Matt Van Wyk is Brewmaster and Co-Founder at Alesong Brewing & Blending in Eugene, Oregon. He drops some knowledge on what it takes to use barrels as the fifth ingredient in his beers. He goes from science teacher to brewing on the side to award-winning brewer. We talk a lot about family, work ethic and the relationships that sustain us. In a first, we get to talk to one of Matt's #UnsungHospitalityHeroes, Andrew Mason, who was a middle school student of his, then an assistant brewer, now a trusted confidant.

Website: alesongbrewing.com

Facebook: /alesongbrewing

Instagram: @alesongmatt @alesongbrewing 

Twitter:  @alesongmatt  @alesongbrewing

Where were you born / raised?

Wilton, Iowa

First job in the industry? When, where, how old?

2001, Glen Ellyn Brewing Company. I was 28. I had been volunteering there for two years, off and on

Proudest moment of your career?

It has to be the 2006 World Beer Cup awards when I earned silver behind Rodenbach Crand Cru and ahead of Dogfish Head's Festina Lente. I mumbled something unintelligible to both Rudi and Sam. I'm still star struck after 20 years in the industry.

Two things most people don't know about you?

1) I have two degrees in teaching and spent 6 years in education. 2) I spent much of my childhood watching Julia Child, Jaques Pepin, and Martin Yan on PBS and I think it affected my eating habits and my brewing philosophy.

Food and/or drinks staples in your house?

Beer, wine and Bourbon are always available, naturally. Eggs are eaten in mass quantities in my household.

Words to live by?

"Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life." and "be kind to others"

Tell us about one of your #UnsungHospitalityHeroes

Andrew Mason, most recently of Solemn Oath Brewing, previously at Three Floyds Brewing and prior to that, my assistant brewer at Flossmoor Station from 2005-2009.  Andrew was a student in my Middle School science class and later in a HS Astronomy class. We became close with he and his family when a science fair project went awry in 1997 and it led to me homebrewing with his dad.  He contacted me after college looking for a job in the industry and I had an open position. He learned professional brewing with me and that led to him later being the production manager at both Three Floyds and Solemn Oath. Not only is he a great brewer but he's one heck of a grillmaster. His family in the early days, and Andrew now, are known to host 'meat parties'. To me, the Mason's were foodies before it was cool to be a foodie.

Matt Founded Alesong Brewing and Blending along with Brian and Doug Coombs in 2016. Alesong is a producer of artisan barrel aged beer and is located in wine country of the Southern Willamette valley of Oregon. Prior to founding Alesong, Matt did stints at Oregon's Oakshire Brewing and several breweries in the Chicagoland area, including Flossmoor Station Brewery where he earned Small Brewpub Brewer of the year at the 2006 at the Great American Beer Fest.  When not dabbling with barrels he chases after his wife Jenni and two kids, Nick and Ella in the Mountains and Coastal region of Oregon.