A.J. Platt

I got my feet wet in the beer industry when I started working at Rock Bottom Chicago back in 2008. "The Godfather" of the ICBG, Pete Crowley (now Haymarket), was brewing there at the time. What he was putting in the glass sparked my interest in all things beer. Less than a year later, I also started working at the Goose Island Clybourn brewpub. Over 7 years, I was able to enjoy and share beers created by the likes of Wil Turner (now Revolution), Jared Rouben (now Moody Tongue), Jacob Sembrano (now Cruz Blanca), Nick Barron (somewhere in Arkansas I think), and Jon Ngaski... All pretty rad brewers. During that time, you could definitely feel the tides of the beer world shifting. So much changed so quickly. However, as much as things were changing in brewing and in the business of brewing, one thing remained steady: the lovely camaraderie between those who truly love beer. In 2014 & 2015, I was able to travel as part of the Goose Island Migration team. We visited breweries all across the country, and were enamored of the amazing brews folks were concocting. Back in Chicago full-time, I planted myself in the Goose Barrel Aging program for a few years, before moving to beautiful Decorah, IA. For the past 3 years I have been helping make beer at Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. Engaging in everything from Cellar work and hot side production, to innovation and barrel work.