We're attempting to start a new feature where we run six (hopefully) quick questions by brewers to get a little more insight into what brewers do and like and how they got their start. We're honored to have Nick Floyd from Three Floyds Brewing Co. as our first brewer to step up to the tap.1) Who are you and where do you work?
NICK FLOYD - PRESIDENTE OF THREE FLOYDS BREWING CO
2) What inspired you to start brewing beer? How did you get your start?
STARTED TO HOMEBREW AFTER READING ABOUT AT AGE 18-19 THEN WHEN I WAS 21 WENT TO BREWING SCHOOL AT SIEBEL INSTITUTE CHICAGO IL.FIRST BREWING JOB WAS MAKING FALSTAFF LAGER AND MALTA AT THE FLORIDA BREWERY IN AUBURNDALE ,FL
3) What's your brewing mission? What are you trying to accomplish with your beer?
MY MISSION IS TO TRY AND MAKE THE BEST BEER I CAN POSSIBLY MAKE WHILE STILL TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING DOING IT AT THE SAME TIME,THE MAKING THE LIVING PART IS THE HARDEST PART
4) Was there a beer that you benchmarked your own against? How did you know your beer was good enough to take to the general public?
AT THE TIME 3FLOYDS OPENED IN 1996 WE BENCHMARKED OUR BEER AGAINST LOCALS GOOSE ISLAND,BELLS AND WESTCOAST BREWERIES NORTHCOAST & SIERRA NEVADA. WHEN WE FIRST OPENED I WASN'T SURE HOW THE PUBLIC WOULD REACT,WE JUST DID IT BY SLIGHTLY FALLING ON OUR FACES AND THEN REPEATING THAT PROCESS OVER AND OVER.5) What beer are you proudest of? Which of your beers is your personal favorite? Why?
WHICH BEER IS A BREWER PROUDEST OF? THAT'S LIKE ASKING A POLYGAMIST WHICH WIFE IS HIS FAVORITE? ALL THE BEERS WE CURRENTLY MAKE I THINK I'M PROUD OF TO DIFFERENT DEGREES
6) Which beers outside of your own do you enjoy? What beer do you wish you came up with? Why?
OUTSIDE OF MY OWN BEERS I ENJOY OTHER LOCAL BEERS THAT ARE FRESH AND CLEAN, FLOSSMOOR STATION IS CLOSE TO US AS WELL AS PIECE IN CHICAGO PLUS LAFAYETTE, BROADRIPPLE & BRASSERIE BRUGGE IN INDIANA. THE BEER I WISH I INVENTED IS PILSENER IN THE MID-19TH CENTURY WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WAS IN WONDERMENT ABOUT THE AMAZING GOLDEN BEER. WHY? SO I COULD PIMP IT OUT TO BE THE MOST BASTARDIZED STYLE OF BEER THE WORLD OVER, AND HAVE IT MADE FROM HARBING CHINA TO ST.LOUIS TO SIBERIA. ;)
Hoosier Beer Geek wishes to thank Nick for taking the time to answer our questions, and for his dedication to good beer.
Nice interview. Flossmoor Station is a place I keep meaning to try sometime. I've been a fan of Three Floyds ever since my first Alpha King and I love what they do with their beers.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I hear, they need to expand their operations soon!
It is nice to park your car at Floosmoor and ride the train into Chicago. You can then play at the Maproom, GI, Piece, etc.etc. When you get back Floosmoor is open and you can enjoy that too.
ReplyDeleteWe are popping a keg of FFF's X at the Heorot at 11am Wed (29th).
$5.50 a pint, no pitchers, out-of-towners have growler privledges.
JeffreyT
According to what I read on another site, FFF is going to only distrubute to Indiana and Illionis for a little while and scale things back. I am glad I live in Indiana.
ReplyDeleteFFF's is a great place to visit as well, great food and amazing beer. I can't wait until Alpha Kong comes out in bottles.
I wish Dinos in Fountain Sq. had Alpha King on tap. I love that beer.
ReplyDeleteWe all wish Deano's would get rid of the Kronenbourg... Alpha King would be a fine replacement.
ReplyDeleteI love Three Floyds! Gumballhead is soooooo good.
ReplyDelete