Behind the Bush: Jake Demski

Brewer, Musician/Song Writer, Comedian… Jake Demski spends each day at GB brewing up fantastic beer for everyone to enjoy, while simultaneously dropping smiles onto peoples faces like it’s his job. He generally starts his workday at 6 a.m., steaming up the place as he mashes in a boat load of grain for whatever beer is on the agenda. When he’s not running the 15bbl system, you can find him dreaming up crazy, awesome, experimental small batch beers. Strawberry jam, lavender, chocolate coins, oak chips, cranberry, sarsaparilla, grapes, ring pops, warheads… yeah, he goes there, and beyond. Outside of the brewery you can occasionally find Jake jamming with his friends–he’s a pretty killer guitar player and singer. Check out open mic night at Hidden Pointe in Benton Harbor on Thursday nights and, if you’re lucky, your ears might grasp a taste of his musical stylings. Read on to find out more behind the man in the strawberry sweatshirt…

What do you do at Greenbush?
We are the music makers,
And we are the dreamers of dreams,
Wandering by lone sea-breakers,
And sitting by desolate streams;—
World-losers and world—…. Oh, I’m the first shift brewer.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
While I was at Grand Valley I helped a young Joe Hinman (pre-Carlos) record a mutual friend’s band for his audio class. Shortly after moving back home from Grand Rapids I heard word of a new brewery in Sawyer. Me, being myself, and loving craft beer, I wasted no time at all and stopped in for a visit. Upon arriving, what do I see? The same bespectacled young man (slightly older) tending bar at this new brewery. I quickly fell in love with the beer and bugged Joe for a year and a half to get me a job here. Then, one fateful afternoon, Carlos called me at my previous employer and asked if I’d like to come in and talk about a job as a cellarman. The rest is history. The moral of the story? Be nice to Carlos.

What time is happy hour for you?
1:37-2:37 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and every other Tuesday.

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
I’m assuming freshwater resources are limited on this island? If that is the case then Bud Light. SURVIVAL TIP #34. Take that Bear Grylls!

What are your favorite non-Greenbush beverages to drink?
Coffee, water, bourbon, juice, and other Michigan craft beers in no particular order.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
Too many to count. Between the three-man slingshot, fireworks and general tomfoolery I can’t decide.

What do your friends think about all this madness?
Most of them work here so they’re pretty used to it. And the other ones think it’s pretty cool I guess or they might not care. I don’t know. Doesn’t matter. I love it.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A brewer. Dream realized. High five!

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Apathy, because I really don’t care to answer this question. Just kidding, but I do like that beer.

What’s your favorite food?
Give me a good deli sandwich any day. Big sandwich fan. Not really picky about the contents either.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
On a nice island resort somewhere celebrating our 8 1/2-year anniversary together.

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
My Leatherman Multi-Tool. I need it to pry up the false bottom and open grain bags.

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Mexico, I guess. But it was on a cruise with my parents when I was younger. Kind of touristy. I don’t get out much.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
If I had to choose I’d say Chicago. I do enjoy a good game at Wrigley.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
Founders. It was my hometown brewery for a while. This was before a lot of other breweries like Vivant were open.

What’s on your nightstand?
Nothing. Don’t have one. I do have a stack of books that I put my phone on while it charges at night. Sooo… at least I’ve got that going for me.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
I drink the beers that I drink. Let’s just leave it at that.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick? Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5. I honestly hate that song but every time I hear it I find myself tapping my toe to the beat, immersed in a cloud of shame.

BONUS QUESTIONS
You do a lot of small batchin’—what  would be your “balls-to-the-wall small batch of a lifetime” (no limits)?
I really do feel that there are no limits if you are creative enough. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.

If you could go on a magic carpet ride with any celebrity (dead or alive), who would you want sittin’ shotty & where would your destination of choice be? If there’s an explanation as to why, do tell!
Being on a magic carpet would be terrifying in itself and you want to throw a dead stranger into the mix? NO THANK YOU.

Any rhyme or reason behind all the crazy/awesome/funny/random beer names you come up with?
Free association. You say “Rocky Balboa” and my brain says “Rocky Balboa Constrictor.” It’s a blessing and a curse but we all have our cross to bear.

Behind the Bush: Tyler Ream

a handful of pizza dough & a glimpse at those curly locks

Spaghetti. When I think of Tyler one of the first things that comes to mind is just that, spaghetti. He loves it & would eat it all the time if he could. Oh, and he’s got mad flow. And I’m not talking about free styling. What I am talking about are those curly bouncy locks that on a good day could be in a Pantene Pro V commercial (went there). Buuuuuut, this blog isn’t about spaghetti or good hair, but more importantly, the great Tyler Ream. He’s had his hand in a lot here & we’ve been very fortunate to have him on board in all the different arenas of Greenbush he’s dabbled in. He’s a stand-up guy, a good time & can be quite the smart ass (in the best way possible!). Read on to see for yourself…

What do you do at Greenbush?
I’m currently the Distribution Coordinator at Greenbush Brewing Co. I track how much beer we’re going through day to day in the taproom and how much beer each of our distributors is going through in the market. From there I figure out when and how much of each beer we need to produce and how it should be packaged to keep up with the ever growing demand that we can never meet. You can also find me at all sorts of Greenbush tasting and festival events and on the @greenbushcellar Instagram account.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
I was sitting at the brewery in April of 2013 with my buddy Cody who was working as a server at GB and he encouraged me to apply. I asked our server for an application and she replied with “Sure I’ll grab you one, but you probably won’t get a job here.” Everyone was a bit clandestine at that point, you really had to know somebody and have an ‘in’. I applied anyways. One to two weeks later the general manager called me in for an interview and recognized me from one of her charity events with the Layla foundation. I started serving tables shortly after. Before I knew it I was working in the cellar helping produce and package beer and everything just sort of spiraled off from there.

What time is happy hour for you?
Around 7 p.m. most nights when I’m sitting on my couch at home with my Doberman, Jabba, and my girlfriend with a couple of exotic craft beers.

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
A Greenbush rep., a Budweiser rep. and a Miller Lite rep. all sit down for lunch. The server comes over and asks everyone what they’d like to drink. Budweiser rep. says “I’ll take a Budweiser, bottle”, Miller Lite rep. says “I’ll take a Miller Lite draft” and the Greenbush rep. says “Well… If nobody’s gonna have a beer… I’ll take a glass of water.”

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
Orangina. By a landslide. I first tried carbonated orange juice when I was visiting Europe maybe ten years ago, and I’ve never been the same since.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
While the Michigan beer festivals I’ve attended with the GB crew have all been incredibly fun and memorable… I’d have to say my most memorable experience is when myself, the other cellarmen, brewers and a few others helped create the GB Annex. We deconstructed old barns and chicken coops on Sawyer Road and salvaged the wood to build a bar, a counter top, and some shelving. We spent countless hours lacquering said wood, painting the walls and floor of the Annex, putting up mirrors, paper towel dispensers, lighting and more. We learned to use different saws and build fencing, make cutting boards for charcuterie out of cherry wood and use a router to round out edges. We created an outdoor ‘employee area’ by digging and hauling a bunch of dirt and rock and replacing it with mulch. Then one of our brewers (now yeast/quality control expert) and one of our cellarmen (now warehouse manager) built a giant picnic table in the employee space for everyone to enjoy after long work days in the summer. The whole experience was pretty wild. I felt like we all built something really cool and significant together.

What do your friends think about all this madness?
Just that, madness. It’s mind blowing to most of them that working with beer every day is considered to be a real job. Yet, with the continued incredible growth of the craft beer industry this sort of lifestyle is becoming the norm more and more.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved animals, and still do. One time when I was much younger I was at the beach with a few friends and we saw a seagull flopping around on the ground choking on a banana. I grabbed a stick and pried the banana out of its throat… It flopped around a little longer and then stood up and flew off over the lake. I later learned I’d have to do things like cut animals open and put them to sleep for that kind of profession and quickly changed my mind.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Remnant of Dragon, because I’m delicious?

What’s your favorite food?
Mashed potatoes. And banana pudding. And mashed potatoes. Also, buffalo wings, lots and lots of buffalo wings. And mashed potatoes.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
The booming metropolis of Sawyer, MI.

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
My Leatherman Skeletool. I have it with me every day and use it for all sorts of things that it wasn’t even made for. Anytime I get on an airplane and have to leave it at home I feel lost, constantly checking my pocket and wondering why it isn’t there.

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Greenbush Brewing Co. during the week of the 4^th of July… It’s a circus…

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
I’m actually not really a sports fan? But Cubs and Bears all the way. The White Sox stadium has dippin’ dots and I like those a lot… but I’m still a Cubs fan… I guess if somebody started serving something like mashed potatoes mixed with buffalo wings, corn, and pineapple at a stadium I’d have to switch teams.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
I think Sierra Nevada was the first craft beer I got into. I was also a big fan of Three Floyd’s for a time. I don’t know that I necessarily had a favorite, but the hoppiness of craft beer definitely sucked me in.

What’s on your nightstand?
A lamp that’s usually unplugged, random ticket stubs from live shows, a book about the Grateful Dead, and candy wrappers.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
Typically one to two beers. I tend to have a lot going on day to day and although I’d love to sip craft brew all day long, I’d be far too tired each time I left work to get anything done at home.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
Huh? Why… Why would I do that?

BONUS Q’s–
What’s the coolest/your favorite beer bar you’ve been to? Why?
“Jerry’s Icehouse” at McMenamins Historic Edgefield Manor in Troutdale, Oregon. It’s a tiny little Grateful Dead themed sort of dive bar the size of a hobbit’s home that resides on an estate with all these other little buildings that used to make up a ‘poor house’ or ‘homeless manor’.  They serve craft beer, wine, and spirits. Play Grateful Dead tunes all day long and have scores of books and posters on the band. I’ve only spent about 15 minutes there, but plan to go back and spend prolonged periods of time peering through books, cold beverage in hand.

I hear you’re into weird food combinations– care to share a few of your favorite concoctions? Any method to the madness behind them?
I suppose it is more madness than method… See, you’re having dinner… and there’s a bunch of different things on the table that you like to eat… But it’s difficult to know where to start, or maybe some of what’s there isn’t all that great… So you mix it together, stuff you like a lot, with stuff you only kind of like, or still like a lot, and sometimes it’s really really good. Other times it’s terrible and you’ve just ruined a good meal. I think I’m getting better at it though? Go to Piece Brewery in Chicago, order a pizza with mashed potatoes on it, Italian sausage, pineapples, garlic, peppers, and white sauce… You’ll understand then…

Behind the Bush: Jim Christopher

Note: beard not pictured at maximum potential.

So there’s this dude that works for us, a dude with the dudeliest beard of all beards in Greenbush land. This dudely dude I speak of is Jim. Maybe you don’t think you know him, but I’m sure his beard presence has been observed in your surroundings a time or two. Jim joined the GB family about 2 years ago as a cellerman, not too long after going on to be a brewer for some time & now taking on a new position as the head of our yeast lab. You can also think of him as the Harry Potter of Greenbush because his working quarters resemble the “cupboard under the stairs” although, unlike Aunt Petunia & Uncle Vernon, we appreciate our “Harry Potter”  creator of yeast magic & alike. Read on to learn more about the guy who creates roadblocks over intense comic conversation with our UPS delivery guy…

What do you do at Greenbush?
I am the “head yeast wrangler” and deal with quality control too. Previously, I was a brewer and a cellarman here.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
I was told by a friend of mine to call Joe [Editor’s note: you might be wondering who the heck Joe is… Joe is the official name of the guy we all affectionately call Carlos] and talk to him about working here. I was sick that day so I came in the next day and the day after that put my two weeks notice at my other job.

What time is happy hour for you?
All day?!

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
Michelob Ultra [Ed’s note: total “Mom trying to watch her calorie intake” response if you ask me]

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
Mt. Dew

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
Winter Beer Fest 2012

What do your friends think about all this madness?
Lots want to be part of it. And they love the beer, so there’s that too. lolz

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A baseball player

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Retribution, because it’s sweet and it will also put you under the table if you aren’t careful.

What’s your favorite food?
Pizza, Lasagna, Venison & RIOS

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
Sittin’ steady at 5885 Sawyer Road

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
My phone probably

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
The rainforest exhibit at the Detroit Zoo

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Detroit and Maize and Blue!

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
Actually no, I wasn’t into craft beer until Greenbush.

What’s on your nightstand?
Wallet, knife, alarm clock, phone and Transformers.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
Two for the most part

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
I’m confused by this question so I will give two answers… song to actually enjoy: Duran Duran – Hungry like the Wolf  & song to enjoy that other people hate: Nickelback – any song.

BONUS QUESTIONS–
Tell us a little bit about this new lab/yeast business you’re up to these days…
Well I am responsible in making sure that the yeast we are using is viable and healthy and also to make sure we have the right amount when it comes to pitching.  I also run other parts of quality control in the brewery… pH, DO, etc.

You’re into collecting comics– what’s your favorite one & what’s your most valuable one?
I have a couple favorites, both Transformers comics. The first one is Transformers issue #80 (1991 marvel) & the second one is Transformers Dark Cybertron chapter 12 (2014 IDW). My most expensive is my Stan Lee signed X-men #1.

Behind the Bush: Chris Reisetter

“Pondering the epic mash ahead of him” -greenbushcellar

Let’s talk about Chris, shall we? Chris started working in the cellar here in April 2012 and only 3 short months later he was a cellarman turned brewer (so basically a bad ass). He’s the type of dude you want to know, be friends with, work with and really just do anything and everything with. He has a killer attitude, fresh beer ideas, is always up for helping out on an unexpected project (no matter what it may be) and when it comes to t-shirts he knows what’s up.  A favorite Chris memory of mine (Emily here) is post Winter Beer Fest 2014 dinner at Grand Rapids Brewing Co. He loved each beer so much he couldn’t wait to try another. He had 2-3 beers in front of him at all times and would have the most genuine and enthusiastic reactions to each and every one. He’s very passionate about what he does and isn’t shy about expressing his feelings on good beer as soon as it hits his lips. Being on the same end of the table as him also meant tripling up on the buffalo cauliflower appetizer which definitely didn’t suck. I’ve seemed to get slightly sidetracked (and suddenly hungry) so I’ll let Chris take it from here…

What do you do at Greenbush? 
I am the mid-day brewer AKA wort wizard.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
I had been home-brewing for over 10 years and always wanted to get into brewing for a living.  A cellarman position opened up and Nikki convinced me to quit my old job. In case you’re wondering, it was a good decision.

What time is happy hour for you?
Always.

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?  
Stroh’s.

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
Dark & Stormy (Gosling’s), because it is so delicious.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
There are way too many to count…but this one time, at winter beer fest…

What do your friends think about all this madness?
They think that it’s pretty awesome, and so do I.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Probably an astronaut or drummer, that was a long time ago. I am just fine with being a brewer.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Closure. It’s my favorite to drink and brew.

What’s your favorite food? 
Duh, pizza.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
Crankin’!

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
Dumb answer, but it would be my phone. I use it to keep track of my brew shift (hop additions etc.) and it supplies tunes for my brew shift too.

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Some random frat house in college. [Ed’s note: Chris knows how to keep it classy.]

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Chicago, but I don’t really watch or participate in sporting activities, except skateboarding.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
I have always loved what the dudes up at Short’s are doing and the state of Michigan is just kicking ass in general.

What’s on your nightstand? 
An empty (or sometimes half full/half empty) pint glass or bottle from the night before.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
3.14159

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
Duh, Creed – Arms Wide Open.

BONUS Q’S–
What’s it like being engaged to the GM of Greenbush?
She is super awesome and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to spend my days getting old with! She puts up with all of my hobbies and general nerdiness. [Ed’s note: Awwwwwwwww]

Describe your dream scooter.
1965 Vespa SS180. But really my dream Vespa is parked behind the brewery and I already own it. It is a 1974 Vespa Rally 200 with lots of go fast racing parts. By the way, your scooter sucks.

Behind the Bush: Rick Orta(r)

 Rick starting working at Greenbush going on a year and a half ago and fit in swimmingly. Before Rick started working at the brewery, I (Emily here, btw) knew him as a mug club regular. Him and his now fiance’, Angie, would come in on a weekly basis for food and of course, good beer. It didn’t take long before I knew their numbers, 725 and 726, and it wasn’t long before Rick decided he wanted to be a part of what goes on behind the scenes of good beer. Read on to learn what made Rick decide to become more than a mug club member and a bunch of other silliness. Yes, silliness. Speaking of silliness… can you imagine Rick wearing a pair of 44″ JNCO jeans and not just one wallet chain, but THREE? I recently over some food (okay, beers) at Moser’s learned this fascinating and hilarious tidbit about Rick. Any who…

What do you do at Greenbush?                                                                                        My official title is Lead Cellarman, but I think Cellar Maestro would look way cooler on my business card. And I think I’d be the only one. In the world. Yeah. Anyway, I coordinate things in the cellar on a day to day basis and generally plot and scheme on ways to improve our work area and processes. And fixing/troubleshooting/maintaining stuff. Things break in a brewery all the time. That can keep me pretty busy too.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
I have been a big fan of GB almost since the beginning. Then slowly, one by one, my friends started penetrating the ranks. First Steve and Blake Murray, then Howie and Ryan Beach. Beach, who eventually worked his way up from kitchen staff to plant manager, asked me for months to quit my job and come work for the brewery. I shrugged it off for a while because it involved taking a bit of a pay cut but when it started to look like getting laid off was inevitable at my previous employer, I said screw it and went for it. Best decision ever. When you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

What time is happy hour for you?
Anytime I’m surrounded by people/dogs I love and good beer. So, all the time I guess?

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
Easy, there’s only one correct answer. Coors Banquet beer.

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
Like, adult beverages? Other equally well crafted beers, white Russians, or a couple of ounces of Laphroig 10 year on the rocks.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
For me, I think it was Winter Beer Fest this year. We all got pretty rowdy the night before at Logan’s Alley and some other places I can’t really remember. It was a blast! Even though I got so rowdy I slept the whole next day in the hospitality tent, worked my 2 hour pouring shift and then slept more in my Jeep it was still awesome. I went to Winter Beer Fest and never had one beer this year. I was however feeling well enough by the end to go back in and help tear down. Walking back in to the fest at 6 p.m. and getting to watch all the drunk festival goers falling everywhere on the ice was hilarious! [Ed’s note: He’s leaving out a very key part, the epic drunken pool showdown at Logan’s Alley the night before WBF. More details in the bonus questions at the end!]

What do your friends think about all this madness?
The ones that aren’t caught up in the madness with me are probably jealous, and for good reason!  Ha!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a mechanic. In a way that dream has been realized. See question 1. Things break in a brewery all the time! In a busy brewery it’s going to happen and you’ve got to be a DIY kind of person and fix things quickly in order to keep moving.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Greenbush hasn’t made a beer yet that can capture my essence. Try and put this genie in a bottle Pete, I dare ya. [Ed’s note: challenge accepted Pete???]

What’s your favorite food?  ZIGEUNERSCHNITZEL. If you don’t know what it is, I suggest going to Moser’s Austrian Café and letting them drop some knowledge on ya. You can thank me later.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?                                Sawyer, Michigan silly. Next question!

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
My pants. Because you just can’t work in a cellar with “the boys” hanging out everywhere. There’s waaaaay too much HOT water and corrosive chemicals. [Ed’s note: answer edited due to adult content ;)]

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Austria. A few years ago a large group of our friends went. It was EPIC. Best time I’ve ever had in my life.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?                                 I’m not really into sports but you might catch me watching and cheering for the Chicago Blackhawks. Hockey is the only organized sport that even comes close to being able to hold my attention.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
I would probably have to say New Belgium Brewing. It just happened to be one of the first craft beers I ever tried and liked. It wasn’t even Fat Tire that made me a fan it was beers like Abbey, 1554 and Mothership. Now I don’t ever even reach for them. Not that they’re bad beers, but there’s better beer being made right here in our own backyards now. And those boners quit making Mothership. Just keeding NBB!

What’s on your nightstand?
A phone charger, my sunrise alarm clock, chapstick, dog hair from my golden retriever, bottle of water, glasses…

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
It just depends. I hardly ever drink while I’m working. I’m usually pretty busy and it just slows me down. But near, or after quitting time, it’s anybody’s guess.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
One of the worst songs ever is Blue (Da Ba Dee) by Eiffel 65 so that one. It’ll make you rip the ears right off your head.

BONUS QUESTIONS–
So, what’s this I hear about you liking to play dress up in girls clothing?
It’s not that I like to dress up in girls clothing, I just don’t mind doing so in the name of humor. A group of our friends had a Kentucky Derby party and we were supposed to come dressed the part. I’m not one to get dressed up all dapper so I decided to dress up as a woman. But I did a terrible job. Blue flower dress from Goodwill, sneakers, tall black socks and a red haired wig pulled into pig tails. It was quite a spectacle. It was gross. If I was a girl I’d be single for life. [Ed’s Note: If you’re friends with Rick on Facebook you can see for yourself!]

Tell us about the epic pool showdown at Logan’s Alley the night before Winter Beer Fest…
It’s a little hazy but, a guy in a collared shirt and a sweater challenged me to a game of pool. So I says “OK”. Since he was coming to the table I just won on, I broke. I sunk the 8 ball on the break for the first time in my life! Instead of acting like “HOLY S**T!”, I was just like “I WIN”, so as to try and dupe him into believing I’m an amazing pool player. After that, you tell me. I don’t really remember the rest of the night. It was a doozy. I heard I may have air humped a bunch of people but that could also be a total fabrication. [Ed’s note: it really happened.] If you don’t remember, it never happened.

Behind the Bush: Blake Murray

See that man hiding behind a cabbage mask? Yeah, that’s Blake. Emily here, with the honor of introducing someone near and dear to my heart (I promise that’s as mushy as it’s gonna get and to keep it PG).  Anyways, Blake started working at Greenbush exactly the same time as I did, so a little over two years ago. He’s one of the twins we were lucky enough to have on board here at GB. He’s the non-dreaded twin (for those of you who get confused) that’s opening Burn Em’ Brewing with brother/former brewer of ours, Steve (the dreaded one). Blake runs the kitchen and is  the mastermind behind our house made bacon, pastrami and other such meaty delights (if you haven’t tried these things, DO IT! and yes, I said meaty delights). This guy knows what he’s doing and also knows how to have a good time. Read on to learn more about the guy who comes up with the witty specialty pizza names and has rocked a banana suit on multiple occasions.

What do you do at Greenbush?                                                                                          
I am the head of the kitchen. There are some that call me chef…[Ed’s note: there are also some that call him Bob. Those who call him that  know what I’m talking about ;).]

How’d you get involved with the brewery?                                                                        I was a big fan of craft beer and some of my friends went to a tasting in South Bend and tried Anger. When we found out the brewery was only 20 miles away so we had to start going. One thing led to another, I applied and got hired!

What time is happy hour for you?                                                                            Cooking a personal meal with a big beer in hand would be a definite happy hour for me!

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
Icehouse.  It’ll get you drunk!

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
Depends on the mood… Tequila, Bourbon, Two Hearted.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
My first few months working here. Also when I got to go to Summer Brew Fest in Ypsilanti. The fest was amazing and then we all stayed in a house together like a big slumber party. It was awesome!

What do your friends think about all this madness?                                                  Most of my friends are part of the madness!!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be in a band, even before I could play any instrument. Music has always been a huge passion of mine.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Star Chicken Shotgun. I am the dancing elvis chicken. [Ed’s note: Don’t let him fool you… we’ve been dating for almost a year and I have never seen him dance.]

What’s your favorite food?
Food. I love all food. I struggle to pick a meal every day. Trying to pick a favorite is like asking me to move a mountain. Ain’t gonna happen.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
At this rate, we will probably run the world.

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
My Leatherman multi-tool. It saves the day almost every day.

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Austria and the Stiegl Brewery.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Chicago. I was born there and although I moved when I was young the Bears, Hawks, Bulls and Cubs were the teams my parents continued to follow.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
I’d say Bell’s. Two Hearted brought me into the world of craft beer and you can’t turn your back on something like that.

What’s on your nightstand?
Kind of lame but… alarm clock, phone charger, old concert ticket stub and random receipts…

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
4 to 5… but they’re small… usually… change the subject?

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
Something by Dethklok. Nothing gets peoples blood boiling quite like Dethklok!

BONUS QUESTIONS–
If you could come back into the world as any food what food would it be and why?
I feel like a piece of butter melting on big pile of flapjacks… [Ed’s note: random Pineapple Express quote instead of answering the question? That’s Blake for ya!]

So you like to cook… Any particular people (famous or not) that have inspired you or your style of cooking?
My parents. Growing up we had a home cooked meal every night even if I wasn’t home to eat it. They would try new recipes whether or not it was going to work out. They inspired me to try anything and to be proud of what you do, no matter what it was.

Behind the Bush: Pete Hasbrouck

Oh, Pete. Affectionately known among brewery staff as Papa Bear. He is an old man at heart and we love this about him. Greenbush certainly wouldn’t be the same without this guy. Think of how lost Mark Wahlberg was in the movie Ted when he lost his childhood stuffed animal. That’s kinda how Greenbush would be without Pete (or should I say Papa Bear?). Cheesy analogy aside, Pete is very passionate about what he does and we can attribute our great beer and successes in part to his passion. Although Pete is a business first kind of guy he also won’t hesitate to drop what he’s doing and lend you a hand and is always good for a pick me up when you’re having a bad day. He’s also good for coming up to you to say he specifically played whatever the current song on just for you or saying “guess what? I think you’re really swell” while holding his hands together, swaying back and forth and looking down all bashful like. Read on to learn more about the bear of a man behind our brew house.

What do you do at Greenbush?                                                                         
I’m the head brewer. I take everything from purchasing of raw materials through cooking and fermentation. This includes staffing, scheduling, training, quality assurance, recipe conception and being a face!

How’d you get involved with the brewery? 
I was a patron starting the first week Greenbush opened. As a homebrewer who was following a culinary career I was interested in learning about the process on a larger scale.  After making friends with bartenders (who were brewers, cellarmen, owners, cooks, etc) they offered me a tour. After chatting for a few months with them I asked if I could stage or intern for a day to help them and learn the process better. It took one day. I started showing up every Monday at 6 am to come help. After a few months of that they needed another brewer…and the rest is history.

What time is happy hour for you?
I’d like to think I’m a happy guy in general, but happy hour is when I know fermentation is going well, the ordering is done and all other tasks for the day are in working order. Then, I can relax…for an hour or so.

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
Um…Pilsner Urquell. Does that count? If not, PBR. IT WON A BLUE RIBBON! Winning awards means it’s good, right?

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
1)   Coffee
2)   Water
3)   Beer- German/Czech Pilleners and I usually look for Short’s at the local stores.
4)   Wine- anything Tempernillo from the Rioja region.
5)   Liquor- Rye Whiskey – preferably 90100 proof

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
Same response as most people– it’s hard to say. So many good memories. The first time I brewed with Scott (1 year anniversary party day) when he threw me to the wolves to be on my own and run the brew house, my first Michigan Brewer’s Guild beer festival where I got to see the seas of people coming to sample what we worked so hard on, the after hour Rhapsody music sessions with Lindsey and Emily [Editors note: only the good stuff. Lots of Usher, R. Kelly and other slow jamz. Be jelous. Very jealous.], my first recipe being brewed on a large scale and my first recipe hitting distribution in bottles and seeing it on the shelves. And now? Seeing people that work with/next to me starting to succeed and grow into recipe concepters. Oh, and being the poster boy on the cover of the Michigan Beer Film was pretty cool!

What do your friends think about all this madness?
They love it. I’m the guy that always shows up with beer now. How couldn’t they love it?  And it’s always a great conversation starter.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
So many things. A chef, firefighter, train conductor, entrepreneur, sculptor, musician. I guess anything that’s not very linear.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Closure. It’s my go to beer and I’m good with finding it when others struggle.

What’s your favorite food?
Weiner Schnitzel. Hammer lecker!!!! With a good Pils or Helles of course.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
We’re creators here. If we want something, we make it. So I suppose we could be all over the board. So many plans, so little time. I can’t say exactly because we move and grow at a rate that I’ve never seen before.

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
Probably my multi-tool or my phone. I know it sounds lame, but you have no idea how important communication is when you’re trying to keep things in motion!

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Exotic? Depends on the definition. Miami would be where I felt most out of place from the area (not a fan of heat). [Editor’s note: I can attest to this. Pete was not the happiest camper in our 91 degree loft for CCBW]. Living in Berlin was rather exotic (considering I didn’t speak a lick of German when I moved there) or New York City. But NYC can be an animal all on her own.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Detroit Red Wings (but any hockey will do). Telemundo Soccer, World cup of Rugby and Canadian Curling. After that I could really care less about sports.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
No brewery specifically. As previously stated I enjoy Michigan beer. Shout out to Short’s, Founders, Bell’s and Dark Horse…It was the good stuff I could get!

What’s on your nightstand?
My phone charger, keys and a big glass of water. Sorry guys, not very exciting.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
About 40 oz across the day. Usually 10 oz at a time.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
This one has a small story…I remember when Steve Murray was brewing the overnight shifts and he would set up a huge playlist on Rhapsody (usually involving some sort of classic or stoner rock). I used to sneak into the building through the front door when he couldn’t see me and queue up “Who Let the Dogs Out” by the Baha Men. I would time when the song would start and text him something along the lines of, “Hey, I just saw some dogs run by my house. Did you happen to let any out?” It usually was followed up by an, “I hate you.” So, that’s my version of the rick roll.

BONUS QUESTIONS:
How’s it feel being a beardless head brewer? Will the beard comeback?
It’s funny. People assume I’m the accountant or intern, or something like that. It just makes me laugh that people have to be the stereotype. And as for it coming back? It’s not my decision, it’s the beards. [Editor’s note: It appears to already be in the re-growth process].

What brought about your love for overalls?
Beach (Mr. Beach to you). Plus I’m pretty sure my mom still has a picture of me in my white pinstripe overalls with my conductor’s hat pretending to be a train engineer. I used to be so cute…what happened? [Editor’s note: Pete still has his cute moments!]

Favorite GB beer to brew vs. favorite GB beer to enjoy?
Mr. Hyde. Definitely Mr. Hyde. That smell when mashing in is like none other. Drinking wise? I would have to say There are Owls in the Roadhouse. To me it’s like drinking a dark chocolate raspberry truffle. Bitter and tart.

Behind the Bush: Aaron Darling

Aaron Darling… where do we begin? Aaron started working at Greenbush in early 2013 and we immediately threw him into the gauntlet–80-hour work weeks during our first stint of bottling for distribution, subjecting him to the most intense tap takeovers (Ashley’s Westland‘s 2013 Brewery Throwdowns, natch) and many more things, I’m sure. But at the heart of it all, Aaron’s just a super friendly, generous guy who doesn’t sweat the small stuff–the kind of attitude we all wish we could have. Read on to learn a bit more about Aaron–and if there’s anything we missed, you know where to find him on Thursday nights.

What do you do at Greenbush?  
Well my official title right now is Development Director. I have the cool opportunity to have my hands in a lot things including marketing, community relations, sales, operations, and finances. It’s all pretty rad.

How’d you get involved with the brewery? 
My wife is actually from the teeming metropolis of Sawyer. We were living in Minneapolis for the past ten years and both felt a itch to get closer to family. Scott and I started emailing and talking and 14 months ago the right time came for me to move my fam back to Sawyer to be a part of this crazy adventure.

What time is happy hour for you?  
I like the words of Jimmy Buffet—it’s 12 o’clock somewhere.

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
If I am on a deserted island, I am probably fishing. So in that case I would have to go with an old fishing standby—Grain Belt Premium.

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink? 
I’m an Arnie Palmer fan.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?  
Everyday we are making memories, but a few stick out in my mind. My first week here we started bottling. I worked eighty hours on the bottling line that week. I texted my wife on Valentine’s Day and told her that I was going to be a little late; we finished our last skid at 2 a.m.  I also got made fun of for having corporate hands that week. Every day felt like a great accomplishment.

What do your friends and family think about all this madness?  
They all think it’s pretty swell. It’s been cool to have friends visit from Minneapolis and show them all the coolness that is Greenbush.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be Ryne Sandberg and play 2nd base for the Cubs.

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
I would say Postcards from Dongola. My response rate on some text messages might be the same as getting a Postcard from Dongola.

What’s your favorite food?
It’s hard to pick a favorite food, but I have to go with cheese curds. One day we had our kitchen whip up some curds and I was a like a kid in a candy store. Every drive through Wisconsin needs to include a curd stop (and New Glarus for that matter).

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
Well, in just over a year since I started here, we have started bottling for distribution, expanded the taproom three times, built a patio, put in a full-size kitchen, bought a food truck and we are getting started on our outdoor patio and distribution expansion. I think it’s safe to say we are going to be doing some pretty amazing things.

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
After working in the corporate world for ten years, it’s nice to come to work with a hat (preferrably a trucker hat).

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Other than Sawyer, Michigan, I hopped around the Hawaiian islands and it was pretty super. I have some amazing memories and experiences from the island of Kauai.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Da Bears and I am going to cheat by saying all Minnesota teams otherwise.

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why? 
Town Hall Brewery in Minneapolis. I fell in love with craft beer after spending many a nights hanging out there. If you have never had their Masala Mama and you like beer, you need to make that a priority. Oh, and did I mention they have cheese curds on their menu?

What’s on your night stand?
Inc. Magazine, Reader’s Digest (am I 65?), and a cold glass of agua.

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
You can’t put typical and Greenbush in the same sentence.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
“Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba seems appropriate.

BONUS QUESTIONS
Describe what it’s like to be a bartender at Greenbush on a Thursday night.
Not to encourage people not to come other nights, but you are really missing out if you don’t come out to GB on Thursday nights. I mean you get to hang with Tosh 3.0, Lumsters, and Kristen. Oh, and did I mention it’s country music night starting at 9 p.m.?

At what age did you perfect your radio voice?
Working mornings at my college radio station, WVOE, helped start it. Making fun of my friend Zach and his stint in Iowa definitely added to the voice. I was in radio for almost seven years, so it seems like a part of me now.

Behind the Bush: Howie Wiesjahn

There’s happy and then there’s Howie. I think most of us out in the world can admit that we’re not always our best selves and sometimes we have bad days. In the nearly two years that he’s worked at Greenbush, I can’t recall a single time when I’ve seen something like that from Howie. The guy is just friendly, easy going, and straight up awesome. And if I said this to his face, he’d probably just shrug, smile, say “thanks,” and move about his day. Read below for more insight into this dude of excellent character we’re lucky to have behind the bar at Greenbush.

What do you do at Greenbush?  
I am the Assistant Taproom Manager.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
I was a patron and my friends Steve and Blake Murray worked there already for a few months. Steve had talked about moving from bartending to brewing so I saw an in. I probably was a bit annoying with the constant, “Can I start working yet?” but it was obviously worth it! Been loving it ever since!

What time is happy hour for you?
Any time there are good beers and good people.

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
Coors Banquet

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink? 
Water is a pretty tasty beverage.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
Oh man where to begin… The old Taco Tuesdays definitely come to mind. Some of the days were slow, but we always managed to have some fun. Also just seeing everything grow and change so fast. It has been so neat to be a part of the business.

What do your friends think about all this madness?  
If they haven’t already applied or work here… then they gotta be jealous.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A pilot or a doctor. Things kind of changed huh? No regrets!

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
Anger for sure. Unless we come out with one named Happy or Smiley… that would probably be a better fit.

What’s your favorite food? 
I like food. All food. I don’t play favorites.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
I cant even fathom it. Have you seen what’s happened in the two and a half years we’ve been open?!?!

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
A smile… I never leave home without it.

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
Mexico. My personal favorite place is Colorado. I wouldn’t count it as very exotic though.

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Chicago

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
When I lived in Indianapolis I really liked Sun King. It was one of the few, close to me and tasty.

What’s on your nightstand?
A water bottle, alarm clock and a phone. Not too exciting…

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?  
It definitely varies… but if I had to average it out probably about 2?

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
Hocus Pocus by Focus. It’s fun to say and everyone can sing along!

BONUS QUESTIONS

How do you maintain such a level of mellowness?
Music. Also, don’t take life so seriously. Or if you do, just be good at hiding it 🙂

You’re a musician, right? Tell me about it.
I love music! I play piano and drums and am in a band called Tree! with Blake and Steve Murray. I started playing piano when I was in 3rd grade and then when I started to get my own passion for music in middle school I began to pick up the drums. It keeps me sane!

Behind the Bush: Cassie Beebe

Where do we begin with Cassie? Let’s let Mike start us off… Cassie Beebe, GB’s very first and only official full-time cellarWOMAN. She joined us early June of 2012 as an intern and quickly became one of our most proficient hand-bottlers. Cassie’s adamant, to-the-point demeanor and stalwart work ethic greatly helped strengthen our taproom bottle inventory system in some of it’s earlier stages. She later moved on to lead our cellarmen in production on our new Meheen bottling line.

Her problem-solving, attention to detail and organizational skills landed her a new position as our aptly titled “Demolitions Recovery Specialist” (or more formally) “Project Manager”. She now handles a lot of our supply and renovation related business. She is usually found working. Floating endlessly between the two hubs on the premises (possibly with Type O-Negative blaring out of her headphones). Read on to learn a bit more about our fabled “Lady of the Cellar.”

[Jen’s taking over for a minute…] I don’t think that even begins to do justice to how awesome she is. Let me break it down in more concrete terms: Cassie will help anyone with anything (folding t-shirts by morning with me and staining oak by daytime for the taproom, yep); she’ll get the job done faster and more thoroughly than most anyone else; and she won’t listen to you when you tell her she probably doesn’t need to move 150+ lb. kegs… all day long. 

What do you do at Greenbush?
Actual title: Demolitions Recovery. Enough said.

How’d you get involved with the brewery?
I came in to help one day and continued to work at least 12 hour days for 2 weeks straight. I hired myself in a way, it’s been non-stop since then! 

What time is happy hour for you?
Saturday…all day. 

You’re on a deserted island and can only have one case of mass-produced domestic beer dropped to you—what do you pick?
Stag is technically domestic, right?

What’s your favorite non-Greenbush beverage to drink?
Whiskey or water.

What’s been your most memorable Greenbush experience thus far?
Stocking kegs 5 high outside of the original cooler and still trying to produce and store the product.

What do your friends think about all this madness?
They want to participate! They have their own mugs and are always amazed with renovations we do. 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Geologist…eventually mortician; beer is perfect for me. 

If you were a Greenbush beer, which would you be and why?
1825. Your mom will like me and your dad won’t think I’m a wuss. 

What’s your favorite food?
Pizza: I ❤ U 4-EVA.

Where do you think you and Greenbush will be in 5 years?
I hope to be working on projects for new facilities. 

If you only had one item you could take with you to work, what would it be and why?
Computer, it’s how I do the majority of my work! 

What’s the most exotic place you’ve ever visited?
The I-80 truck stop in Iowa. Exotic because it was around 3 in the morning. Iowa was covered in darkness (thank the Lord), the titillating brightness of the Travel America drew me in like any moth to moon. They had 2 semi-trucks displayed as if it were a Price Is Right showcase. Two semi trucks…INSIDE! And moccasins. 

Chicago or Michigan sports teams (or Indiana if you’re crazy)?
Michigan. Michigan. Michigan. 

Did you have a favorite brewery before Greenbush opened? If so, what and why?
I enjoyed 3 Floyds beer but had only ever visited Founders in Grand Rapids. 

What’s on your nightstand?
Nothing juicy, some pens maybe. 

How many beers do you drink in a typical day?
One.

Rhapsody Hero (where you try to pick the WORST song for everyone to enjoy)—what’s your pick?
Type O-Negative: Cinnamon Girl (cover, clearly). Peter Steele made the best voices. 

BONUS QUESTIONS:
Since starting at Greenbush, you’ve been a jack of all trades (and master of most); what’s been your favorite “job” here?
Where I started, cellerman [Ed’s note: we preferred to call her “Lady of the Cellar.”] That job is awesome.

What’s it like living with three guys you work with at Greenbush?
Modern.