Beer Dinner at NOCA

5 questions with Jon Schmidt...

The legend of the enigma known in certain circles (and to all his family and friends) as Jon Schmidt is pervasive.  Having lived his entire life in the Tempe area, stories of his exploits are everywhere.  I even heard that he once slayed the demon spawn of Kim Jong Il while quoting Ash from the movie "Army Of Darkness" without spilling a drop of beer (this report is unsubstantiated but impressive nonetheless)!  When not punishing the powers of evil, he can be found securing new accounts and promoting the deliciousness of Four Peaks beer.  Anyone who has been privy enough to receive his business card can only agree vehemently that he is the one, true "Bar Room Hero" of Tempe.

I was able to catch up with him not too long ago to try get a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry that is his life.  He proved himself a worthy adversary and I feel blessed he didn't condemn me to the same netherworld where he sent Jong Il The Lesser.  Without further ado I give you Jon Schmidt, Smiter of Evil!  

                       
1. Which Four Peaks beer is your favorite and why?
 
I think I would have to say the 8th Street Ale. It's a great balanced beer and it's not too heavy. It has a crisp finish so that you can enjoy it on a hot day, but it's equally as enjoyable on a chilly day due to the complex nature of the beer. "Thank God for hops."
  
 
2. What is your favorite "beer" movie (Strange Brew, Beerfest, or something altogether different)?  Explain your answer.
 
Strange Brew hands down! Its got everything...  hockey players dressed like storm troopers, ghosts, the evil master brewer with the crazy voice and Canadians! My mom is Canadian so that's a plus. Love it.


3.  Which aspect of serving Four Peaks in an "earth friendly" 12oz. can has you most excited? 

I am stoked! What's not to love? Finally we can have a Kiltlifter on the golf course, at the lake and by the pool. I can throw a sixer in my pack when I go camping, crush them up and take them back when I'm done. No more broken glass at the river baby!
     

4. When you finally find that you have a day off, which place(s) do you like to go to enjoy a tasty Four Peaks beverage?
 
There are so many great places in this town. Too many to list so I'll give you my top three in no particular order:

1. Rose and Crown is a great little place in downtown Phoenix with wonderful food and great beer.  The patio is a radical place to relax and soak up the great AZ weather.

2. TT Roadhouse... I love this place it's small, loud, and fun. The staff kicks ass and so does the jukebox.

3. Casey Moore's is my neighborhood hang out. There is nothing better than sitting down with a group of friends, having beers and telling lies all day. Just bring your shovel.
 
    
5. You've worked for Papago Brewing, Rio Salado and Four Peaks Brewing, please elaborate on how you fell into the exciting world of beer sales. 

Let's not forget four months at BJs Brewing Company... But it all started from my failed attempt at being a recording engineer. The money was bad but the music was worse. A part time job at Papago turned into a full time love for craft brew. Over the next few years I made a lot of good friends, and tried to learn as much as I could about brewing and the craft brew industry. I tried brewing but realized it was too hard, and I wasn't good enough to be a great brewer. I have always enjoyed being around people, and I love getting the opportunity to get people excited about Four Peaks beer.
                                      
  
  

As we wrap up another exciting issue, we would like to remind you that if you missed it on April 5th, The Queen Creek Olive Mill will be having one more "Grill In The Grove" this Sunday the 19th!  Grilling, live music, wine tasting and Four Peaks Beer will all be there, so if you find yourself in the East Valley, by all means stop by!

As you can see we are really looking forward to the next few weeks what with the new seasonal, Bourbon Barreled Russian Imperial Stout, and the new canned beer that will be coming out.  It just so happens the original Tempe Brewpub will be turning 12 on April 26th (the Anniversary of our Grand Opening, it seems like yesterday if you were here then).  It seems mildly apropos that we should offering 12 packs not that long after our 12 Year Anniversary!
            
Customer Comment Of The Week...

We would like to introduce a new segment to the Brewsletter called "The Customer Comment Of The Week" or TCCOTW.  It's pretty straightforward, every week we get numerous comments on both the Scottsdale and Tempe locations.  Sometimes the questions and/or remarks are so good we find it imperative to share them with our readership.  So with that being explained, our first installment is a comment received from John Strange, John says:

"Three friends and I went to the Tempe location for dinner on 3/21 and 3/22 and again for lunch on 3/23. I am a hard core Brewpub fan who lives in the Northwest and have been lucky enough to visit many breweries. Four Peaks is in the top three along with Sierra Nevada and Deschutes. I would place it at the top after the amazing service we received and quality of food and beer. I can't wait to go back next year. Tell me, how do you get food out of that kitchen so fast when there are so many customers? Thanks for the three best meals I've had in a long time."

Thank you for all the kind words!  That we were able to impress you on all 3 successive days is gratifying and something we always strive for (especially over a weekend during Spring Training!).  We look forward to you visiting again and can't wait to dazzle you a fourth time!

Don't forget to catch the movie "Beer Wars" tomorrow at one of these fine theaters in the Valley (HERE).  That'll wrap it up for this edition, catch you next week!