All of the beer resumes have been reviewed, all of the votes have been tallied, and the judges have narrowed all the applicants down to the following three finalists, which will go on to compete at the 2012 Beerdrinker of the Year contest.
Warren Monteiro is a New York City freelance writer, beer traveler, homebrewer and BeerSensei columnist for Alestreet News. Monteiro has sampled beers throughout the United States, Europe, Central American, India, Sri Lanka and numerous other nations. In 2011, he visited breweries and beer festivals in England, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States. He samples an average of 350 beers each year.
“[Beer drinking] is not a habit, it’s a lifestyle,” Monteiro says. “This is why I constantly travel – to get a taste of a new brew or one I’ve been missing, and to find a way to share it whenever possible.”
Monteiro’s home beer bar is theBlind Tiger Ale House in New York City.
Greg Nowatzki is a Las Vegas, Nevada accountant, homebrewer and beer judge. Nowatzki has tasted more than 13,600 beers from 84 different countries and all 50 U.S. states. He has visited more than 500 breweries in 32 different states and the District of Columbia, and he has attended more than 150 beer festivals in eight states. In 2011, he visited 16 beer festivals – including his 11th-consecutive Great American Beer Festival – and he visited more than 100 different breweries in seven states.
“Everyone likes beer,” Nowatzki says. “Some just haven’t tasted enough to find the ones they like yet.”
Nowatzki’s home beer bar is Big Dog’s Draft House in Las Vegas.
J. Wilson is a Prescott, Iowa writer, homebrewer, beer judge and beer blogger. He has a 3-tap, 8-foot home bar supplied by a 10-gallon brewing system in his basement.
In 2011, he organized numerous beer events in his hometown. Last year was highlighted by a research project in which he fasted for 46 days on water and doppelbock that he brewed with a local brewery. Wilson’s experience is chronicled in his book, “Diary of a Part-Time Monk,” which also includes the history of beer and fasting, church connections, and health issues associated with fasting.
“Living life in search of brewvana, which is an ideal condition of harmony, beer and joy,” Wilson explains, “I seek to educate and advocate on behalf of craft beer – folding good beer into a good life.”
Wilson’s home beer bar is El Bait Shop in Des Moines, Iowa.
At 2 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Denver, these three finalists will be grilled by a panel of judges (previous Beerdrinker of the Year winners and national beer experts) in traditional jurist wigs and robes. These judges will challenge the finalists with difficult beer questions, and then choose the 2012 winner.
The Beerdrinker of the Year will win free beer for life at Wynkoop Brewing Company, a $250 tab at his/her local brewpub or beer bar, and gets his/her name engraved on the Beerdrinker of the Year trophy at Wynkoop.
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