Have you ever heard of someone brewing his or her own beer? Well, Dylan Dordick, Co-Founder and Brewer for Frost Brothers Brewery, brews his own beer right here in Isla Vista! With the assistance of a few close friends, Dylan is able to create a one of a kind beverage. I interviewed Dylan Dordick about the process of brewing his own beer, how his beer is unique to other brands, and how we can pick up our own case of Frost Brothers.
HerCampus: How did you get interested in brewing your own beer?
Dylan: Making beer came from my love for the golden beverage. I was drinking beers like Coors and Budweiser when I fell in love with craft breweries and thought that if these breweries can make better beer than the American brewing giants, then so can I. With my friends and brewing partners David Hankin, Matt Kaye, and Mike Hankin, we set out to a local brew supply store and our journey to satisfy our thirst in a very new way began.
HerCampus: Can you explain to us what the process is to brew your own beer?
Dylan:To brew beer, there are a few main processes that must be done. First, malt or a grain extract that is essentially sugar is boiled in a large pot with water. Then, the unique recipe of hops is added to the boiling sugar water so the bitterness and flavor of the flowery herb get extracted into the solution. Depending on the secret recipe we use, after the hops are added special spices or grains are also mixed in the boil to enhance the distinctive flavor of our beer. Once the sugar, spice, and everything nice are boiled into a solution, it is transferred to a large container and water is added to bring the brew up to the desired number of gallons. Then the beer is ready to mix in or “pitch” the specific strain of yeast we choose. After the yeast is added, it takes care of all the work and turns the sugars into delicious, intoxicating beer over the next three weeks. The beer is then bottled and carbonated and ready to grace your palate.
HerCampus: Do you have a name for your beer?
Dylan:Our brewery is called “The Frost Brothers Brewery” and each of our different types of beers has a unique name. If you go to our Facebook link below you can find some of the names of styles we make.
HerCampus: Do you work on this project alone?
Dylan:The brewing is three brothers at work. Matt Kaye, David Hankin and I met at five years old and have been family ever since. The Frost Brothers is the product of three uniquely insane people working together to make sense of their insanity through great beer.
HerCampus: What would you say makes your beer different from other brands?
Dylan:Frost Brothers brew a unique beer because we genuinely desire to make an intoxicating elixir using craft and care like your mother would if she made beer instead of chicken soup. Weather you are a regular Hunter S. Thomson drinking beer like a veteran or a fresh face in the craft beer world, Frost Brothers will satisfy your palate and soul equally. Frost Brothers is all about satisfaction for all those who dare to seek divinely refreshing pleasure.
HerCampus: I hear you have a website. What is the link and what can we find on it?
Dylan: Our website is www.FrostBrothersBrewery.com and you can join us on Facebook under The Frost Brothers or Frost Brothers Brewery if you want to see brewing pictures from our “recipe development and testing” that show a few of the steps in the brewing process.
HerCampus:What does your label look like? Does it have any deep significance?
Dylan:We are releasing a brand new label in all its glory on our website. The release is happening very soon and if you check our website you will find information about the label’s release. We have a brand new website in the works too that we are working on with a local artist in Isla Vista. We are collaborating with Sir Micheal Bitton to make the label and the graphic art that already looks amazing, even sober we’ve been told.
HerCampus:Is there any extra information you would like to tell us?
Dylan:If anybody has any questions for me or wants to know a great six-pack to pick up or have anything you want to say or ask related to beer please send them my way at DylanD@FROSTBROTHERSBREWERY.COM. If it is about beer, we want to know what you think. Just remember, your glass will always be half empty if it’s not Frost Brothers you are drinking.