by Mike Killelea

I was in the middle of back to back Main Street brews tonight when I went to my office to check in on Hazel, my bull terrier.  I heard someone ask our bartender – “Hey, is that the Brewmaster?”  She said yes.  For a brief second, I started to look behind me.  Then it hit me – they’re looking at me.  The “Brewmaster.”  I hate that term.  Same with Master Brewer.

It’s not really that I hate them.  Hate is a strong word.  I think they’re misused.  And sometimes grossly inappropriate.  I am not a Master Brewer.  I am a brewer.  I sometimes call myself Head Brewer – in a brewery with one brewer.  Back in my Legend days, I used to jokingly call myself the Lead Brewer.  But really, I’m just a brewer.  And I’m fine with that.

I’ve been brewing professionally for almost seven years.  I went to brewing school (American Brewers Guild – which I highly recommend for all those aspiring brewers).  I did an internship.  I’ve attended conferences on brewing.  But I am not a “Master Brewer.”  And neither are countless others who use the term (you know who you are!).  My instructor at the American Brewers Guild (did I mention that I highly recommend that place?), Steve Parkes, he’s a brewmaster.  John Mallet of Bell’s, he’s a brewmaster.  The guys running the AB plant in Williamsburg – brewmasters (I know!  Sacrilege!).

I have not truly mastered all the minutia of craft brewing.  Lord knows I’m trying.  But I feel like I’m learning something new all the time.  Every time I talk about brewing with another brewer, I feel like I’m learning.  Every brewing book that I read, something new.  Sometimes it’s a little morsel from a brewing magazine.  Anyway, maybe I’ll feel differently in 20 years.  Till then, I’m happy with Brewer.

Actually, I stand corrected.  I am a Brewmaster.  Damn you Wikipedia.