Serious Eats Gets Some Oral History From Garrett

The foodie blog Serious Eats recently posted an interview with Brewmaster Garrett Oliver. Here is what transpired

From SeriousEats.com

Garrett Oliver has been brewing at the Brooklyn Brewery since 1994. He’s known not only for his flavorful beers, but also for his eloquent writing on craft beer and his genius for finding delicious food and beer pairings. We’re big fans of his book, The Brewmaster’s Table, and were thrilled that he was willing to answer a few of our burning questions.

Name: Garrett Oliver
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Occupation: Brewmaster, Brooklyn Brewery

How did you come to be so knowledgeable about beer? I suppose you could say that it happened by accident. When I fell in love with beer while living in England in the early 80s, I had no idea that it would lead to a hobby and then a career. Eventually I became fascinated by every aspect of beer, and I’ve learned slowly over time. And I think I still learn something new nearly every day.

How would you describe your brewing style? Is there a common thread between your beers? Someone who was visiting the brewery once said that she thought of our beers as “bold, but smooth.” In a way, I think she really captured our style—big flavors presented in a balanced well-structured frame. Our brewing style is, I think, very chef-like. Sometimes we’re classical, and sometimes we’re way out in left field, but I think our overall sense of balance and structure is very consistent. Again, you can think of food; you build flavors from the ground up, and then you look to bring your elements into harmony.

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