Name: Drew Bretz
Years Brewing: 7
Homebrew Club: Garage Brewers Society
Medal Count: 6
- Gold (1) – American IPA – Music City Brew Off – 2014
- Silver (4) – Irish Red, Robust Porter – Champion of the Pint – 2014; Double India Pale Lager (Specialty category) – Microfest – 2015; Gose – Sower’s Cup – 2016
- Bronze (1) – American IPA – Champion of the Pint – 2013
Brewing System Details: [All-grain] 56 quart Picnic cooler MLT (mash-lauter tun) w braided stainless hose, 10 gal kettle (also have a 20 gal kettle for 10-gal batches), Blichmann floor burner (natural gas). I mostly do single-infusion mashes with a batch sparge.
Piece of brewing equipment I can’t live without: When I bought my Blichmann burner, I spent the extra $15 for a natural gas conversion kit. The house my wife and I bought a couple years ago had an existing natural gas line plumbed to the back patio for some kind of gas grill monstrosity a previous owner had. Being a charcoal guy, I knew that line was destined for brewing. No more schlepping 30 lb. propane tanks around town, paying $15-20 per fill. Natural gas being much cheaper than propane, this move has saved me a lot of money and countless trips to the fill center, and more importantly enables me to brew on a moment’s notice because I always have gas at hand.
My friends’ favorite beer that I brew: Outside of homebrew club meetings, it’s mostly family I share my beer with. Irish Red and IPA are the most requested. I brewed IPA for my brother’s wedding and my cousin’s wedding in back-to-back months in summer 2015 and got some awesome feedback.
My favorite beer I brew: IPA again. I’m actively working on brewing something else better than that style, but until I achieve that goal, IPA is what I brew best, so naturally it’s the one I most like to drink. The added bonus inherent in homebrewing IPA is that you know it’s always fresh and at its best.
Listen to Drew on Episode 11 of the “Beering Impaired” podcast now!
For Drew’s Gold Medal Winning American IPA Recipe, click here.
Know anyone from the St. Louis area that should be a Highlighted Homebrewer? Send us an email at info@saintbrewis.com and let us know who. Cheers!
Justin Phelps
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