Ignoramous to Beer Zealot - My Personal Beer Journey

It's been a long bumpy road, but I'm just getting started.

Not too long ago someone approached me and said, "You don't have a blog?!" I first replied, "Why? Should I?" I then thought, "Does anybody even read those? I assumed it was just a bunch of people writing poetry, complaining about life, and reviewing movies over an overpriced latte..." After googling the word 'blog' I realized there was a lot more to it than some 13 year-old girl gossiping about the middle-school dance.

This is my first attempt at blogging and I hope I don't mess it up too much. My wife actually convinced me to start a blog or two, likely in an attempt to get me to stop blabbing to her about my beer opinions and reviews. I hope to shed a little light on many of the local beer spots and breweries, some new brews entering the area and some interesting beer gossip and events. So here goes:


My name is Chad Rozniecki and I love beer, though it took me a long time to realize it. I think to understand where I'm coming from, and what makes me worthy to write about beer and bars, you need to see where my beer journey started. Growing up, I had fairly easy-going parents. Groundings were not a regular occurrence, granted, I never really got into trouble. My friends were mostly math nerds and band dorks. Playing Warcraft II and III was more fun for them than going to the high school parties. I wasn't a complete nerd though. I also was in rock bands which I feel raised my 'cool-level' a point or two, but whatever coolness I had achieved I think was erased by my tuba-playing, marching band endeavors. But I digress. In my household the topic of alcohol was never taboo. My parents weren't heavy drinkers but would have a drink with dinner or at parties. The fact that I was around it so often made it seem like it wasn't a big deal. Of course my parents discouraged underage drinking but didn't necessarily forbid it. If they knew we were going to a party they would simply say "be safe! And for God's sake, if you need a ride just call and we wont ground you, we just want you home safe!" I think they realized a long time ago that if they treated alcohol like some horrible thing and said 'NO NO NO' then we would rebel and do it anyway. All that being said, I never really had a drink before I turned 21. Not because I was above it, or for religious purposes, or due to family history etc. Perhaps it was because I was just too busy to bother, or because my friends didn't partake often, or because the only beer I had tried was my dad's Michelob Ultra, but for whatever reason, I never had anything more than a sip or two of a beer before my 21st birthday.

While I could make this next section last hundreds of pages, delving into my college experiences, bands, relationships, random jobs, I'll try to cut to the chase and focus on those experiences that shaped my beerducation. When I finally was of legal drinking age, I was performing at Mark's Bistro in Dundee Nebraska, and the guitarist who was playing with me bought me a Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. "WOW...This beer is like motor oil." I said. Then he bought me a Bud Light. "WOW...this tastes a lot like carbonated water." Especially after the Guinness. You could imagine, my palate was shocked after those two first beers. I started thinking that if these beers are so different, what else is out there? I immediately started visiting local Hyvees and grabbing 6-pack samplers of craft and import beers. Trying the typical progression of wheat beers to brown ales, German and English, Stouts to Pales, IPAs to Belgians, Imperials to Barrel-Aged and Sour beers. I started visiting the neighborhood Old Chicago before graduating to the craft beer bars like The Crescent Moon and breweries like Upstream and Nebraska Brewing Company. It wasn't long before Paul Kavulak (Owner of Nebraska Brewing Co.) encouraged me to start homebrewing. I became OBSESSED. While most homebrewers brew once a month or biweekly, I started brewing sometimes four or five times a week! I read dozens of books, subscribed to magazines, and read tons of online forums. I started frequenting breweries, picking the brains of the geniuses behind the beer. I started entering my own beer into competitions and started working for local beer bars and breweries. I quickly earned a job as a brewer at a local brewery, the hardest but best job I have ever had. Since then I have been involved in beer bars, cigar bars, restaurants, and now I own The Lauter Tun Craft Beer Bar near Oakview Mall in Omaha Nebraska.

It is these experiences that has led me to where I am today, and I'm just getting started.

I've gained a lot of great friends and contacts through my experiences and random jobs and hopefully very few enemies. I try to build and repair bridges and not burn them if at all possible. I'm very excited about the beer scene in Omaha and it keeps growing and evolving. 

Some people might wonder why I, a bar owner myself, would want to review other bars and and promote their events and upcoming beer releases. Am I stupid or just crazy? Well the jury is still out on that but I am all about promoting beer. I hope that the other beer bars and breweries in the area feel the same, but as for me, I just want people to find the right experience and the right beer to match it. I have no problem sending my guests to another local bar and have done so numerous times. If I wasn't able to get a beer that Krug Park in Benson has, I will gladly tell a guest to visit that bar and try it out..."but don't drink it all because I'll be down there later to try it!" I try to patronize the local beer bars, stores, and breweries as often as time allows to show my support, and I hope the feeling is mutual and reciprocated. There are plenty of patrons to go around and plenty of great beer to be had by all. And, to be clear, I will never bash on another bar or brewery or event. Every bar has it's merits and I plan to focus on those regardless of my own personal taste regarding the venue itself.

I'd be lying if I said I am not planing to promote my bar and events as well, but I will without a doubt be promoting the heck out of my 'competitors' as well.

If you are interested in other Omaha Events, please check out my wife's wonderful blog called Stalking Omaha.

So here's to beer!

Na zdrowie!

Chad