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The Wonderful World of Craft Beer

Karl Gehrke SDPB

This is probably the best time in American history to be a beer drinker. Over the past twenty-five years, some 2,000 craft breweries have opened up across the country with hundreds more currently in their planning stages. And they’re all making beers for a variety of tastes. There are Baltic porters and oatmeal stouts; dark ales and pale ales; English Barleywines and German Pilsners. There are sweet, malty beers and bitter, hoppy beers. There are beers brewed with fruit and beers brewed with spices. And beers for the winter and beers for the summer.

During a recent visit to Rapid City, I stopped by the Independent Ale House and sampled a few beers with some Black Hills area craft beer enthusiasts and brewers to get some perspective on what makes a good beer.

Joining the conversation were Independent Ale House owner Justin Henrichsen; Bob Cronin, founder of the Ale Riders home brew club; Laura Peel, craft beer manager with Eagle Sales of South Dakota; and Jeff Drumm and Matt Melanson of Crow Peak Brewing Co. in Spearfish.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.
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