CL-096 Alexander Gates on the Archipelago of His Beer Journey
There\u2019s a difference between idols and mentors. The allure of idols is their unattainability\u2014their preciousness fueled by the impossibility of a first-hand connection. Mentors, on the other hand, spark curiosity and encourage personal growth by sharing their experience with others. Mentors, often selflessly, help shape the future, and ensure the traditions they hold so dear remain intact for generations to come.\xa0
That\u2019s exactly why writer Alexander Gates decided to profile Cindy Goldstein, a national BJCP judge and fierce advocate for craft beer in Hawaii. In his piece titled \u201cFinding Her Own Route \u2014 A Honolulu Brewery Crawl with Cindy Goldstein,\u201d which was published on February 2, 2022, he outlines Cindy\u2019s extensive background in science, homebrewing, judging, and community-building, and how her efforts have helped shape the small but ever-changing Hawaiian craft beer scene.
In today\u2019s conversation about that piece, Alexander and I discuss what it\u2019s like writing about a mentor (and why people should seek out their own), why he decided to share her story, how Hawaiian beer is better than ever\u2014despite the pandemic\u2019s massive disruption to tourism and the supply chain\u2014and his own judging experience through the Beer Judge Certification Program. You\u2019ll hear how beer unites the chain of volcanic islands, thanks in no small part to Cindy\u2019s tireless and ongoing efforts, and what he\u2019s hoping to see as in-person beer classes, events, and competitions begin to awaken once more.