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Barley & Me

Brewing Experience

Brewmaster, Basil T's Brewery & Italian Grill
Red Bank, NJ 9/99 - 9/2011

Brewer, The Ship Inn
Milford, NJ  4/99 -  8/99

Red Bank Brewing Co.
Red Bank, NJ 7/96-2/98

Education

American Brewers  Guild Craftbrewer Apprenticeship Program
Woodland, CA 10/98 - 12/98 

5-week Apprenticeship
 Brew Brothers, Reno, NV

Professional Organizations

Master Brewers Association of the Americas
Vice-President, NY Division

Brewers Association

Garden State Craft Brewers Guild
 Past President, Adinistrative Liaison

Other

Owner, GretchenBrew LLC
Westfield, NJ 9/2011 - Present

Gold Medal, Great American Beer Festival
Classic Dry Irish Stout 2006 

Bronze Medal, Great American Beer Festival
Coffee-Flavored Beer 2003

Gold Medal, Great American Beer Festival
Coffee-Flavored Beer 2002


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Gretchen & Da Crew at Basil's 2011
My professional brewing career began at Red Bank Brewing Company in 1996. After a six-month stint at The Ship Inn, I took a job at Basil T's Brewery & Italian Grill in Red Bank, NJ. Over the next 12 years, it really became home, many of my loyal customers  like family.  In August 2011 I decided to leave; a hard decision, but time to move on.  

I love brewing! I love the physical aspect, the routine, the creativity  and especially the PR component -- meeting and talking to new people as well as old friends, finding out what they think  about beer.
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Mashing in on brew day.

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Enjoying a beer with Frank Barritta.
As a brewer, I've had the opportunity to meet lots of interesting people.  Francesco Barritta, left, and his brother own Birrificio Cunegonda in Spilinga, Italy. I even had the chance to meet Norm at the 2010 Craft Brewer Conference in Chicago. 
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NORM! at the 2010 CBC in Chicago.

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With the W.H.A.L.E.S.

I also enjoy collaborating with other brewers on various projects.  I brewed an ESB with the W.H.A.L.E.S. which was entered in the Pro-Am Competition at the Great American Beer Festival a few years back. Another interesting joint venture was a chocolate chili pepper porter brewed with Brewmaster Tim Kelly of Tun Tavern in Atlantic City. 
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At the Tun Tavern
Copyright 2012 GretchenBrew LLC, Westfield, NJ