In 2008 I had left to Italy to brew with my good friend Leonardo DiVincenzo from Birra del Borgo only to return to Denmark 2 months later, I felt my time in DK was not yet finished. Now again I am planning to leave the residency of Denmark, but I am hopeful to return one day as a future inhabitant. I do feel that my time at Gourmet Byggeriet is finished, and sadly as in every turning point in life I feel I must move forward in my career and try new adventures and start a new chapter. It has been a difficult decision for me to leave DK. My plan is to move to Stavanger Norway. Where I will become the brewmaster for a middle sized brewery named Lervig Aktiebryggeri. Lervig is a young brewery started as a response to Carlsberg's buyout of the towns local brewery, which was subsequently removed to Carlsberg’s Ringes brewery in Oslo. Among other reasons I am also excited and looking forward to the change as the artist in me craves the Norway nature too... Peaked mountains and beautiful fjords...I hope to take Lervig forward in it's new direction to embrace specialty beers and create unique, great products. I believe this opportunity will challenge and excite me and I hope to stay involved in the future beer market of Denmark.
As a final gesture at GB, I have brewed a special brew a 7,5% IPA with loads of US hops which represents the sort of beers I truly have affection for. this Beer is hopefully available in the places I frequent, I wont be pushing the sales so please contact Anders Kleiny at ak@gourmetbryggeriet.dk to get a hold of it. I can assure it this will be the hoppiest beer to ever be brewed at Gourmet Byrggeriet! It will be available only on draft. Just ask for Mike's Hoppy-Trails IPA...It will not be a disappointment...until you run out of it...
Skål!
