Ike Manchester / Brewer
FIRST TAPPED BY WIDMER BROTHERS: Ike is a 4th generation sailmaker, but found himself without a job until he landed seasonal work as a bartender at a British Pub called the Mayflower Inn in San Rafael, CA. He took his bartending skills to Seabright Brewery in Santa Cruz and, after the dust settled from the big quake and business picked up, the brewer needed an extra hand and Ike lent his. During this time he and his wife saved their nickels and sent Ike to the Siebel Institute in Chicago. He worked various brewing jobs until a close friend and owner of the Lion Brewery Depot told him “If you have a chance to work there, do it.”
WAIT, HE AIN'T FROM AROUND THESE PARTS?: Despite more than a decade in the Pacific Northwest under his belt, Ike just won’t let go of his East Coast identity. After all, he can trace his roots all the way back to passengers on the Mayflower. But Ike admits that living in the Northwest has given him access to hops he never would have had the opportunity to otherwise use and an amazing water source that can be modified to create different beer profiles. And that’s a start.
OFF TAP: Ike loves rock-n-roll blues and just about all sports. When pressed, he lists hockey as his favorite (with the San Jose Sharks leading the way), with sailboat racing and surfing close behind. He follows those that are regularly on the tube (basketball, football and baseball) too. On the diamond, Ike’s picks are steeped in history and ties to where he’s lived. He lists the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Giants (both SF and NY) and the Oakland A’s as the teams he roots for. Same goes for hoops, where his squads are the Boston Celtics and (of course!) the Portland Trailblazers.
THE KEY TO BREWING: an artist's touch or a scientist's precision?: Both are important. You can’t have one without the other. Yeast is a living breathing organism and even the best science can’t predict a living thing. “It’s important to admit what you don’t know.”
FUEL FOR THE FIRE: Competition breeds inspiration. When Ike was a sailmaker he would help anyone who asked. He continues that tradition with brewing. He enjoys the Collaborator project and working with a team of people that have unique points of views and knowledge of beer.
PARTING ADVICE FOR A PERSON WANTING TO GET INTO BREWING: Do it! Oregon has a tight-knit community of brewers. Sit in on an Oregon Brew Crew meeting. And most importantly, drink beer.
Joe Casey
