DRAFT Magazine

Daniel Del Grande

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Daniel Del Grande of Bison Brewing: I don’t buy the “Never trust a skinny brewer” mantra. I’m 6′2″ and I like to be 190-195 to feel comfortable in daily active life, so unless I exercise, I can’t drink all the great craft beer I want. Each week, I cycle most Sunday’s, run a couple times, and do karate a couple times. I like to mix it up.

BR: How did you get into karate?

DD: I’d always admired guys in high school and college who did it, but I did track, cross country, and was a rower, so never had time. Then this studio opened up across the street from the brewpub in 1998. It was easy to duck across the street to work out, then come back and take care of business. I loved to spar. Now I don’t heal fast enough to go hard in the ring, so I focus on quick take downs, ground fighting/wrestling, and traditional forms, isometric tension, etc.

BR: Have you ever combined karate with beer? Would that be dangerous?

DD: That would be dangerous. A couple times I’ve had a pint or two before class but I know I don’t have the same level of control I’d expect from my partners–especially with hand strikes close to the face–when I’m buzzed. Nothing bad ever happened, but since I don’t want to hurt my class mates, I don’t do it anymore. I’m confident I can take care of myself when buzzed if I DO want to hurt somebody–so don’t try nuthin’.

BR: Tell me about the Brewer’s Sustainability Guild. How did that come about?

DD: I wanted to create a forum for brewers to collaborate on making beer more sustainable. Consumers care more then ever about the environmental profile of the products they consume, and craft brewers have an opportunity to become leaders in offering products that taste good while doing good. By sharing the carbon footprint analysis I did for Bison, other breweries could accelerate their own progress in fighting climate change. As a first step, I held an “unconference” at GABF. Dozens of brewers came together and set four areas of focus: water conservation, energy minimization, waste reduction, and how to involve the whole staff. This association should be formally in place by end of March.

BR: Why do you brew organic beer?

DD: I was buying all my personal fruits and veggies at an organic farmer’s markets, and when we started doing the same for the brewpub, I wondered why the I wasn’t supporting organic agriculture with my main product–beer. Really I was just syncing my personal life with my business. Making the conversion was a way I could positively impact the agriculture practiced on acres and acres of barley fields in North America and Europe. It took several years of converting until good quality specialty grain was stocked by the barley maltsters. Once I could make Chocolate Stout organic, I got certified and never looked back. It costs about a $1 a 6-pack for my customers to support organic agriculture. A committed organic beer drinker can set aside 1/8 of an acre of land for organic agriculture used for growing barley and hops–that’s a measurable difference!

BR: How are you celebrating 20 years of Bison Beer?

DD: I brewed an imperial brown ale and put it in bourbon barrels this year which we’ll release sometime next year. I also launched a campaign to buy my customers a carbon offset for a case of beer, hopefully making a difference by educating, and encouraging them to offset the rest of their unavoidable carbon footprint impact.

BR: How else are you staying healthy?

DD: I don’t count calories. I don’t deprive myself of pleasure of any food item, and sometimes overindulge, but I feel healthy if I avoid processed food, refined sugar, excess cheese, and deep fried food. Bacon is not too good for you, but its a weakness of mine. I really like to share dishes when I’m out with friends to graze and try a lot of things. I like Michael Pollen’s seven simple words: ” Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” I think eating this way is sustainable, and eating organic this way is even more sustainable.

The Bike and Brew Tour Crew (from left) Anders, Sara, Tracy and Caroline at Pyramid Brewing

Last fall, Sara Morrisson and Tracy Montigny quit their jobs, recruited two others, and embarked on a cross country bike adventure from New York to Seattle to visit as many breweries as possible.

As documented on their excellent site bikeandbrewtour.com, the trip’s genesis went something like this:

Sara: I‘d like to bike across the country
Tracy: I’d like to check out all the breweries in the US

Enlightened moment: Let’s bike across the country and go to breweries!

In the Beer Runner’s first ever collective interview, Tracy and Sara explain the highlights and lowlights of visiting 50 breweries in 74 days, and what they’re up to now in Australia.

The Beer Runner: What motivated you to quit your jobs and bike from New York to Seattle?

Safety 1st: Tracy home brewing w/ helmet

Tracy and Sara: Both of us had been working in the New York photo industry for a few years and we were looking for a change of pace. Sara grew up in Seattle and had always dreamed of biking home when she left NYC. Tracy had already cycled across the country once, so when Sara needed advice about planning such a trip, she asked Tracy. Meanwhile, Tracy had been inspired (by Sara) to start home brewing, and had developed such a love of craft beer that she aspired to do a cross-country brewery tour. So when Sara started talking about cycling, Tracy said, “I’ll go with you if we can stop at as many breweries as possible along the way.”

BR: Were you nervous to quit your jobs and just head out across the country?

T&S: More than anything! But having such a great trip ahead made leaving New York a no-brainer.

BR: Who joined you for this ride?

T&S: The first was Tracy’s friend Caroline, who thought biking across country would be a great adventure despite the fact that she didn’t drink beer. She was already planning a trip to New Zealand, a break from New York, so Tracy convinced her to postpone her flight and bike with us first. Then, in the process of planning the trip, Sara met a guy named Anders. They started dating, which seemed like unfortunately timing, until Sara decided that he’d just have to come along. We were also lucky enough to have a few guest riders throughout the trip- ranging from friends and family to some awesome folks that were following our blog.

BR: What was the highlight of the trip?

T&S: In terms of biking, our favorite was up the Oregon coast on 101. It was a sort of idyllic beauty that is really best enjoyed on two wheels. In terms of breweries, it would be New Belgium in Ft. Collins, Colorado. We were incredibly impressed with the facility, their nearly completely sustainable practices, the employees and their love of their jobs, and the variety of beer. Before we went there, we had only had a few of their beers (maybe you’ve heard of Fat Tire? hehe), but at the brewery they had at least 30 different beers on tap, including some experimental beers that had been made by their brewer, guest home brewers, or as collaborations with other breweries. Plus, they are great bike-friendly brewery and they were very enthusiastic about our trip.

A bad weather day in La Crosse, Wisconsin

BR: How about the lowlight?

T&S: Our roughest day of riding was from Spring Green to La Crosse, Wisconsin. It was a 90-mile day that we’d started too late and the terrain was unexpectedly hilly - probably some of the steepest grade hills on our trip. As the day progressed the weather turned, pelting us with rain and gusting to the point where we were nearly blown off our bikes. We entered La Crosse exhausted, wet, and in complete darkness. As with all days though it ended well when we rolled into our destination and met our hosts for the night — four awesome college students (friends of Caroline’s friend’s girlfriend) — who gave us their living room for the night and made us pancakes in the morning!

BR: What was the most unexpected part of the journey?

T&S: Most unexpected was definitely the people all across the country who opened up their homes to us and gave us beds, food (…showers, laundry, Advil, bike shoes!) and general kindness in exchange for our stories. Oh, and also that Nevada is the most mountainous state after Alaska. Who knew?

Riding the Rockies

BR: Do you know how many miles you biked and beers you drank?

T&S: We know we biked just over 3,400 miles but number of beers is tough. We rarely had more than 2 beers on any given night (we were just too exhausted from riding) or we would often try the brewery sampler. We probably tried a couple hundred or so different beers at the 50 breweries we visited.

BR: What’s the biggest lesson you learned from this trip?

T&S: Be the twig. It was a lesson imparted on us by our first random-stranger hosts, Chris and Michelle. On the first night where we were without a plan or specific destination we flagged them down on the side of the road in rural New Hampshire to inquire about the nearest campground. It turned out they owned the bed and breakfast up the street and invited us to camp in their yard and have dinner with them! Basically, they just told us that their motto is to go with the flow and be the twig floating down the stream, not fighting the current. Subsequently, we had serendipitous things happen nearly every day of the trip. We took the twig idea so much to heart that at the end of the trip Tracy got a twig tattoo on her forearm as a reminder.

BR: You’ve written, “We are riding to promote a healthy and quality beer lifestyle.” Care to elaborate?

Caroline with a beer sampler

T&S: Basically, we are active, healthy people who enjoy high quality beer in moderation. After a long bike ride we want to drink beer that is made of fresh, high quality ingredients - sometimes local, sometimes organic -by independent companies that bring something new to the table. The bigger breweries have dominated the American market for such a long time now that many Americans have a generalized idea of “beer” as the bland, cold, fizzy stuff that makes you burp and gets you drunk. We want people to realize that they don’t have to settle- there is better beer out there! The craft brewers in this country (and all around the world) are providing tasty alternatives -from IPA’s to sours to barley wines - that incorporate ingredients as varied as chocoate from Belgium, pine nuts from Nevada, or cherries from Wisconsin. We were asked many times if there was a “cause” for our trip, to which we always answer “we are raising awareness about good beer.”

BR: What are you up to these days?

T&S: At the moment we are in Australia, having just finished a 2 ½ month jaunt in New Zealand– where we visited a number of breweries and even had the chance to work at a couple. After Australia, we’ll be spending some time back in Seattle and New York before deciding where to go next.

BR: Do you have any future bike/brewery tours planned?

T&S: We have a few trips we’d like to do depending on timing and funds. The first is a trip from Seattle to San Diego, to hit the many amazing west coast breweries that we missed on our trip. The next could be spending another winter down under to do Bike and Brew New Zealand, where the biking is beautiful and craft breweries are just starting to take off.

BR: Any tips for someone who’d like to plan a similar trip?

T&S: Never drink and ride. Also, don’t plan anything past 8pm, because chances are you will fall asleep!

The Beerinator

Beer Runner bio Jonathan Surratt, DRAFTMag.com Web Director, founder of Beermapping, self-described “beer jogger,” @beerinator on Twitter

Favorite beer fest Great Taste of the Midwest

Last beer consumed Eugene Porter from Revolution Brewing, a brand new brewpub in my neighborhood

Last run 3.25 miles, as of this interview

Little known fact I often pick my entrees at restaurants based on the side dishes.

Motto “I like beer people more than I like beer.”

The Beer Runner What are your beer runner credentials?

Jonathan Surratt I drink beer, study beer, build websites based around beer and sometimes dream beer. I run 4-5 times a week. I can’t really lie and say I live a healthy lifestyle, but I am attempting to balance the eating, drinking, and sitting in front of a computer with as many 3 or 4 mile runs as I can complete.

BR: How did you become a beer jogger?

JS: I was becoming tired of my sedentary lifestyle and knew I needed to lose some weight if I was going to keep enjoying beer and food. I started on the treadmill and have eventually become one of those people you see jogging on the side of the road in a mish mash of shirts/tights/pants in 20 degree weather.

BR: How did you lose 40 pounds last year without cutting down on beer?

JS: I started running in mid June, and picked up a nike+ sportband at the end of July and used it to track my outside miles. I’m a visual person and it really really helps to see stats and look back at how much I increased my pace and how many miles I logged. Without this stimulation, I’m not sure if I would have kept it up. I started trying to spend at least 30 minutes a day on cardio and for me, a 5k turns into almost 30 minutes. So I basically lost the weight by running five 5k’s a week. I still eat what I normally would have and I definitely haven’t stopped drinking. The past few weeks I’ve started picking up a few more 4 or 5 mile runs to get ready for the Shamrock Shuffle, my first 8K race.

Jonathan and Ken of Team Beer

BR: Tell me about Team Beer.

JS: It’s just a few beer-focused twitter users (@kenoftheyear, @sarahhuska, @chicityrunner, @BeerPrincess) that started motivating ourselves a bit with post run beers. We’ve actually only met once, but I foresee a few group runs in the future followed by pints.

BR: What are your plans to start a beer run in Chicago?

JS: I’d love to have a short run (5k or so) planned for Chicago Beer Week. I am not sure that I really want to be responsible for more than 10 or 15 other runners. But we could start at a local beer haunt, loop out and use that beer bar/brewpub as the end point where we all hang out and enjoy a pint or two. We’ll see if I actually make this happen or not.

Beer Mapping featured in Cosmo

BR: Did women suddenly find you more desirable when Beer Mapping was mentioned in Cosmo?

MCM Mamma

Erika, aka MCM Mamma, is a 30-something blogging mom of two boys who started running to overcome postpartum depression. She enjoyed it so much she started racing, and now she’s working on racing in all 50 states - and hit up brewpubs and breweries along the way. Also, she and her husband hit up the Alaskan Brewery on their honeymoon. That’s +100 wife points.

Occupation: Stay at home mom. In my pre-kids life, I was a librarian

Residence: Arlington, VA

Last beer: Naughty Scot at Rock Bottom Brewery

Last run: 6 x 800 repeats on the treadmill

Favorite beer: Three way tie: Alaskan Smoked Porter/Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron/New Holland Dragon’s Milk Ale

Fun fact about yourself: My cats (Saranac Black and Tan and Pete’s Wicked Kitty) were adopted on two different trips in 1995 to the SPCA after an afternoon spent enjoying beer at the Carolina Brewery in Chapel Hill, NC.

The Beer Runner: How did you get into running?

Erika: I’ve been running off and on for exercise for years, but I didn’t really start running regularly until after I had my sons. I’m a much better mom after a running related endorphin hit! Then a friend dragged me to a race and I discovered that there was a whole lot more to running than hitting the road for a quick three mile run. Since then, I’ve run the Marine Corps Marathon and done back to back (one each weekend) half marathons and joined the Half Fanatics. The “50 races in 50 states” idea happened when I decided to wait before training for a second marathon and needed a goal.

BR: How did you get into craft beer?

Erika: I took an “enrichment” class at my university, where I first encountered beers that went beyond the typical mass market beers. My education was continued by my now husband who was a home brewer. A trip to the Alaskan Brewery in Juneau on our honeymoon sealed my fate. Every vacation for the last 15 years has included at least one brewery/pub and one trip to Washington and Oregon included more than 20.

BR: What’s been your favorite race so far as you attempt to run 50 races in 50 states?

Erika: The Maine Lobster Festival 10K this past summer. It was a small race, but extremely well organized with a lot of spectator support. The runners were some of the friendliest I’ve met. On top of that, the weather that day was perfect for running, the course went right past our vacation house so the boys could see me, and I had a nice PR.

BR: What is your dream race in your dream state?

Erika: A race that actually exists? I’d have to say the Boilermaker 15K. Saranac Black and Tan was one of my first craft beers, so finishing a race at the brewery sounds great to me! It doesn’t hurt that it’s in a favorite vacation area of ours (upstate NY), is a distance I like, and is a state I still need to get. I plan to be there in 2011. If I could design my own race, it would involve running between brewpubs, likely in the Pacific Northwest.

BR: Is it true you have a beer geek glass collection above your treadmill? Does that motivate you?

Treadmill + beer glass collection

Well, Beer Geek is my blog name for my husband and his beer glass collection is indeed right next to the treadmill. It certainly motivates me not to fall off the treadmill as I’m not sure that breaking any of his glasses would be good for our marriage. And the more calories I burn, the more beer I can drink, right?

BR: What brewpub would you most like to visit during this trek?

Erika: I’d really like to visit the pub at the New Holland Brewery. I’ve already been to the breweries that make my other two favorite beers, so it would be great to visit this one. Honestly, I’ve been to over 150 breweries and brewpubs and I can’t think of one that I didn’t enjoy.

BR: What is your next racing goal?

Erika: My next big goal is to PR at my second marathon in May when I run the Bob Potts Marathon in York, PA. Other near future goals include running the Oak Barrel Half (sponsored by Jack Daniels) in Tennessee in March and running the Soldotna Unity Run 10 mile race in Alaska in July, which will get me my minimum of three new states this year.

BR: I loved your 10 beers that make you happy post. How do you discover new beers to try?

Erika: Events like Savor are a great place to try new beers. We also like to visit breweries and brewpubs on our travels. My favorite way to discover new beers, though, is to buy beers I’ve never had before. I love to walk into a well stocked grocery store (or random other place that sells beer) and find a craft beer I’ve never had. The hard part is limiting myself to buying one or two new beers at a time. Beer Geek often comes home to the beer fridge stocked with beers we’ve never had before.

BR: Any other words of wisdom to add?

Erika: No matter how busy you are, make sure to take some time each week to do something you love. Life’s too short to not have fun along the way.

If I lived in Philadelphia, there’s no doubt who I would want to run and drink with.

The Fishtown Beer Runners formed in 2007 to scientifically test Professor Manuel Garzon’s study stating beer tops water for post-exercise hydration. The group’s real-world findings supported lab results.

“We found that beer was indeed the perfect replenishing substance after a long run,” said co-founder and co-president David April. “We combine responsible running with responsible drinking in the interest of science.”

Today the group gathers weekly to run 3-5 miles, have a beer or two, and recruit everyone from runners off the street to best-selling authors to join them.

The Beer Runner: How famous is your group getting in Philadelphia?

David April: Four people participated in our first run, now between 20-40 people show up each week. About 150 people have participated in a beer run at some point. Recruitment has been bolstered by several newspaper articles, running and beer blogs, internet postings, and word of mouth. The Philadelphia Weekly did a significant article and video about the club. The Philadelphia Brewing Company also champions our cause. We are constantly recruiting while running or at our pub. I’ve been known to invite lone runners off the street.

BR: What’s been some of your most memorable group runs?

DA: It is always a joy to have little kids run with us for a block or two or to see a bar owner’s eyes light up as 30 hot and thirsty runners come in on a slow night. We’ve been dubbed as an “instant stimulus package.” We have run in 10 degrees, snow, ice, torrential rain, and 95 degrees. We always draw attention during our annual Halloween run. We did a Christmas lights tour of South Philly with the South Philly Striders Running Club, and afterward 70 of us piled into For Pete’s Sake Tavern for some holiday cheer. The Memphis Tap Room hosted us with a large birthday cake and named a few entrees in our honor for our first anniversary, and the Standard Tap provided an incredible spread and festive atmosphere for our second anniversary. Another memorable event was running to an art galley to support one of our artist runners. Perhaps our most memorable run was the run clinic with “Born to Run” author Chris McDougall.

BR: How did Chris McDougall end up joining your group?

David (left) with Born to Run author Chris McDougall

DA: He contacted me out of the blue the same day I read an article about him and his book “Born to Run” in the Philadelphia Inquirer. He had read about the Fishtown Beer Runners and wanted to join us for a run. Chris had to cancel the first date we arranged because John Stewart called and wanted him on The Daily Show. In September we teamed up with Head House Books and Chris did a Barefooted Run Clinic followed by a talk and book signing. Afterward we gathered at Bridget Foy’s for beer and food. Now several of the beer runners have embraced barefoot running, and Chris contacts me periodically when in Philly to arrange a run with us. Chris commented that the Fishtown Beer Runners was the “Coolest running club he had ever seen.”

BR: What kind of beer do your group members normally drink?

DA: Drinking a beer after a long run is simply amazing as your palette is overwhelmed by flavor. We’re not beer snobs, but we do believe that craft beer works better for rehydrating yourself after a long run. Locally brewed craft beer works even better! Personally, I enjoy drinking a cold Kenzinger made locally at the Philadelphia Brewing Company. Others like to sample brews from the other area craft breweries or imports. Although Johanna drinks Miller just to piss me off! Often times our socializing will turn into an impromptu beer tasting as members are eager to try and share beers with each other. Luckily for us, Philadelphia is a real beer city boasting hundreds of unique and interesting bars, taverns and restaurants.

BR: Do you have members who are known as the biggest beer drinker or fastest runner, and if so, who gets the most respect for their talents?

The Fishtown Beer Runners

DA: We encourage runners of all abilities to join us. We have several actual runners in the group, but we’ve all increased our running and drinking abilities during the past two years! The great thing about our group is seeing new runners and marathoners interact over a beer. Many have commented that FBR was the impetus to run for the first time, or that it challenged them get back into running or that it motivated them to set and reach new goals. Our fastest runner is Pete Roland who finished the 2009 Broad Street Run in 618th place out of 23,244 finishers! Mike Xander and Samantha Bogin, two of our first members, started running for the first time in December 2007 and completed the Broad Street Run held the following May. Holly Schweitzer and Mallory Fay qualified for the Boston Marathon. After a run, our esteemed co-founder and co-president Eric Fiedler made it back to the bar with a broken knee cap to toast the professor.

BR: If someone is interested in joining the Fishtown Beer Runners, how would they go about doing that?

DA: Just show up at 2346 E. Susquehanna Ave in beautiful Fishtown. We leave at 7PM sharp every Thursday evening, rain or shine! There are no membership dues, fees, or by-laws. Just come and run.

“Since joining the group in May 2009, my time spent in Philadelphia has vastly improved. I feel connected and involved in the city and because of my time with the Fishtown Beer Runners; I have pursued and completed my first marathon and learned quite a few life lessons from my older peers. I have enjoyed every night on Thursdays and any time I spend with the runners.” - Dave Maver, Philadelphia

BR: What are your group goals for this year?

DA: In 2010 the Fishtown Beer Runners will continue to test the results of the Professor’s scientific research. Beyond this important work, ongoing goals are:

· to encourage people of all abilities to exercise by running (or walking)

· to provide friendly camaraderie for all who hate to exercise

· to promote the responsible enjoyment of QUALITY beer

· to support local tavern owners and breweries

· to continue to organize and manage two annual 5k races for the River City Festival and the Shad Fest.

· to participate in the Broad Street Run, Philadelphia Marathon, and 5K’s around the area.

· to receive national press coverage.

· To organize a group trip to visit The Professor in Granada, Spain.

· to promote a ban on spandex (read: ban men wearing spandex leggings without shorts)

· to develop a secret handshake

BR: Any parting words of wisdom?

DA: Beer running combines two seemingly mutually exclusive activities. Mixing the two brings out the strengths of each. To those who don’t run: If you like beer, you are halfway to becoming a Beer Runner. You can do it one step, one block, one beer at a time. To serious runners: You need to get out and be with other people! There are six other days you can run alone and train. To Beer Geeks and Snobs: Get off your can, get some exercise and go meet some people. To All: Raise your glass and toast “To the professor!”

Sara Santiago with Unibroue Terrible

Name: Sara Santiago

Bio President of Roll Mobile; wife to Agustin and mom to Grace and Nora; proud Milwaukeean; purveyor of jackassery.

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Sara Santiago: Quite simply, I love delicious beer, and I love running, hiking, and having fun outdoors with my husband and our kids. Being an active family and appreciating our ability to do that is important to me. As a mom, I want to be a strong, positive role model for my girls. It’s so important that they see how I care for my own health as well as theirs. I want to instill in them the benefits that an active, healthy lifestyle has to offer, from the physiological benefits of exercise, to the opportunity for inspiration and wonderment that comes with a hike up a moonlit canyon. How am I into craft beer? Sara likes beer. It’s really that simple.

BR: How did you get into running?

SS: I became serious about running in 1999. At the time I didn’t have children, and I wanted an activity that offered solitude and a higher cardiovascular benefit than the team sports Agustin and I were playing. I began to run regularly, and soon was entering local races, triathlons and half marathons. I found that running was the activity that fit well for me. I have continued to run over the years, sometimes going through periods of “dry” months, where I wish I were running more, but then I try to get back in the saddle and ramp up the mileage again. I’m currently in “ramp up” mode now.

Sara on a winter run

BR: What are your goals for 2010?

SS: My goals for 2010 are pretty simple. Find the balance. Maintain a high level of running activity, maintain a high level of performance in my professional life, and have the most wicked-awesome fun with my family. All while enjoying well crafted, delicious and unique brews. Cha cha cha.

BR: What have been some of your biggest running highlights so far?

SS: My favorite race ever was the 2008 Memphis Half Marathon supporting St. Jude’s Hospital. It was a very emotional experience. The entire city seemed to reach out to all of the runners and offer their sincere gratitude. The energy was amazing! My sister and I drove down to Memphis from Milwaukee, stayed in an awful (totally gross) motel, ran a fabulous race on a beautiful day, supported one of our favorite charities, and celebrated that night with beer and Beale Street. I guess I should also mention that my sister is the funniest person on the face of this Earth, so having her for a running partner is ridiculously fun.

BR: How did you get into craft beer?

SS: I paid my way through college by bartending. It gave me the opportunity to sample a lot of beer and wine. I realized I had an opinion about beer. Wow, it sounds so dorky when I say it like that.

BR: What’s your beer of choice?

SS: That, my friend, is an unfair question. I don’t think I can choose one beer. I am partial to an IPA. I love a good porter, and if you ever want to try a good sour ale, you really should try the La Folie Sour Brown Ale by New Belgium. Aged in floor to ceiling oak casks. Amazing.

BR: When you visited Colorado a few months ago, did you do more hiking or drinking?

Sara visits New Belgium

SS: We did quite a bit of hiking (at least one hike every day for four days), but one of our main reasons for the trip was to tour some of Colorado’s craft breweries, the highlight being one of my favorites, New Belgium. The brewery is beautiful. A balance of form and function. The culture there is so closely aligned with my own ideas of blending what you’re passionate about with what you do everyday, and what you put back into the world. I also love the fact that behind that successful brewery was a guy with a dream to start a brewery and a woman who loved him so much, that she supported his dream and told him to quit his engineering job and “follow your folly.” Behind one of my favorite beers is a strong woman.

BR: Living in Milwaukee, do you have any tips for winter running?

SS: Listen to your feet, knees, and hips. Runners tend to modify stride when running over uneven snow and ice. Or, you may overcompensate and pronate differently, causing injury. Be aware of your stride, keep an eye out for ice, and if you are going to fall, let yourself fall. You are more likely to strain your back trying to regain balance on a patch of ice. Oh, and if you do fall down, take a photo with your phone and post it on Twitter.

BR: How did you like trying out the Bar Method as a workout? And did you visit a bar afterward?

SS: omg Bar Method! Wow. This workout is intense. I love it because it works completely different muscle groups than running. I also find it fun to use the bar and pretend that I look graceful, like a dancer. Then I hear my husband cracking up behind me. I did enjoy a pint afterward, but from the fridge, not the bar.

BR: You’re a fan of Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, right?

SS: I enjoy the Young’s Double Chocolate Stout because it doesn’t have a sweet finish, no syrupy weight to it. Lots of cocoa flavor, not overly creamy mouthfeel, nice dry finish. I’m actually experimenting with it for a chocolate cupcake recipe I’m working on. I cook with beer often, and I’m venturing in to baking with beer this year.

BR: Any other words of wisdom you’d like to add?

SS: Find the balance that works for you. You’ll know it when you find it.

Mark Sirek, bike and Blatz

Beer Runer spotlight on Mark Sirek, 37, Service Manager at Wheel and Sprocket, Fox Point, WI; metalhead; dedicated winter cyclist

Beer of choice: Edmund Fitzgerald from Great Lakes, 1554 from New Belgium, and The Reverend from Avery “get a lot of face time”

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Mark Sirek: I get into new beer like I get into new music - even if it sucks I can say I tasted or heard it. There is something about experiencing a complete package for the first time - how it came into your possession, the artwork, the first sip. Just like a new record. The right combination can make you feel like you know the craftsman. I also ride a bike close to every day of my waking life. Sometimes in my dreams, too. I’ve ridden pert near everyday now for eight years. I didn’t start commuting all 4 seasons until my late twenties, unfortunately. The best day has a curtain call with a good beer.

BR: How did you get you get started biking through winter?

MS: I was going back to school and working at a bike shop and the first 3 years revolved around 30-minute back-and-forth commutes. The fourth year put me to the test as I rode from MPLS to St. Paul everyday as a high school teacher. I had to leave at 5 am every morning, it took and hour each way, and I frequently rode in 10 below temps before wind chill. That’s not tooting my own horn - it was actually kind of dumb - but at least I have benchmarks of pain now and I feel prepared.

BR: What did you learn during that time?

MS: No matter how many times a motorist sees a cyclist in winter, they still react like they are seeing a moon-man invasion. If you get in the mindset that every person who sees you is going to be stunned to the point of immobility, then you can begin to assume that their actions may put you in danger. Whether it’s fair or not, plan for the oddest reactions to your presence possible and you should be okay.

BR: As a metal fan, what is your favorite music to bike to and favorite music to drink beer to?

MS: The BEST metal album to ride to is PENTAGRAM’S 1985 album RELENTLESS. I could ride 300 miles without food or stopping hope to say with that in the background. One of the most perfect metal albums ever, and don’t suggest differently unless you’re really serious. In the winter I can’t do without Polish, Hungarian, Baltic, Russian, or Ukranian black metal. The music deals with strength and perseverance through submittal to cold and dark power greater than the sum of your parts. Perfect! My metal head friends and I get together almost weekly to share our latest finds, and huddling around the hi-fi always includes beer. Any new metal goes well with beer. Well, almost any.

BR: Do you also have an opinion for best post winter-biking beer?

MS: Anything made by Milwaukee’s own Jacob Sutrick down at Stonefly Brewery on Center St. in Riverwest. Preferably SIMON BAGLEY Stout. Again, Edmund Fitzgerald is hard to beat. Arrogant Bastard, Dragon’s Milk, Old Engine Oil, and New Glarus Black Wheat are ridiculously good too.

Mark, John & Brad; winter '09 under the 6th Street Viaduct, Milwaukee

BR: What biking accomplishments are you most proud of?

MS: About 5 years ago, my dear friend Craiggles McShithead and I rode 200 miles from Minneapolis to Duluth, met our wives at FITGER’S BREWERY, had a grip of potato stouts and fresh Lake Superior fish, and rode home - another 200 miles - the next day. Duluth rules. I’m also proud of participating in the Triple D in Northeastern Iowa every January. Last year not one of the 38 entrants finished the 56 mile course due to 9 inches of snow and ice. I’d bet that most of the 38 entrants drank more than double our weight in beer at the finish line bar. 8+ hours of falling off your bike into snow in 15 degree weather earned us the right.

BR: What beer accomplishments are you most proud of?

MS: When I go to The Fifth Dimension aka DISCOUNT LIQUOR here in Milwaukee I can point to a lot of beers and give ‘em a wink remembering our special times. Making beer has been the pride and joy of millions for a mighty chunk of recorded time and I’m happy to be on the receiving end. It’s like being a family member of The Enlightened.

BR: Of all the places you’ve lived, what has the best place for biking and/or biking culture?

MS: I’ve lived in Eau Claire, WI, Olympia, WA, Bellingham, WA, Charlottesville, VA, Madison, WI, Minneapolis, MN, and now Mil-Rock-Me. Bellingham, Wa was pretty incredible. I lived there in the mid-nineties. There was a lot going on with the infectious growth of microbrew culture. Mountain biking was young and off like a megaton bomb. Those cultures called the shots in many lives. What could you do? Say no? NONSENSE! Madison has a great cycling culture, and the beer and food that goes with it is pretty grand too. But I have to say that Milwaukee’s enthusiasm in its cycling community to invent itself as its own glorious entity is so amazing to be a part of that it’s overshadowing past experiences. We are on the cusp of something huge here - something that won’t be seen as a copy. There is fire here - mark my words. And there’s some beer here too.

BR: What’s the best place for beer?

MS: Milwaukee.

BR: Any other words of wisdom?

MS: Use all five of your senses, keep things simple and manageable, and move around under your own power. And whenever possible, have a beer for no reason other than it’s one of mankind’s greatest inventions.

Jennifer Tran at the Malibu Half

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials

Jennifer Tran: I’m in the “lucky habit” of carbo-loading with beer before a race. A few friends have convinced me that it’s a great way to get some calories in, relax and feel pretty loose and ready to run the next day - so far I’ve had some of my best half marathon performances after a beer carbo-loading dinner and haven’t turned back since!

BR: What running accomplishments are you most proud of?

JT: My back to back half marathon weekends (Long Beach Half Marathon followed by the Nike Women’s Half Marathon the weekend after) - it qualified me for the Half Fanatics (I’m Half Fanatic #241!!!)

BR: I like how you listed running as your religious views on Facebook. What’s your holy land?

JT: Trail running up in the Santa Monica Mountains is my personal holy land. Nothing will humble you more 800+ ft climbs at 1300 ft elevation.

Santa Monica Mountains by Cal's Diversions on Flickr

BR: Congratulations on running 1,000 miles this year! How did you come up with that goal?

JT: The goal was originally a challenge listed on DailyMile.com I joined the site in the middle of the year and didn’t really think I was near hitting it til December came along and I counted all of my training BDM (Before Daily Mile) it’s a personal goal of mine to try to consistently hit 100+ mile training months so 1,000 seemed like a good number to go after for a year.

BR: Where’s your favorite running spot in Los Angeles?

JT: Westridge Trail in Pacific Palisades - gorgeous views of the Beach, Downtown LA and The Valley in one spot.

Jenn at the Surf City Half Marathon

BR: Where’s your favorite place to get a beer in LA?

JT: O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Santa Monica - it’s a small dive and not as “LA” as most places. Easy to go and hang out with a small group of friends, plus they have a decent selection of beer.

BR: What’s your beer of choice?

JT: Newcastle

BR: You majored in philosophy and metaphyiscs at Yale. What’s your beer of choice to discuss the nature of reality over?

JT: Breckenridge Vanilla Porter - nothing says “lets get metaphysical” like a smooth dark ale. It also tastes just like a cream soda which to me screams Ivy League.

BR: Any other words of wisdom you’d like to add?

Carbo-load with beer before a race = PR. (Don’t forget to train beforehand.)

Josh (left) and JJ with their tools of the trade

JJ Kelley and Josh Thomas are easily two of the most adventurous people to be featured on The Beer Runner.

The two met seven weeks into hiking the 2,200 Appalachian Trail, a feat they finished in five months. Since then they made a film about biking together across Alaska to the Arctic Ocean (”Pedal to the Midnight Sun“) and now have a new film out about kayaking 1,300 miles from Alaska to Seattle in wooden boats Josh built (”Paddle to Seattle“).

Josh, who works at a carpenter in Seward, Alaska, and JJ, who works for National Geographic Television in Washington, D.C., talked to the Beer Runner about beers, adventures, and drinking beer in adventurous places.

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

JJ: I enjoy good beer and a good adventure. On the adventure end, I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world perusing some pretty amazing adventures with my good buddy Josh. Completing the Appalachian Trail was cause for a toast, and we sure did, I remember perhaps having one too many in a bar outside Atlanta after we finished the trail. It takes a lot of discipline to push yourself to get up and keep going on a trip like the AT so I figured indulging in an extra beer wouldn’t be that bad. Since the AT there have been many fine beers and two additional cross-continent adventures.

BR: You had a night out on the town during one of your stops during your paddle to Seattle. Do you remember what you were drinking?

Josh: I wish we had just stuck to beer that night, but some undeniable force pushed us toward tequila and we paid for it with a stifling hangover the next day. Our plan was to wake up early and organize for a full day on the water. We ended up calling it a day and spending another night in town recovering.

JJ hiking Lost Lake in Alaska

BR: What was the toughest part of paddling for three straight months? What was the most unexpected part?

Josh: I think the toughest part was the monotony and the lack of contact with other folks. This was our third-long distance trip together. We are great friends and have shared many wonderful experiences, but three months is a long time to spend with only one other person. Fortunately we had the video project to keep us motivated. It kept our minds occupied creatively and kept us both focused on achieving the same goals: sea kayak from Alaska to Seattle and making a movie about it.

BR: What beer did you celebrate with when you arrived in Seattle?

Josh: I don’t remember the name of the beer, but it was from a local brewery. I chose the IPA; they always seem to pack a bigger punch than the others. It’s fun when traveling through new areas to try their local beers. Seattle is such a big city that I’ve got to get back to try the other micro brews.

JJ: I had the IPA too. Josh is right when he says it packs a punch above the rest. I remember relaxing in the brewery after waking up to paddle almost everyday for 3 months. Sitting in Seattle, tomorrow I had nowhere to paddle. The beer was tasty but a little bitter only because I knew this adventure was over.

JJ paddling to Seattle

BR: Did you pack any beer during your other adventures together, including hiking the Appalachians and biking across Alaska together?

Josh (left) and J.J. on the Appalachian Trail

Josh: I remember packing beers for a while on our bike trip across Alaska to the Arctic Ocean. Or at least when we could find a store to buy them. It became a much-anticipated treat. We would celebrate with a “fancy” beer when we had covered another hundred miles or when we could find anything to celebrate about.

On the Appalachian Trail we traveled through some great beer drinking areas. Good folks called “trail angels” would occasionally meet hikers at junctions of roads or near common campsites and share food and beer. It’s a great thing at the end of the day to share unexpected beers with some locals of an area. I remember one evening, early in November getting to a campsite cranky, cold and tired. Two hikers were there setting up camp for the night and I was a little disappointed about having to share the site. They were locals from the area just getting out for the weekend. JJ and I were 4 months in and 1,700 miles along. The weather was turning wintery and in general hiking was starting to feel more like a job. These two guys sensed our crankiness and shared their personal food and beer with us.

Looking back I see it as one of the highlights of the entire journey. It was a completely random, unplanned, and unexpected evening. And that’s what’s fun about our trips: we just put ourselves out there, leave plenty of time for reflection, and see what happens. It can be pretty special.

BR: Congrats on winning 5 awards at your first 4 film festivals with Paddle To Seattle! Any highlights (beer or film related or otherwise) from those awards?

Josh: We’ve just started on getting the film out there. So far we’ve shown it at four festivals and got awards at every one. I think the film is really surprising people; it’s not just a film about a sea kayaking expedition. It’s about sharing adventure through culture, landscape, friendship and humor.

JJ: You could get soft going to too many festivals. A film festival is a chance for the filmmaker to get exposure for his or her work, but it’s also a party. Josh and I have been lucky enough to attend all the festivals. We have been so pleased that the film has as warmly received as it has. I remember drinking quite a few Stella Artois at the Fort Lauderdale Int’l Film Festival. The beer was great, but I hadn’t been outside adventuring for a few weeks. At that exact moment Josh came over with another complimentary pitcher from the festival. I told him we better fix to “Scuba to Aruba” or something big or we were going to grow festival beer guts.

Winning Best Documentary at the Minneapolis Underground Film Festival

BR: You’ve traveled all over. Where have you found the best beer?

Josh: I was fortunate to make it to Germany seven years ago, and it changed the way I see beer. They successfully initiated a purity law which set in place a system of rules making sure beer can not be tainted with anything but the essential ingredients: water, barley and hops. No preservatives or artificial flavors. The result: arguably the best beer in the world.

JJ: The sweetest beer I ever had was an Alaskan Amber from a fisherman the first time I drove to Alaska. It was a celebration beer. I was fresh out of college, and had loaded all my possessions into my purple Ford Ranger pickup and drove north from Minnesota. All I knew about my future in Alaska was that I would try my luck at finding a job in a town called Seward. I had heard they have access to glaciers, and a lucky few were able to paddle near the huge chucks of ice; I wanted to experience that thrill. Sipping the amber beer in the land of the midnight sun, I knew I’d arrived.

BR: What’s your next adventure?

Josh: Who knows. People are always offering suggestions. There are so many beautiful places and cultures in this world, its tough to decide. One thing is for sure, this is not our last adventure…

JJ: The Paddle to Seattle is so fresh we are stilling tying up loose ends with the production. I can’t imagine a world without adventures: going out into the world and finding an enriching tale and sharing it with others. Right now I don’t know what our next adventure will be, but I know it will be. As for my next beer, I’m feeling like a Boddingtons.

Plotting the next adventure

BR: Anything else to add?

Our DVDs are being released this month! We are taking presale orders now on our website. The DVDs will be shipped January 24. Along with outtakes and other extras the award winning 86-minute documentary will be sure to please. The film is also circling many major cities via film festivals, to see if the film is coming near you see our website or fan us on facebook.

Derek Gelber photo by the Gainsville Times

The Gainsville Times brings us this story of a man who has lost 102 pounds while unapologetically refusing to give up beer.

“I was as strict as I could be without changing the fact that I’m still going to hang out, I’m still going to tailgate, I’m still going to go to the pool and funnel beers with my buddies,” 30-year-old Derek Gelber told the paper.

Gelber weighed 340 pounds in November 2008 and is down to 238 through steady exercise and a healthy diet. He’s aiming for a goal weight of 215.

“He managed portions and he managed calories the entire time, though he really didn’t count the Miller Lite calories at all,” his trainer commented.

Gelber has an interesting background. He weighed 187 pounds when he was on the University of Georgia’s swimming and diving team and even made it to the Olympic trails in Sydney, Australia.

But after retiring from swimming after 15 years he “just let himself go.”

Today his goal is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and get back into coaching swimming. His advice to others with a weight-loss goal is to “stay true to yourself.” Especially if that involves beer drinking.