and podcast dedicated to telling stories important to the Utah craft beer community. An avid homebrewer and a lifelong baseball fan, Tim lives just outside Salt Lake City with his wife, Amy, and a Wheaten Terrier mix, Wrigley (#GoCubs). Follow Tim on Instagram/Twitter: @timharan and @utahbeernews

Jack Raymond

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Traverse City

Favorite Beer: Magic Trait, Speciation Artisan Ales

A Traverse City transplant, Jack took to the Grand Rapids beer scene in a big way. There’s a wealth to try and bartending at HopCat has afforded Jack access to a rotating list of some of the best taps worldwide. Sours and Lagers are go-to’s. When not slinging drinks, spot Jack wapping the flippers of a pinball machine or at a local show, craft beer in hand.

Michael Moeller

Contributing Writer

Hometown and current town: Louisville, KY

Favorite Beer: Ask me again tomorrow but I’m writing this with a New Belgium Fat Tire on my desk right now

Michael is a Public Relations and Social Media Manager. Until a few years ago, Michael knew next to nothing about the beverage industry but grew to love and appreciate beer after starting Building Breweries: A Beer Podcast. During the course of this podcasting project, Michael learned more about beer from founders, owners, and other beverage industry leaders. Since then, he’s worked for a couple of breweries and loves to pour beer. Catch his beer travels on Twitter (@michaeldmoeller) or Instagram (@buildingbreweries).

Zach Clevenger

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Granite Bay, CA

Favorite Beer: What I drink at home casually is much different than what I drink at breweries. I have been enjoying the Firestone Lager at home lately so probably that one right now.

I have a BS of Science from University of Denver where I studied Finance and Accounting. Worked in IT straight out of college until I got into photography a few years ago and decided I wanted to find a way to do that in the beer industry and the rest is history. Currently working for Burning Barrel as well as freelancing for many local breweries, the Sacramento Area Brewer’s Guild and Sacramento Beer Week.

Haidar Hachem

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Miami, FL

Favorite Beer: Depends on the day/my mood

Haidar Hachem is a type 1 Diabetic and cancer survivor who lives his life by running ultra marathons (in speedos) and drinking beer. He is a brewer at Strange Beast Brewpub and is a Certified Cicerone brewery/beer reviewer and is also on his way to becoming a BJCP Judge and Advanced Cicerone. Cheers!

Casey Street

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Pensacola, FL
Current: Alexandria, VA

Favorite Beer: Dogfish Head 60 Minute

I’ve spent the last ten years working on and off of Capitol Hill, but these days my passion is craft beer, and more importantly, craft breweries. I love everything about a good local brewery from the different styles, the sense of purpose and community, and a passion for producing great beer. My dog Chloe and I are avid supporters of Northern Virginia breweries (and all breweries!) on our website brewintel.com or Instagram @brewintel.

Scott Grossman

Contributing Writer

Hometown:Cleveland OH
Current: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: The Reverend by Avery Brewing Co.

Scott is a Denver-based freelance beer writer who loves craft beer, wine, travel, and the outdoors in general. After a life-changing college experience when a friend introduced him to Odell’s 90 Shilling and he discovered that there was more to beer than light lager he became a dedicated explorer of craft beer. Scott has a passion for spreading the good word about his favorite breweries and sharing great beer with friends old and new.

Kevin Kain

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Pelham, NY
Current: New Rochelle, NY

Favorite Beer: Captain Lawrence Freshchester

Ever seen that meme of the evolution of a beer geek that starts with lager and ends with lager? That’s basically Kevin. He does enjoy an array of styles, but is most impressed these days with humble beers that he tries to showcase on his blog, Casket Beer. When not working as an urban planner, or raising two wonderful daughters, Kevin dedicates his time to beer (thinking and drinking), and listening to his records. You can also find him on Instagram and Twitter at the handle @casketbeer.

Jadon Flores

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Temecula, CA

Favorite Beer: Strong Willed Warrior Imperial Stout – Karl Strauss, followed closely by Lamvinous by Cantillion.

I’ve worked in the beer industry for over 6 years, from beertending to brewing and currently help professional breweries troubleshoot problems for the brewery equipment manufacturer Premier Stainless Systems. I have an insanely built DIY homebrew set up and I love using it and my wife has always been very supportive. I have a brand new baby girl who takes away most of my sleep but is a great assistant brewer!

Carson Miller

Contributing Writer

Hometown and current town: Golden, CO

Favorite Beer: The Knotty by Three Weavers Brewing CO.

Carson lives her life in search of the three B’s: Beer, Breakfast food, and Bernese Mountain Dogs. After four years of living in Los Angeles studying journalism, she’s very happy to be back in a place where the highways only have three lanes and a good hike is never far. Some favorite places she’s traveled include Argentina, Cambodia, Israel, Peru and Brazil. When she’s not writing for PorchDrinking.com you can find her producing her own beer-and-babe-centric podcast called The “B” Word or working on home-brewing in her parents kitchen.

Jereme Zimmerman

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Twin Meadows Goat Farm, KY (Just outside of Glencoe, KY)

Current Town: Berea, KY

Favorite Beer: DuClaw’s Sweet Baby Jesus! (Along with about a billion others)

Jereme grew up cavorting around the hills of the Northern Kentucky goat farm where he was also homeschooled. His dad made hooch and threw an annual goat roast and kegger every year for over 25 years. Some of his earliest memories are of playing with his Star Wars toys under the table while his grandparents drank beer and listened to Oompah music at Cincinnati Oktoberfests. He attended Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, where he majored in English with an unofficial minor in Craft Beer. He then left the hills of Kentucky for several years to be a mountain biking, beer-drinking bum in the Pacific Northwest and Southwest. He also worked some during that period, forging together a freelance writing career that has been going strong (with the occasional wobble) for over 15 years. Upon returning to Kentucky, he transitioned his writing career from mostly boring technical stuff to writing and speaking about fermentation and homesteading topics (initially, under the pseudonym RedHeadedYeti). Among other things, he is currently on the Fermentation Advisory Board for Fermentation magazine and is a columnist for Plant Healer magazine. His first book Make Mead Like a Viking was published in 2015, and his second book Brew Beer Like a Yeti was published in 2018. He is very humble.

Loren White

Contributing Writer

Hometown: People’s Republic of Santa Cruz, California

Current Town: Washington, DC

Favorite Beer: Don’t have one, but my desert island beer is West Ashley by Sante Adariius.

Loren is recovering American Macro-Brewing Adjunct Lager fan, who stumbled upon a bottle of KBS back in 2011 and has been a card carrying beer geek ever since. In addition to craft beer, he’s a rabid food enthusiast [read: glutton] and lover of all things tasty. In those rare instances when Loren is not eating or drinking, he enjoys traveling and backpacking.

Brandon Cohran

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Outside of Atlanta, GA

Current Town: Athens, GA

Favorite Beer: 8 Bit Brewing Dank Souls—if you know, you know!

I was born and raised in Georgia, so it’s safe to say I’m a sad sports fan all the time. Craft beer enthusiast and sometimes beer trader. I’m a public historian by day and a liquor/homebrew store employee by night. I wrote a thesis on Georgia beer history. Any form of gaming. I’m guilty of dragging my wife to breweries too frequently. I have the cutest cat on Planet Earth, Phoebe. It’s always stout season. Follow me on Instagram @crafthandler.

Bryant Vander Weerd

Contributing Writer

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Current Town: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Boulevard Tank 7

Bryant and his wife moved to Denver back in 2013 and almost immediately fell in love with the craft brewing scene. When they bought a house in 2014 that was a half mile away from Comrade Brewing, that sealed the deal. Bryant works as a Videographer/Motion Graphic Designer and enjoys biking, snowboarding, and porchdrinking… both the activity and the website.

Rich Stoner

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Middletown, NJ

Current Town: Fair Haven, NJ

Favorite Beer: Kane Brewing Sneakbox

Rich Stoner is the founder of the après-ski lifestyle clothing and media brand, All About Après. He has been a long time contributor for many publications on topics like fitness, skiing, gear, beer and food. No stranger to the ski and après-ski scene, however, his passion is on the slopes and enjoying good food and drinks with good people. You can find him perfecting his craft carving turns in the Green Mountains of Vermont or smoking BBQ and drinking beers is his own backyard. @allaboutapres

Caroline and Lauren

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA (Caroline); Phoenix, AZ (Lauren)

Current Town: Portland, OR

Favorite Beer: Upright Brewing’s Supercool IPA (Caroline), Sunriver Brewing Co’s Rippin (Lauren)

Lauren Raymond and Caroline King are both medical students in Portland, Oregon. Lauren moved to Oregon about a decade ago and developed a passion for craft beer around the same time. She has lived and traveled across the state, in pursuit of Oregon’s great outdoors and its even better IPAs. Caroline’s love of beer started with a love of giant soft pretzels; she lives in search of the perfect beer-salt-pretzel ratio.

Ruvani De Silva

Contributing Writer

Hometown: London, UK

Current Town: Austin, TX

Favorite Beer: A full beer-omnivore who likes to try everything!

Ruvani is a passionate and well-traveled beer writer who has written for Craft Beer Austin, Hop Topic World, Boak & Bailey, and other publications. She has managed a successful beer blog in her adopted home of Austin TX for several years, and organized beer tours and events while living in London, England. As a British South Asian person living in Texas, she brings a unique voice to the world of American craft beer. Follow her @amethyst_heels on Twitter and Instagram.

Justin Pennel

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Coeur d’Alene, ID

Current Town: Bozeman, MT

Favorite Beer: Impossible question, I’m always trying new beers

Justin has lived all over the western United States and has tried a lot of good beers along the way. When he’s not checking out new breweries, he can be found hiking in the mountains, taking pictures of beer for the gram, watching football and hanging out with his wife and dogs.

Jason Ehrreich

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Aitkin, MN

Current Town: Farmington, MN

Favorite Beer: Modist Dreamyard

Photographer by trade, Jason tries to look at creative ways to showcase beer on his Instagram account @jasonsjourney.mn. When Jason has free time you can find him cruising on his Onewheel looking for the next new journey along with a passion for trying new brews and new food throughout Minnesota. Jason is a die-hard Minnesota Timberwolves fan and still hoping to see an NBA Champion his lifetime.

Stephanie Ward

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Yorktown, VA

Current Town: Shaw Neighborhood – Washington, DC

Favorite Beer: Founders Breakfast Stout

Where did the United States win its Independence? None other than Stephanie’s hometown, Yorktown, VA. A Virginia gal through and through, she went to Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!) and has spent her career in Northern VA practicing Interior Design Management for hotel brands and owners. Outside of work, craft beer has brought so many fun memories into her life. From a Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout deep in the mountains of Utah to beer tastings with her family at the holidays – beer always brings joy! She has a love and appreciation for all craft beer but everybody has their favorites. Give her a bourbon barrel stout, a hazy IPA or a fruited sour and she’s on cloud nine.

Brian Hennighausen

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Alexandria, VA

Current Town: Great Falls, VA and Park City, UT

Favorite Beer: Russian River’s Pliny the Elder IPA.

Born and raised in Virginia, Brian now splits his time between his native Old Dominion and the ski slopes of Utah. He owns his own technology consulting company but dreams of the day when he can gleefully leave that behind and fully immerse himself in his passion for craft beer! He is an avid homebrewer and also a Certified Cicerone on his way to becoming an Advanced Cicerone. He also enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming, reading, writing, traveling, and living the good life with his beautiful wife and their two giant Saint Bernard dogs. Follow him at @brewscapes on Instagram and Twitter, and check out his website www.brewscapes.org

Eric Johnson

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Silver Spring, MD

Current Town: Colorado Springs, CO

Favorite Beer: La Folie, New Belgium Brewing

I was born on the east coast but I have lived in Colorado since I was eight so it is truly my home. I am a software developer by day but I enjoy tossing back cold beer while hitting the links in my free time. I am the founder and host of the Beer Blazers podcast and an award-winning home brewer. I am an avid Colorado sports fan and live and die by the Broncos season. As far as I am concerned there is nothing better than tossing some ribs on the smoker, turning on a football game, and kicking it on my patio with a cold beer and my dogs. You can follow me on Twitter @BeerBlazers.

Jason Ley

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Waterford, MI

Current Town: Grand Rapids, MI

Favorite Beer: West Coast Double IPAs and American Wild Ales

Ley sold his house and nearly everything in it to go location-independent after calling B.S. on chasing the cliché 9-to-5 grind. Instead, he hustles with passion as the CEO of Better Drinking Culture, author of their first book, The Drinker’s Manifesto, a Certified Cicerone®, Executive Bourbon Steward, freelance branding and experience consultant for the service/hospitality industry, public speaker, and creator of Emmy-nominated Modern Ahabs. Vet him at jasonley.com, get social at @JasonLey.

Dane Skousen

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO

Current Town: Washington, D.C.

Favorite Beer: Ska Brewing 22nd Anniversary Bye BBA Russian Imperial Stout

Dane Skousen has been on the search for the perfect coffee stout for many years. He uses his beer musings to fuel the hunt for the elusive “8% ABV cold-cup-of-coffee bitter stout” that is undoubtedly out there. He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is now residing on the outskirts of Washington DC. He doesn’t have so much of a favorite beer, but ties the beer he’s drinking to the place, time and friends he is with…although Ska Brewing’s 22nd Anniversary Rye BBA Russian Imperial Stout is up there.

Erik Eidem

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Current Town: Minneapolis, MN

Favorite Beer: Anything on nitro

As a Cicerone Certified Beer Server and home brewer, it has always been Erik’s mission to share what he knows, and learn what he doesn’t, about craft beer. He has a penchant for malt-forward styles. Every day is a new day to taste, explore, and learn more about the ever-expanding craft beer world. As an actor, writer, and producer, some of his credits include CSI: Miami, NCIS, 90210, Veronica Mars, Love and Mercy, and several national beer commercials. Born and raised in Minnesota, he now runs a production company in Minneapolis. Erik attended London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Sage advice: never go beer-for-beer with Colin Farrell…it doesn’t end well. Join his journey on Instagram @thebardofbeer.

Jason Murphy

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Liberty, KY

Current Town: Cumming, GA

Favorite Beer: Don’t Call it Hotlanta from Monday Night Brewing, Whiskey Hour from Pontoon Brewing

I was born and raised in rural Kentucky. I spent the first 28 years of my life there before I met my (now) wife in 2008 and eventually moved to Georgia where she lived. I enjoy spending time with my family here and we really enjoy doing anything outdoors, traveling, and visiting the beach. I work in Logistics for an Automation Company here in Metro Atlanta by day, and by night I’m a self-proclaimed beertographer. You can follow along on Instagram @georgia_beercraft

Katie Camlin

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Kansas City, MO

Current Town: Kansas City, MO

Favorite Beer: New World Geography, an Italian Pilsner from local brewery Alma Mader

Katie Camlin is the beer manager at Kansas City’s Plaza Liquor, who made news in 2020 for scooping sports media on the Patrick Mahomes contract signing. Katie is a lifelong Kansas City resident who loves local beer, video games, and science fiction.

Bailey Mahon

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Elkhorn, WI

Current Town: Phoenix, AZ

Favorite Beer: Maui Brewing Co. Imperial Coconut Porter

A self-proclaimed boss babe with a flair for cooking, crafts, and coffee, Bailey spends her free time expanding her encyclopedic cinematic knowledge, spoiling her fur baby, Jo The Dog, and eating dark chocolate. Sipping a local beer while watching the sunset over the South Mountain Preserve is a permanent part of her daily routine. Follow along with her misadventures on Instagram: @coffeebeansandtumbleweeds

Darren Cockrell

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Portland, OR

Current Town: Ft Collins, CO

Favorite Beer: Mexican Brunch from Kane Brewing

Darren is an entomologist by day, and a porch drinker whenever not studying bugs. If he isn’t obsessing over some cool spider or the newest beer news, he is rock climbing, hiking, cooking, or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Britt Antley

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

Current Town: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Bierstadt Lagerhaus Slow Pour Pils

Britt is a native Texan who spent 12 years in Houston, did his time in the Big Easy and then made it to the Rocky Mountains to settle in Denver. He supplements his beer drinking habits through IT work, giving him the freedom to try as many beers and visit as many breweries as possible. While his amount of Untappd unique check ins is concerning, a love of cycling and the great outdoors ensures he remains a semi-functional and mostly healthy human. You can find him on Instagram and Untappd @brittskibeers.

Angie Seitz

Contributing Writer

Hometown: York, PA

Current Town: Harrisburg, PA

Favorite Beer: Hard to say, and it usually changes depending on the season

I first fell in love with craft beer over a decade ago after watching a documentary on the science and history behind Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch. That beer holds a special place in my heart to this day. My main hobbies include drinking beer (of course!), spending time with my dog Hunter, trying to stay active by hiking at nearby state parks, visiting local craft breweries, spending time with my two idiot sisters, going to outdoor concerts, and reading books on engineering disasters.

Jeffrey Wiser

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Eugene, OR

Current Town: Portland, OR

Favorite Beer: Sticky Hands by Block 15 Brewing

Jeff is an education professional, fly fisherman, writer, and beer lover. He’s been fortunate to live in several great beer markets, including Seattle, an emerging Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Portland, Oregon. Jeff is a regular homebrewer, hop-grower, has love for virtually all beer styles and is particularly particular about finding the right beer for the moment — to pair with dinner, to drink on the river float, or as a reward for mowing the lawn. He’s a believer that beer is and should be for everyone.

Kreis Holland

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Current Town: Orlando, FL

Favorite Beer: I’m always all over the place, but I’ll always settle on a side-pull Crispy Boi!

After catching the beer-bug while living in Alaska, Kreis is now the cofounder and Head Brewer of Tactical Brewing Co. in Orlando, FL. He also produces and co-hosts the podcast “Craft Beer is Dead” (@craftbeerisdeadpod) with fellow PD contributor, Brie (@the_pintsized_traveler). When he’s not turning valves and putting bubbles in beer, Kreis is often spending time with his family (his emotional support human, and their puppers), climbing, running, playing board games with friends, or fermenting anything from Kimchi to Kefir at home. Follow @KreisFace.

Jennie Olson

Regional Editor

Hometown: Arvada, CO

Current Town: Lafayette, CO

Favorite Beer: Schwarzenegger by Liquid Mechanics or Face Down Brown by Telluride Brewing Co.

After a career shift from teaching, Jennie entered the beer industry nearly 8 years ago and has never looked back. When she’s not trying to check off a visit to every brewery in the country (for research), she can be found running, skiing, playing the ukulele, and obsessing over Peyton Manning. Preferred beer styles are anything dark & roasty or malty & sweet – but her favorite part of the beer industry is learning the stories behind the people making the delicious beverage.

Jeff Knese

Contributing Writer

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Current Town: Chicago, IL

Favorite Beer: Supermassive Café Deth – Revolution Brewing Company

Jeff is a writer, beer enthusiast, photographer, musician, undefeated roller derby coach, and former Chuck E Cheese character actor. He loves planning trips and discovering new & interesting places. He is just one state away from being part of the esteemed 50 states visited club. Learn more about Jeff on Instagram @extremefajitas or http://www.jeffknesecreative.com.

Leanne Lomax

Contributing Writer

Hometown: Corona, CA

Current Town: Denver, CO

Favorite Beer: Currently Zuni St. Brewing’s Naranjas, but ask me next month and it might be something completely different.

When she’s not sitting at a bar reading a book, Leanne enjoys sitting at a bar chatting with locals. Other hobbies/potential bar chat topics include hockey (Go Avs!), house plants, and cats.