Monday, July 12, 2010
Jameson Huckaba supports local breweries, drinks an average of two beers a day, favors abolishing restrictive beer laws and is occasionally given free beer. And it’s all just part of his job.
In the summer of 2006, at 23rd Street Brewery with friend Jeffery Ward, Huckaba pondered the potential of a Food Network show specializing in the growing craft beer market. From their brainstorming, BeerGenius was born and Huckaba began traveling the country while working with co-founder Ward to develop written reviews, blogs and video segments as a beer critic.
“BeerGenius is meant to make interesting beer more approachable through education and amusement,” Huckaba said, “as well as give you and your friends yet another reason to come together to appreciate beer and life.”
Brian “Bucky” Buckingham, the head brewer at 23rd Street Brewery, had his beers profiled by Huckaba for the BeerGenius website. Buckingham said the attention BeerGenius brings to craft beers is a reflection of its increasing popularity.
“It’s definitely a growing industry,” Buckingham said, “I think the craft-beer movement is exploding and just starting to really take off out here in the Midwest.”
Huckaba compared the public interest in craft beers today to the wine-tasting phenomenon that sprouted 10 years ago. Ward, a University graduate and current culinary student, said that just like wine, pairing beer with certain foods was important to enhance and compliment flavors. Together, Huckaba and Ward review craft beers for others who may not have been brave enough to try them on their own. By creating further exposure to crafts, BeerGenius hopes to help find the right beer for each individual.
“There are so many types of beer out there,” Ward said, “If people learn from those who know about beer then I’m sure they can find a type beer they’ll enjoy.”
Huckaba said there are many factors that can influence the beer a person is attracted to.
“The neat thing about beer is that there are so many styles available, and there’s one for every mood I may have, season, company, situation or genre of music I may be listening to,” he said.
Even though BeerGenius is represented primarily through its Internet presence, Huckaba said its goals revolved more around what readers did offline than what they learned while surfing the website.
“We’re looking to build something that becomes an everyday part of our reader’s lives — social interaction with the people you care about, all while drinking good beer,” Huckaba said.
In Lawrence, students can taste local craft beers at Free State Brewery and 23rd Street Brewery. With a reservation and a short drive to Kansas City, Mo., they can also take a free tour of the Boulevard Brewery.
Huckaba recently moved to Portland, Oregon, where July is Oregon Craft Beer Month. Ward, who still lives in Lawrence, will continue collaborating with Huckaba from across the country. In the future, Huckaba said he hoped to see more communities embracing the craft-beer industry.
“We want to get people to engage in really good beer,” Huckaba said, “The more people we can get in front of and show how much fun we’re having, the better.”
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