chazwicke
09-10-2004, 04:23 PM
this in the Washington Post:
FOUNDERS' TAPS BREWER
Washington beer lovers are buzzing about one of the biggest personnel moves in recent memory: Bill Madden, the award-winning brewmaster for the Capitol City Brewing Company's Shirlington and New York Avenue pubs, left the company in mid-July to become head brewer -- and co-owner -- of the Founders' Restaurant and Brewing Company (607 King St., Alexandria; 703-684-5397) in Old Town.
Madden spent nine years supervising four different Capitol City brewpubs before moving to Founders, a comfortable spot that, until this summer, was more remarkable for its no-smoking policy than its beverages. He says the reason for the move is simple: ownership. "I did nine years at Cap City," he explains. "I could be there 10 more years and not move any more than I was from being the brewer. Here, we're building a business. It's fun. I'm managing the floor, training the staff, pulling a few shifts here and there."
There are a few old ties at work, too. Madden met Founders owner Stephen Winterling at Capitol City when Winterling was the executive chef for the Capitol Hill branch, and the two remained in contact. When Founders brewer Brian Hollinger left earlier this year, Winterling made Madden an offer he couldn't refuse.
Madden, accustomed to producing lagers and ales for two busy pubs, says Founders is a different world. The brewing capacity is about half the size of Capitol City's, he says, "almost a toy in a way. But it can still make a great beer."
So can Madden. In recent years, his brews won five medals at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival: two each for his light, crispy German-style Kolsch and his sweet, malty Scottish-style Wee Heavy, and one for the hoppy Amber Waves Ale. The Wee Heavy won three more medals at the Real Ale Festival in Chicago, including silver for "Best in Show" in 2002.
So far, Madden has brewed eight beers for Founders, as well as one root beer. Patrons who follow him from Capitol City will find their old favorites -- the Kolsch and Wee Heavy are already on tap, although the latter could use a few more weeks to age while the body fills out. But Madden intends to use the gleaming copper brewing vessels to experiment with new styles and let his creativity run wild, which wasn't always possible at Capitol City because of production pressures.
On the other hand, he says, "I'm sure a lot of people associate me with [the Kolsch and the Wee Heavy] and they expect to see those kinds of beers. Next I have to get started on my Imperial IPA -- people [who came from Capitol City] have been asking for it. What I want to do is have eight to 10 of our own beers and two or three guest beers -- something special, like [Baltimore brewery] Clipper City's Red Sky at Night. We want to be a real taphouse."
For regular customers and beer aficionados, Madden has been known to brew "stealth beers" that don't appear on menus but are available to anyone who asks for them. "It's a lot of fun -- those beers are very special and I want people who appreciate beer to know that they're on tap," he says. When one's coming out, he may mention it in the specialist beer press, such as the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News, or the Internet's DC Beer List (www.brauhausdc.org).
Stay tuned -- this partnership sounds promising.
FOUNDERS' TAPS BREWER
Washington beer lovers are buzzing about one of the biggest personnel moves in recent memory: Bill Madden, the award-winning brewmaster for the Capitol City Brewing Company's Shirlington and New York Avenue pubs, left the company in mid-July to become head brewer -- and co-owner -- of the Founders' Restaurant and Brewing Company (607 King St., Alexandria; 703-684-5397) in Old Town.
Madden spent nine years supervising four different Capitol City brewpubs before moving to Founders, a comfortable spot that, until this summer, was more remarkable for its no-smoking policy than its beverages. He says the reason for the move is simple: ownership. "I did nine years at Cap City," he explains. "I could be there 10 more years and not move any more than I was from being the brewer. Here, we're building a business. It's fun. I'm managing the floor, training the staff, pulling a few shifts here and there."
There are a few old ties at work, too. Madden met Founders owner Stephen Winterling at Capitol City when Winterling was the executive chef for the Capitol Hill branch, and the two remained in contact. When Founders brewer Brian Hollinger left earlier this year, Winterling made Madden an offer he couldn't refuse.
Madden, accustomed to producing lagers and ales for two busy pubs, says Founders is a different world. The brewing capacity is about half the size of Capitol City's, he says, "almost a toy in a way. But it can still make a great beer."
So can Madden. In recent years, his brews won five medals at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival: two each for his light, crispy German-style Kolsch and his sweet, malty Scottish-style Wee Heavy, and one for the hoppy Amber Waves Ale. The Wee Heavy won three more medals at the Real Ale Festival in Chicago, including silver for "Best in Show" in 2002.
So far, Madden has brewed eight beers for Founders, as well as one root beer. Patrons who follow him from Capitol City will find their old favorites -- the Kolsch and Wee Heavy are already on tap, although the latter could use a few more weeks to age while the body fills out. But Madden intends to use the gleaming copper brewing vessels to experiment with new styles and let his creativity run wild, which wasn't always possible at Capitol City because of production pressures.
On the other hand, he says, "I'm sure a lot of people associate me with [the Kolsch and the Wee Heavy] and they expect to see those kinds of beers. Next I have to get started on my Imperial IPA -- people [who came from Capitol City] have been asking for it. What I want to do is have eight to 10 of our own beers and two or three guest beers -- something special, like [Baltimore brewery] Clipper City's Red Sky at Night. We want to be a real taphouse."
For regular customers and beer aficionados, Madden has been known to brew "stealth beers" that don't appear on menus but are available to anyone who asks for them. "It's a lot of fun -- those beers are very special and I want people who appreciate beer to know that they're on tap," he says. When one's coming out, he may mention it in the specialist beer press, such as the Mid-Atlantic Brewing News, or the Internet's DC Beer List (www.brauhausdc.org).
Stay tuned -- this partnership sounds promising.