Tecnico Rudo

 Tecnico Rudo Introduction
 Non-Flash version of the podcast

 Tecnico Rudo Interview with Pedro
 Non-Flash version of the podcast

Pedro Escobar was born the poor son of Mexican salt miners... Wait -- no! That's not right! Though it does make for a great back-story for his Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling character, El Tecnico Rudo!

El Tecnico Rudo takes on a challenger!

Pedro is a first generation Mexican American who learned the skills of maintaining and repairing large mechanical equipment from his dad, who emigrated from Puebla, Mexico as a teenager along with Pedro's mom, and is part of that mythical American Dream -- immigrants coming to America for a better life, and to help build a better America.

Pedro Escobar in Clark Kent mode.

It was while working with his dad, said to be one of the most respected vineyard and brewery technical engineers in America, that the Brooklyn Brewery and Pedro were first introduced. This would eventually lead to Pedro taking on the role of the brewery's head Maintenance Engineer, responsible for keeping all things mechanical in good working order, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of the finest beer from North 11th St. in Williamsburg.

Bob, Willy, and Pedro.

Though his first experiences with beer didn't much stir him, Pedro's concept of beer was dramatically challenged when he tasted a Stone Arrogant Bastard for the first time. That impression was tattooed on his tastebuds, and it served as the inspiration for his own brew for the Brooklyn Brewery's Worshipful Company of Brewers series -- the 7% ABV Tecnico Rudo American Strong Ale.

The Worshipful Company of Brewers program at the Brooklyn Brewery affords all manner of the brewery staff -- not just the brewers -- an opportunity to create a recipe entirely of their own choosing and brew it in the large 20 barrel commercial brewhouse. Pedro's brew was originally planned for the wintertime, but it got pushed back into the warm months, where his domineering 7.3% hoppy American Ale would either slake your mid-summer thirst, or at least make you forget about the heat and humidity entirely!

Tecnico Rudo.

The beer has a simple enough malt bill, primarily 2-row pale malt augmented by Special B and Aromatic malts. Even with a whopping 7.3% ABV there is plenty of malt sweetness left over to offer a rich body and to try to balance the enormous hop character and aggressive bitterness, provided by Chinook and Citra hops. This one may only be available at the Brooklyn Brewery tasting room, so make plans to wrestle this one down while you can!

Brewmaster Garrett introduces Pedro.

The stage is set for El luchador de cerveza.

Pedro's family.

Pedro and Purple Rage.

Garrett, Eric Brown, and Pedro.

"It's not my birthday!"

Brooklyn Brewery's Dark & Twisted

Interview with Justin Rick (Flash version)
  Non-Flash podcast

Justin Rick is the latest Brooklyn Brewery brewer to participate in the Worshipful Company of Brewers program, in which Brewmaster Garrett Oliver gives his staff an opportunity to devise their own recipe and brew a batch -- no matter what the style, no matter what the ingredients. It's a great perk for the staff, a wonderful treat for the patrons, and is also one of the many reasons that the Brewery continues as an exciting, interesting player in the craft beer scene.
 
The concept for his first ever recipe was to make a beer that mirrored the characteristics of a chocolate covered pretzel. So, naturally, that means chocolate, bread and... salt! Just how he achieved creating a beer that had that kind of profile, and in an incredibly delicious, strikingly unique and brilliantly balanced, is explained by Justin himself in this installment of the podcast.

Justin, who is from Colorado and studied at the Univ. of Colorado, did his post-graduate work in the UC Davis Master Brewers program, studying under Dr. Michael Lewis and Dr. Charles Bamforth. After UC Davis, Justin interned at Stone Brewing, became an assistant brewer there, and eventually ran their the lab before leaving for a brewing job at Leinenkugel, where he worked for three years. In April of 2012 Justin joined the Brooklyn Brewery.

 

Brooklyn Brewery: I Wanna Rye It

Brooklyn Brewery's I Wanna Rye It! podcast
How the hops were selected for I Wanna Rye It! podcast

On July 26, 2013 the Brooklyn Brewery released the seventh beer in the Worshipful Company of Brewers series, an Amber Rye Ale designed and brewed by Brooklyn's Production Manager Jimmy Valm.

I Wanna Rye It!

The 7.4% ABV ale pours out clear as glass and has an enticing deep mahogany/garnet hue beneath its ample frothy head. The aroma is subtle, with a touch of spiciness under the dry malty nose. Brewer Jimmy said that he wanted his beer to be more focused on the rye rather than the hops, and he clearly achieved his goal with all of the rye character that this ale exhibits. The hearty body is rich and chewy. As far as taste goes, the dry, peppery rye malt flavor dominates, along with a mild roasty note, but is balanced out by a healthy dose hop bitterness, courtesy of Chinook hops.

Born in Brooklyn but having grown up in Seattle, Jimmy had been pining for a return to Kings County for a long while. But before he'd return he would earn a brewing degree at the reputed International Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. He then worked at Heineken's U.K. operation, brewing Fosters on an industrial scale before learning of an opening at the Brooklyn Brewery and applying for the job. After working at Brooklyn for less than a year he got his chance to design and brew his own creation as part of the on-going Worshipful Company of Brewers program. The program gives Brewmaster Garrett Oliver's staff an opportunity to make one batch of a beer of their own design for limited release at the brewery's tasting room.

Jimmy chose the challenging rye beer style, and made a little history with Brooklyn Brewery's first rye malt ale. Hear about the details in the two-part podcast about I Wanna Rye It!

The Brewmaster.

Jimmy Valm.

Jimmy's parents and wife.

  [I Wanna Rye It! podcast]




  [Hop Selection For I Wanna Rye It! podcast]