Q&A with new St. Louis Brewers Guild director

Hughes, hired last month as the St. Louis Brewers Guild’s inaugural director, answered some questions from me about his role as a beer ambassador, his favorite brews and details of this year’s Brewers Heritage Festival.

• What attracted you to apply for the position of Brewers Guild director? The main attraction was being able to work for an organization that helps bring new people and visitors into St. Louis. I’ve always had a strong passion for St. Louis, and this is a great opportunity for me to give back to such a wonderful city.

The other reason I was attracted to this job was the ability to work with all the breweries in St. Louis. I’ve been a beer enthusiast for a long time and have always felt that if you love your work, you’ll never work a day in your life. This is a job that will never feel like work.

A lot of my close friends and family have told me that this is a dream job for me, because it takes my skills and education and applies it to an industry I love so much. I have a hard time disagreeing with them.

• Do you homebrew? I do not own homebrew equipment and have never brewed solo. That being said, I greatly enjoy the brewing process. I have a few friends who homebrew, and I tend to hang around on days that they’re brewing just to be a part of the process. I intend on starting the process on my own in the next year.

• Is it intimidating to be the first person to lead the guild, or is it exciting to be able to be the one who sets the tone for the job? It’s very exciting. This is a great opportunity to build a strong organization that helps promote the beer industry in St. Louis. There will be challenges along the way, but I am confident that my skills and experience will make the guild successful. I foresee the guild being around for a long time, long after I am gone, and I am very honored to be the first one in the saddle.

• Tell me three things you hope to accomplish in your first year. Run a successful Brewers Heritage Festival. Build a partnership with the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission to get new visitors to St. Louis for beer tourism. Get to know all the owners and employees of the 22 (member) breweries, and attract more business for them.

• What will the guild do to get the word out about St. Louis’ merits as a beer town? The guild’s plan is to build a strong partnership with the CVC, which will help attract visitors to St. Louis for beer tourism. Another key is for the guild to stay active with solid events, both big and small.

A steady amount of different events throughout the year, including tours, pub crawls, historical attractions and demonstrations, along with helping promoting individual breweries’ events, will help attract people outside of St. Louis to experience everything there is to offer here.

There is great beer all over the St. Louis area. It’s the guild’s and my duty to get new people to experience it.

• A big part of your job is going to revolve around organizing the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival. Will it remain in Ballpark Village this year or go back to Forest Park? The St. Louis Brewers Guild is very excited to take over responsibilities for St. Louis Brewers Heritage Festival. Most the details are still in the works, but it is tentatively going to be back in Forest Park and will be held Father’s Day weekend, June 14 and 15.

• Where do things stand on the homebrew issue? Will it be allowed at this year’s fest? We are working on this issue and should be set to include homebrewers in this year’s festivities. Right now the issue is still fluid, but we hope to have everything finalized in the upcoming months. Homebrewers play a big part in the St. Louis brewing scene, and I want them to be a part of the guild and the Heritage Brewers Festival.

• Your three favorite St. Louis-brewed beers at the moment. Perennial Abraxas. Schlafly TIPA. Urban Chestnut STLIPA.