Interview with a Brewmaster - KHAAANNNN!

h Canada, You great big beer filled land.  Our next brewer in the Interview with a Brewmaster series comes to us from our neighbor to the north.  Born in London, England and transplanted to Montreal, Canada in his youth, our brewer has spent his time in the craft beer world bridging those two countries.  Welcome to the Comfy Computer Chair of Fame (with and extra blanket, it's cold up North) Vegan, music fanatic and  drummer, Mr Tariq Khan.

Name:  Tariq Khan

Brewery Name:  Big Ridge Brewing Company (Brewpub)

When did the brewery start?
The Big Ridge Brewing Co. was opened in late 1999. We have recently re-located to a new location, (actually across the street in Spring 2010). We are located in the South Surrey neighborhood in British Columbia, Canada, about an hour outside of Vancouver.

How long have you beer brewmaster there?
I accepted the position of Brewer in March 2008

Any type of formal training in brewing science or art? If not, how did you learn the craft?
I've been around breweries all of my life. My father owned a Heat Exchanger/Refrigeration company in Montreal (where I grew up). I got to know Molsons and Labatts very well but as far as brewing goes, I've been interested in craft beer for a long time but I received as a gift, courses in Beer appreciation at the University of Montreal around 2001. I started studying beer quite seriously, around this time I started homebrewing as well and I got "bitten" by the brewing bug. I was looking for a career change and began to approach local Montreal brewers for advice. It was then I began to realize there are many ways to get into pro brewing. I decided in the end (along with my girlfriend Trudy) that since I was English born, pursuing my brewing career in the U.K. made sense (and would be a hell of an adventure!).

I enrolled in the Semester program at Brewlab at the University of Sunderland (British Brewing Technology) and moved to Sunderland in january 2003. The course focused on academic as well as practical experience so I was immersed in brewing. I had a great time studying under Dr. St-John Usher and Dr. Keith Thomas. After successfully completing the course and passing my Institute and Guild exam (General certificate in Brewing and Packaging) I decided to stay in the U.K. and work.

DuClaw Brewing Company

Interview with a Homebrewer - FireBrewer

ur first homebrew interview of the year is a hot one.  Sitting in the comfy computer chair of fame is a nine year homebrewer hailing from Fallston, MD, USA.  When he's not fightin' fires or savin' peoples lives, he is more than likely firing up his brewing kit to make yet another tasty brew.  We at CellarMonk applaud his career choice (selflessness is an awesome trait) and his choice of hobbies (beer).  Gotta figure it's pretty easy to clean the brewing kit with a firehose.  Welcome to the CellarMonk Interview Series Mr. Keith Hipsley, known to the Twitterverse as @FireBrewer

Name: Keith Hipsley

Day Job: Career Firefighter/Paramedic

When did you start homebrewing? New Years Day 2003

What got you into homebrewing? A person? An unfulfilled interest? Sheer boredom?
A friend introduced me to it about 14 years ago. I bought a homebrew kit and didn't really use it until about 9 years ago. Bought new ingredients for the kit, brewed my first batch, and was instantly hooked.

Do you belong to a homebrew club? What is it?
Frederick's Original Ale Makers, Frederick, MD.

Where do you brew? Inside/outside?
Outside in my garage

Where do you ferment? Have you had to do anything creative to facilitate this?
Depends on the time of year. Mostly in the basement (fridge for lagers too), but sometimes in a closet on the main level in the winter. In the summer I've had to put a Saison somewhere upstairs that's very warm.

Tapped Out