Andrew McCready
What is your occupation (outside homebrewing)?
I am an audio engineer for a post-production house that does sound and picture for tv shows and commercials.
What got you into homebrewing?
As a lover of craft beer, I was looking into getting a keg fridge so I could buy kegs from breweries. All the places for info on buying/building kegerators were home brew sites, and I thought “hey, maybe I should just make beer instead”. So I ordered the equipment to do extract brewing, after 3 batches I was hooked. Ordered a Grainfather from Toronto Brewing and never looked back.
What are your hobbies/interests outside of homebrewing?
I am mostly a work and brew kind of guy. I also enjoy riding my motorcycle.
How long have you been brewing and how many batches last year?
I’ve been brewing since September of 2018. Last year I did around 30 batches.
Do you have any favorite styles you like to brew?
I am mostly known for my Gose’s, but truth be told I have only brewed it like 5 times, and it isn’t one of my favourites (to brew, or drink). My favourites to brew are Mixed Ferm Sours, English Bitter, German Lagers, Brown Ales and NEIPA-ish beers
What kind of setup do you use?
Grainfather G30. Clean beers, I ferment in corny kegs (sometimes under pressure). I ferment Mixed Ferm beers in Fermonsters with spigots.
What is the worst beer you have brewed?
I made a Chocolate Peanut Butter Sweet Stout that came out awful. Only beer I have dumped. Use peanut butter extract and must have used too much.
What is the best beer you have brewed?
I am quite happy with the last version of my Munich Helles. So either that, or V2 of “What Gose Round”. That was a good batch. [It's in the database, here!].
What advice would you give to a new homebrewer?
Jump right into the details, like water treatment and yeast health. It can seem like a lot at first, but it is worth paying attention to those kinds of details to make your beer the best it can be. Also, attend club meetings and submit your beers to competitions (when they start happening again). I learned so much from other club members at meetings and from competition score sheets.
What beer is your white whale, one that you've been chasing to perfect?
NEIPA-ish beers. They are a hard one for me to nail exactly what I am going for. I still brew them now and then just for fun, but that is the style of beer I buy commercially the most.
Do you have a name for your homebrewery?
Indeed. It is Bickford Brewing Co. I am @bickfordbrewingco on instagram.