York Virginia Man Wins Beer for Life

I would usually post this on my main site since it is beverage related, but this is a Hampton Roads Native, so it belongs here. That, and I’m quite jealous of the fellow for winning the “Homer Simpson golden ticket,” so to speak.

Meet Matt Venzke. He is a true beer aficionado, and he proved it by beating out stiff competition to become the 2008 “Ultimate Beer Fiend.”

From the Daily Press here:

A York resident was named “Beerdrinker of the Year” by a Colorado-based brewery.

Wynkoop Brewing Co. named Matt Venzke the winner of its “12th Annual Search for America’s Ultimate Beer Fiend” last weekend in Denver. Venzke wins “free beer for life” at the brewery, a $250 beer tab at his favorite bar — the Taphouse in Hampton — and the opportunity to create a special beer with Wynkoop’s head brewer for next year’s event.

Three finalists, including two from Oregon and Texas, competed in the contest that included a question-and-answer session. Venzke told the judges his will includes instructions to have his body cremated and his ashes used in a beer to be served at his wake. Venzke was quoted as saying: “I’ve instructed my wife to tell people at the ceremony, ‘Matt is more a part of you than you think.'”

Venzke said his wife, Michelle — whom he met in a brew pub — “always gets stuck being the designated driver.”

The TapHouse in Hampton is relatively new. But it does have hundreds of different beers available. I’m definitely going next time I go to the Peninsula.

And Matt sounds like he has a wonderful, caring wife who takes her job as DD seriously. 😉