Hawk Tail Brewery
Randall Vandenhoven: one of the owners and head brewer at Hawk Tail Brewery.
1. What was the first beer you had that made you realize craft beer was going to be a bigger part of your life?
Don't remember any beer specifically, but beer in Munich. All the beer in Munich.
2. What is your favourite style to brew and why?
No specific style, experimentation is what is fun.
3. If you were stranded on an island (with a working refrigerator that automatically replenished itself) and you could only have one beer for the rest of your life in that fridge, which would it be?
Low abv session ale, gotta stay hydrated as I build a boat or raft to escape.
4. What is your favourite music to listen to in the brewery?
Podcasts
5. Which other brewery has inspired you the most? Why?
All the breweries in Munich. It is astounding to think that they have been brewing for hundreds of years.
6. Single hop beer - which hop are you using?
Citra.
7. What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone who thinks they want to get into the craft beer industry?
Find a wealthy investor who really believes. You will need capital, and more than you think.
8. Dogs or cats?
Dogs, loyalty matters.
9. Why did you choose to start a craft brewery in (insert your city here)?
Rimbey is my home town, and home is where your friends and family are.
10.What would you consider the “hidden gem” of your brewery and/or taproom?
Our Taproom is a very unique experience. We have an awesome cabin type vibe, right on the edge fields. Some years they even grow barley across the road.
It is well worth the drive to Rimbey for great beer and food at Hawk Tail Brewing.