Hometown: Lexington, Missouri
Current neighborhood: Waldo
Who or what is your sidekick? I’m not sure how my wife, Randyl, would feel about being called my sidekick, but we spend a lot of time together. I’m really lucky to have married my best friend, and we share a ton of common interests. I think I’m her sidekick, though. If Randyl’s busy, then my sweet pit bull, Emma, is my go-to sidekick.
What career would you choose in an alternate reality? I’m incredibly happy with what I do in this reality, but it would be cool to be in a bluegrassy jam band. I’d be the banjo player who only sings when he has to.
What was the last local restaurant you patronized? I brought dinner home from Chelly’s Café on 85th Street the other night. We have so many options for killer authentic Mexican food in Kansas City.
Where do you drink? Because of my job and access to fresh, free beer, I drink a lot at home, but when I do go out, I usually hit Beer Kitchen, Swagger or Waldo Pizza. I also try to frequent the local brewpubs as often as I can.
Favorite arts organization: I’m a big fan of the growing improv scene in Kansas City. We’re not nearly as organized and hard-core as some other cities, but we’re getting there. There’s a passionate group of people slowly building things up.
Favorite place to spend a significant portion of your paycheck: My wife and I aren’t collectors of possessions but, rather, we believe in the experience of life, so we like to drop a lot of money on good food and drink.
What local phenomenon do you think is overrated? I don’t know if this counts as a phenomenon, but it seems that everyone is serving their version of short ribs these days. I just don’t get it. They’re good, and I’ve had some that border on great, but it seems like short ribs are the cool food right now. I’d much rather have a medium-rare steak.
Where do you like to take out-of-town guests? Of course, I bring out-of-town folks to the brewery for a private tour. On my tour, you always have a full glass of beer, and we see all the cool areas the public tour doesn’t. The best place in Kansas City to drink beer is on the roof of the brewery. I usually take folks to Oklahoma Joe’s for lunch afterward.
Finish this sentence: “Kansas City screwed up when it …” Failed to draft Albert Pujols.
“Kansas City got it right when it …” Stayed Midwestern and “normal.” I travel quite a bit for work, and it’s always nice to come home to normal, down-to-earth, friendly people.
What TV show are you embarrassed to admit you watch? I started out just making fun of So You Think You Can Dance, while my wife watched it. But I think deep down, I actually grew to like it. I have no idea if the dancers are any good, but it’s entertaining. I want to be a B-boy so bad!
_____ take up a lot of space in my iTunes: Yonder Mountain String Band, Cake, Beastie Boys, Soul Coughing and Radiohead
What movie do you watch at least once a year? I don’t repeat-watch many movies, but I usually watch Fight Club a few times a year, and anytime I catch Ghostbusters playing, I just have to watch it.
Celebrity you’d like to take on a gondola ride: I get queasy on the water, but I’d totally get seasick in a boat with Megan Fox. I read she’s crazy, but I don’t care.
Favorite person or thing to follow on Twitter: I follow a lot of beer people on Twitter. There are quite a few of us from KC who are very active, so it’s like one big, ongoing conversation about beer (and dumb dude jokes).
Person or thing you find really irritating at this moment: Beer snobbery! Let’s be geeks, dorks or nerds, but not snobs. Snobs turn people off. Kansas City beer culture is starting to boom, but we’re not going to get people drinking better beer by telling them how stupid they are for drinking whatever it is we think is inferior. I drink all kinds of beer. If you had me over to your house and offered me a PBR, you bet I’d drink it, and I’d ask you for another one.
What subscription — print, digital, etc. — do you value most? I don’t have any subscriptions at all, but I follow the videos on wimp.com pretty religiously. I appreciate some good distraction. I’m a sucker for cat videos.
What was the most important thing you learned in school? I was very dorky in high school and probably still am. I’m thankful that I was never the “cool kid.” When I graduated and moved away from Lexington, I discovered that I wasn’t dorky but instead I was unique, and the cool kids were boring. This is super-cheesy, but be yourself.
Finish this sentence: “People might be surprised to know that I …” Am incredibly afraid of slugs and birds. I can’t explain it, but both really freak me out.
Describe a recent triumph: Boulevard Brewing Co. won four medals at the Great American Beer Festival this year. We’re not huge on accolades and awards, but coming away with two golds and two bronzes is extraordinary. We brew in a total team environment, and everyone shares in the success. That’s pretty cool.
Boulevard’s Bourbon Barrel Quad, aged in oak bourbon barrels and loosely based on the Smokestack Series’ Sixth Glass, is out now for a limited time.
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Me and the fam are thinking about getting into beer/wine making. Any horror stories? It seems pretty strait forward.
Ryan Zindorf
http://ryanzindorf.com/aflac
Jeremy is a great guy. Wish there were more people like him in this world.
This was a fun read. I have a lot of respect for the Boulevard team.
Jeremy has helped me on several occasions thru twitter with different questions, etc. He's a great guy and seems to be as genuinely nice and laid back as this interview shows him to be.
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