In the fourth of my series of Beer Geek Brunch Interviews I chat with Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø from Evil Twin Brewing, a man who puts the business in beer and ask him what excites him most about brewing, whether he is different from his twin bother Mikkel and hear his exciting plans about moving to the USA.

Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø from Evil Twin Brewing - a man just as happy brewing up a new business as he is a new beer.

BeerSweden: So Jeppe, how did you start brewing beer?

Jeppe: Commercially I started brewing one and a half years ago. I had been home brewing for quite a long time – since the late 90s – with Mikkel (Ed Note: Jeppe’s twin brother and the creative force behind Mikkeller). Then when I opened a beer shop and an import/distribution company it seemed obvious to me that I should start producing my own beers as I knew how to brew beer and knew how to sell it.

I’ve been selling other people’s stuff for a while now and I wanted to put my own beers out there and see what people thought of them.

BeerSweden:Were you nervous to launch your own beer?

Jeppe: Why? I really believe in myself (I don’t want to sound cocky or anything) so I wasn’t scared. I was excited. I’m making a living from beer and it’s a lot of fun. That’s why I do it. I love the business.

BeerSweden: What do you love so much about it?

Jeppe: The people. I really think it is one of the best businesses to be in. Everybody is so friendly and we have a lot of fun together. If you can make a living out of beer who wouldn’t want to do that? (smiling).

BeerSweden: What’s the worst thing about the business?

Jeppe: Talking to journalists (laughing). No, I suppose the travel can get a bit crazy sometimes. I just got back from the States where we did 11 events in 14 days. If you’re on the outside of the business it sounds great fun but it can get a bit tiring. But hey, I’m not complaining!

BeerSweden: When are you happiest as a brewer? When you’re thinking up a new beer, when you’re brewing it, when you’re drinking it or watching other people drinking it?

Jeppe: It’s always fun for me to see the reaction of people when they drink my beers. It’s easy to love your own beers – that’s the easiest part – but I love to get feedback from people. I also like bad feedback too. I don’t take it personally at all because I know all tastes are different. I also enjoy putting the recipes together and tasting the beer for the first time.

BeerSweden: Are you constantly searching for new beer ideas?

Jeppe: Big time! I’m not going to brew 70-plus beers a year and all the best selling beers I’ve done I want to continue supplying permanently because I think it’s important that people can go back to beers they’ve enjoyed. On the other hand it’s great fun with small experimental batches too.

BeerSweden: You have a lot of business experience behind you. Is the business side of brewing important to you?

Jeppe: Big time. I love the business side. I love starting new things. To be honest it’s what probably gives me the most pleasure – to see a business grow even more than making a beer. I’m always looking ahead at the next step and have a lot of things going on.

BeerSweden: So I hear you’re planning to move to the USA! That’s a huge step – what makes you want to live there?

Jeppe: It’s a cliché but they call it the land of opportunity and that’s what it is. If you have the right idea America is a great place to be. And without wanting it to sound wrong Denmark is too small now. We have achieved so much but I’m looking for the next challenge and America is about as big a challenge as it gets. The beer scene right now over there is crazy! People are so into beer and there’s so much going on. I only live once and when I die I want to feel I’ve done the most I can with my life.

BeerSweden: But what about your business interests and beers in Denmark? Will you be keeping them?

Jeppe: For sure. My import company is growing and the beer store (Ed Note: Ølbutikken) is too so it makes sense to keep developing them. These days I can do a lot through the internet anyway.

BeerSweden: You sound like you’ve got a busy time ahead of you!

Jeppe: That’s just how I like it. People constantly ask me ‘are you worried about moving to New York?’ and I say hell no, I can’t wait to get started! I’m restless but that’s what drives me. I like to be on the move!

BeerSweden: Thanks for speaking to BeerSweden Jeppe and good luck with your new life state-side!

Next week in the last of this series of talks with some of Europe’s most creative brewers I talk with Tore Gynther and Tobias Jensen from To Øl and Henok Fentie from Omnipollo.