Welcome to our conversation series where we speak with different individuals involved in the Pennsylvania craft beer industry. For suggestions on who should be featured, email us at [email protected].

Describe your role in the PA craft beer industry.

I have been the Eastern Pennsylvania Columnist for the Mid-Atlantic Brew News since June 2019. I took over for the late Jack Curtin. I can’t say that I replaced him because no one could replace Jack. I am also a contributing editor for our Facebook page. Prior to my current role, I compiled the MABN Hop Tips event newsletter for around three years starting in February 2016. Photography was my foot in the door around 2003 although most of my photos were used in the Yankee Brew News’ New York State column. I also did some photography for Philly Beer Scene magazine in 2012.

How did you get involved in writing and beer in general?

In regards to beer, I was in a fraternity and played ice hockey and rugby at Temple University so beer was always available. I thank you in advance for not asking about my Spring 1983 GPA. Additionally, in 1985, my Dad opened a bar in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. In regards to writing, I was hoping to move up from the newsletter to the paper as a special feature writer or columnist. Then Jack suddenly resigned and it was all hands on deck. Jamie Magee, our publisher, liked the fact that I was cheap and easy (lol) and, the next thing you know, I was starting in centerfield. The problem was I had not submitted anything for publication since the April Fool’s edition for my high school paper in 1980. I was rusty and I thank God for my editor Greg Kitsock. Personally, I think that I am a better photographer than a writer, but with limited space in the paper, there’s really not much room for photo essays or collages.

How did your passion for craft beer come about?

Howie Corbin was a Central HS and Temple University ice hockey teammate. On Howie’s suggestion, we met up in 1998 at “GABF On The Road” in Baltimore. It was my first beer festival and what an eye-opener. I met Tom Kehoe of Yards at that event and can still remember talking with him about brewing in Manayunk. Dead Guy Ale from Rogue was the beer that caught my attention and I remember tasting the Sam Adams Triple Bock which was poured from that tiny cobalt blue bottle as one of the most disgusting things that I ever put into my mouth. After that, Victory Downingtown was a short drive from where I lived in Devon. Howie became a feature writer for MABN and I became his wingman with the camera. When he moved outside of Albany and to the Yankee Brew News, I used to joke that I knew more brewers from New York than Pennsylvania since I was shooting New York festivals with him.

How do you think PA is a unique craft beer state versus other states?

You can go really “old school” with Yuengling, Iron City, and Straub. You have the “newer old school” like Victory, Troegs, and Weyerbacher. And then you have places like Tired Hands, Levante, and since this is Breweries In Pennsylvania, New Trail in Williamsport. I personally think Pennsylvania is highly saturated with breweries and I am curious as to how many are going to survive the post-pandemic fallout.

When is the last time you went to a brewery outside of PA? What stood out to you about that experience?

My wife Christine and I have an annual trip to Vermont during leaf-peeping season. Unfortunately, we canceled this year for Covid reasons. The right weather and the changing leaves with outdoor seating make the brewery visits extra enjoyable. Sitting by the firepit at Idletyme Brewing in Stowe when it started flurrying on a partly sunny day was memorable to me. Beach Chalet in San Francisco overlooking the Pacific Ocean during the Craft Brewers Conference and Estes Park Brewing, where my daughter and I watched lightning strikes in the Mummy Range while having post-hike beers, are other standouts. As long as you live in the moment, the parking lot of a brewery can be a memorable experience. Closer to home, as much as I dislike New Jersey rules and regs, Bonesaw Brewing in Glassboro is a favorite. Great beer, better people, and if you’re lucky, head brewer AJ Stoll will serve you a slow pour pilsner.

Do you have a favorite beer or beers to drink right now?

Right now, Hill Farmstead’s Edward and Double Citra are desert island beers. Bissell Brothers Substance Ale also. From Pennsylvania, Victory Hop Devil on nitro and Tired Hands Hop Hands make the list.

Where do you see the beer industry heading with content/social media and events?

One disturbing trend, in my opinion, is that there is a lot of meanness in social media. I don’t know if it is a reflection of today’s society or people being keyboard warriors or people that are just assholes. Some of the threads that I read on posts just make me shake my head. I put up a meme on our Facebook page a couple of years ago when I first started editing the page to see how our followers would react since I didn’t know the group. The first comments started a fantastic discussion but then the nastiness started. I ended up deleting the post just for my sanity. In regards to events, I am looking forward to when the Covid restrictions are lifted and they aren’t virtual anymore. And when they do start, I hope that they get rid of the VIP/Connoisseur sessions. I think that everyone should get a chance at the so-called “rare” beers. On the other hand, I would pay a couple of bucks extra for a private bathroom. If you ever had to use the porta-potties at the Belgium Comes To Cooperstown Festival on the third day, you would understand. Just sayin’.

Tell us why you do what you do? What inspires you to keep going?

It’s fun. Beer is fun. Taking pictures at events is fun. I once shot BCTC dressed as Elvis when they had a Vegas theme. I would love to do more of that. Also, it’s nice when the Creative Director of the Brewers Association lets you know that he used your photos in a newsletter or on the site. It’s meeting people and talking. One couple at TAP-NY used to look for me so I could take their annual photo at the festival. It’s getting the information from the brewery and passing it on to our readers. I’m a couple of years from retirement and I hope that print doesn’t go the way of the dinosaur because I will have more time to do what I am doing now.

Who are your biggest influences that keep you going?

Mid-Atlantic Brew News is owned by Jamie Magee. Jamie is probably tied for the nicest guy in the brewing industry with Larry Bennett who just retired from Ommegang. Print in the digital age is tough and I want Jamie to succeed. So, in a shameless pitch, get a subscription and read the paper when you are sitting on the toilet instead of checking email on the phone.

Give us your top 3 social media pages that you turn to regularly for inspiration.

Breweries In Pennsylvania should be mandatory reading for anyone looking for craft beer in Pennsylvania. I use the brewery map for planning road trips all the time. I’ll make a note when I see a brewery opening on the page for when it is time to write the column. Secondly, because I know what breweries I cover, I just hit their Facebook page for info. And, finally, I’ll look at our Instagram page feed every once in a while for the breweries that MABN follows.

Thanks to John Vaccarelli for talking with us! You can find him writing for Mid-Atlantic Brew News, and (outside of COVID) you can find him having fun at beer events! If you see him out and about make sure to say hi!