National Homebrew Day is May 7th, and while we often spend time touting the breweries and distilleries that work with us, we want to take a minute to recognize another group that holds a soft spot in our hearts…the folks that go the extra mile to brew their own beer with our local Root Shoot malt!
A dedicated group of beer aficionados that concoct tasty brews out of their garages, on their back patios, or wherever they can make space, Root Shoot’s homebrewers are an enthusiastic bunch who have been key in helping us get our name out in the community. We’re indebted to them for their loyalty and their hard work on behalf of Root Shoot, so over the next couple of months, we’ll be featuring a few of them on our socials!
This week, we wanted to start with a Homebrew Powerhouse, Mark Boelman.
Mark was one of our picks for a Homebrew Highlight, not just because he is an excellent homebrewer (this guy took home a GABF medal!) but because of his involvement in the homebrew community - he’s an active member of Weiz Guys Homebrew Club - and his efforts to guide the Weiz Guys (and others!) in philanthropic activities for the wider Northern Colorado community. Mark has organized turkey drives for the Larimer County Food Bank, coat drives for the bitter cold months, and, most recently, he and the Weiz Guys joined the call by Pravda Beer Theatre, a brewery in Ukraine that, after the Russian invasion, released five of their recipes and encouraged brewers world wide to use those recipes to brew beer and raise funds for humanitarian efforts. Weiz Guys will be matching all donations by its members made to the Red Cross. As mastermind behind the fundraiser, Mark will be brewing Ukrainian Golden Ale using Root Shoot Odysessy Pilsner Malt and RS Wheat and tapping it on National Homebrew Day, May 7th.
We wanted to give a shout out to the good dude behind all these good causes, so please meet…
Mark Boelman, Weiz Guys Homebrew Club
Number of Years Brewing: 12
Favorite Style of Beer for Drinking: I’m a fairly seasonal drinker - big barrel-aged stout and barleywine in the colder months and light and refreshing in the summer. I don't like to discriminate!
How did you first get into homebrewing? Since venturing out on my own at 19, and missing my mother's cooking I learned to enjoy being in the kitchen - I was interested in making recipes to enjoy and share with friends. When craft beer exploded in Colorado, I was blown away at the flavor that beer could have. Combine those two life experiences with a chance to learn from a neighbor, I was hooked....especially when that first beer I made was good!
What do you most love about homebrewing? I love being able to share my beer with friends and family - I love the process from idea to recipe formulation to brew day to the anticipation of the carbonated beer flowing out of my taps - I love the community of homebrewing and the craft beer community - I love opening up a tap and pouring a pint of a beer that has been lagering for months and enjoying that crisp taste on a hot day and the satisfaction of knowing I made it.
What do you believe to be the trickiest part about homebrewing?
I think the trickiest part is paying attention to all the intangibles. You can watch out for the big stuff like sanitation and temperature control but I really think it is a culmination of giving time and attention to all the small things, that as a whole, make a big difference.
What is the best beer that you brew? Right now, I feel like the NE IPA's I am making are amazing. I love buying these in the market but at $20 a 4pk to be able to have better beer on tap at the house is kick-ass. Sometimes I pour a pint and step back and think, "Holy shit, I made that (in my garage!) I got some validation of this last summer by winning the Boil Rumble, a competition hosted by Melvin Brewing, a brewery known for hop-forward beer. Our club got to travel to Alpine Wyoming and brew my NE IPA at their location....using Root Shoot Malt!
What’s a memorable homebrew experience (good or bad) that you have had? The coolest experience I have ever had was winning a GABF medal as a homebrewer. Odell Brewing in Fort Collins picked up a beer I had entered at the Liquid Poets competition. A dark raspberry sour. Being able to get on stage and accept that award, is something I will never forget. It was super cool too, as I was volunteering with the American Homebrewers Association at the pro-am booth, I was able to serve my beer to attendees after I had won.
What’s next for you in brewing? What are your goals?
I am currently getting my lineup ready for the National Homebrew Competition. In 2018, I was runner-up for the Ninkasi Award (Homebrewer of the Year) - to be so close and not win! I have sights set on pulling that off although I know, the competition is fierce and takes a ton of luck.
And the last very important question: if you had to pick one (non-homebrew) beer that would be the only beer you would be allowed to drink for the next 10 years, what would it be?
Hmmm, I love this question. If I had only one beer to drink for ten years - I would probably go with Trumer Pils: It is exceptionally well-crafted and is actually the only beer the brewery makes and it shows!
