How my passion for beer began

At Dean Swift

In 2001, while attending university in Pittsburgh, I worked at a microbrewery and first developed an appreciation for beer. Part of the job (we had to take regular beer tests!) was to understand the beer varieties, the brewing process and to educate the customers who wanted to know more about our beer.

Then in 2007, I met my husband Jim, who began home-brewing in a 350 sq foot studio apartment in Manhattan.

My role was the “bottler”, where I spent hours capping bottles of our home brew after the fermentation process was complete. If you would have known me then, you would have visually been able to see the proof from the huge indent mark that stayed on my thumb for days after from the pressure of the capper.

While we lived in London from 2012 until January 2014, we traveled to over 20 countries and spent a huge portion of that time scoping out the European beer scene. In addition, we were proud   CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) members which helps us to learn and explore London’s prominent real ale pubs.

As of January 2014, I’m back in the US in the New York City/Jersey City area and excited to see what’s changed in the American beer scene over the last two years. Lots to see and never a shortage of new beer writing material!

Quick summary: We appreciate and love beer, and love to find other brewers who have that same passion and use it to create, and ENJOY, new flavors of beer.

During the boil

 

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About Tanya

I’m a freelance travel and beer writer and a passionate and energetic 30 something - determined to enjoy life and see as much as possible along the way. Recently I lived abroad in London and traveled to 20+ countries within two years! As of January 2014, I'm back in the USA, and currently living in Charlotte, NC. But before all of that, my roots were set in small town America, where I spent the first 23 years of my life living, going to school, and working in the state of Pennsylvania.

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4 Responses to “How my passion for beer began”

  1. James Says:

    Looks good

  2. ourjourneytothesea Says:

    If you make it to Australia, make sure you go to Western Australia and visit the Little Creatures brewery. You won’t regret it.

    • Tanya Says:

      Sounds good – thanks for the tip. We’re trying to set up a future trip there before we move back to the US from London. I’ll keep that in mind.

  3. Yana Says:

    After spending a few days with you (and of all places, in beer-country) I to became addicted to beer. I don’t think I will ever brew my own beer but I will definitely drink more of it!
    Miss you Tanya 🙂