Meet Emily O’Keefe

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became interested in beer?

I moved to Colorado Springs in July 2020, with my husband, Tommy, our son, TJ, my parents, and my brother-in-law. TJ is now 4 and our little Colorado native, Elijah, is almost 2. I have too many hobbies including brewery hopping, camping, volleyball, book club, yoga, writing, traveling, and Brew Brothers of Pikes Peak homebrew club. We have a goal of visiting every baseball stadium so we go to at least one per year. This inevitably leads to many brewery visits. 

Tommy and I really became interested in beer while we were dating, and it has become our favorite hobby. I’ve always loved IPAs, but he has very recently convinced me that stouts should exist as well. I recognize the controversy, but I do love a tasty dessert stout. I have yet to convince him of the merits of IPAs. I am a beer judge under the BJCP https://www.bjcp.org/. The experience of taking the course, online exam, and tasting exam fueled a passion for so many types of beer and education around craft beer. 

Are there any specific beer styles or breweries that played a big role in shaping your love for beer?

As I mentioned, the BJCP course was very impactful to me and I would recommend anyone who is even slightly interested in beer styles to take the course with Brad Darnell. 

Even though they are still fairly new, Batch Slapped here in the Springs has added so much to my love of beer. Owner/brewer, Jordan, is a good friend and is so open about his process, open to feedback, discussing his recipes and what he would do differently. The mug club has 6 experimental beers that change monthly and they are constantly experimenting with cool ingredients and fun styles. I love trying new beers all the time and this place has become somewhat of a second home to us in such a short period of time.

What are some of your favorite beer styles, and why do you enjoy them?

Currently, I’m loving Belgian beers. Particularly tripels. The Honey Orange Tripel from New Belgium is amazingly good. My all-time favorite beer is Mad Elf (Belgian-style strong ale) from Tröegs Brewing in Hershey, PA. This is not the easy drinking beer that mows the lawn with you. For me, it is a Christmas-time and special occasion beer. This keeps the magic alive too. Also, if you go to the east coast, please bring some back for me. Please and thank you. 

What are some of your go-to beers when you're looking for something familiar and reliable?

Everyone should have that comfort food equivalent—the beer version of a giant plate of mac and cheese. Anything with delicious, juicy hops is mine. Flying Dog (originally founded in CO and re-located to Frederick, MD) has some of my favorites - Raging Bitch and The Truth. Odell’s IPA (you know, orange can with the elephant) is another go-to for me. 

Are there any breweries or beer-related events that you're particularly excited about right now?

I am super excited about Westfax opening their new location in the Springs. I recently had a 4-pack sampler (Checkpoint triple hazy, Urban Lumberjack IPA, Asphalt Cowboy DDH hazy, and Hasta La Vista Vienna Lager) and seriously could not decide which was my favorite. Feast of St. Arnold is coming up in June and I’m looking forward to that. I haven’t been to the really big ones yet like GABF, but would love to. 

What do you think sets the craft beer community apart from other beverage industries?

There is just so much more community in general  in craft beer that I don’t believe exists in other beverage industries. Brewers helping each other, regulars, festivals, meet-ups, and so much more. I don’t see a lot of other industries really working together to advance the craft like you see in the craft beer community. 

I think one positive thing that COVID did was force breweries to re-evaluate their business models and pivot with creative ways to stay in business. Hardships for small businesses were highlighted during the pandemic and many breweries were able to strengthen their ties to the community. There was a renewed sense of buying and supporting local. It forced many of the breweries here together as they shared ingredients, equipment, and resources. I think the microcosm of breweries here in the Springs is unique with the support they offer each other. And the consumer has been particularly benefited by all the amazing collaborations that have been popping up in the last year. 

What do you think is the biggest misconception about the craft beer industry?

That it is a bunch of white guys with a beer gut and a great beard sitting around waxing poetic about the juicy huckleberry double dry hopped herbal barrel aged imperial pilsner they just had. This can certainly happen (the guys, not that beer), but the beer industry has grown to so much more. Anyone can be a part of the craft beer community, from novice to expert. It should be about fun, creativity, and community. 

Do you have any advice for people who are just starting to explore the world of craft beer?

Have fun and be adventurous. Try not to get the same thing everywhere you go. I totally get if you like IPAs and automatically order that, but there are so many different options. There are ~100 types of beer in the BJCP guidelines. Maybe find someone who likes the opposite style and try theirs. I shamelessly ask to try my friends’ beers all the time. If you don’t try it (probably at least 3 times), you will never know. Bottle shares are an awesome way to try new beers. Invite a few friends over (or people from a craft beer FB group you barely know) and everyone brings something different. Bottle shares are so underutilized. 

Are there any tips you can offer for navigating a beer menu or choosing the right beer for a particular occasion?

I love love love when breweries categorize their menu by style, particularly when they have many beers. If they do not, I categorize them in my head by IPA, stout/porter, ciders/seltzers/sours, and whatever other styles they have. Then I pick the one that looks the most interesting or creative within that style. Another option is to just ask the brewtender. Typically they are incredibly knowledgeable about the beers on tap and can help you find something you like. With the smaller breweries, you may even be talking to the owner or the brewer. I love when this happens, particularly when we are traveling as it is so interesting to hear their process and perspective about the beers.