“Damn Rob,” an exhausted Ed Walker gasped at Robert Nowaczyk, “explain some of these craft beers that you plan to brew.” Rob began to describe the malty hopped ambrosia to Ed, which later became recipes for Fireman’s Brew’s three flagship beers. Again, this part of the story is slightly dramatized. COO Dave Johnson continued with the story of Fireman’s Brew, and later I did some “research” to help explain his story (and by research, I mean I poured their delicious beer down my mouth hole).

You can think of the Fireman’s Brew sampler 12-pack as a three-step program to wean any of your MillerCoors/AB-InBev drinkin’ friends over to craft beer. Your friends can start with the Blonde, which is how a true pilsner style lager should taste: full of light malt flavors balanced with the perfect amount of hops for a crisp refreshing taste. Instead of having a watered-down stale popcorn flavor like some other “big beer” options, their Blonde is a full-bodied lager.

After figuring out that beer can taste good, your friends can move up to the Redhead that has rich caramel flavors and smooth toasty malts. After spending my early twenties in the Northwest, I became accustomed to having Alaskan Amber, Fat Tire, and Mac and Jack African Amber as my Amber ales of choice. When I moved to LA, it was hard to find an Amber that could go toe-to-toe with these three juggernauts – until I had the Redhead. I’m confident that the Redhead would be able to hold its own if you were to place it in a cage fight to the death with any of the other big three Ambers.

Once your friends appreciate malts, they can graduate to the Brunette, which may be one of the best doublebocks I’ve ever had. The Brunette is a perfect blend of chocolate malts, sweetness, imported hops, and a hint of coffee notes, yet smooth even with a high 8% ABV. I guess I like my beer like I like my woman: brunette and full of malts.

Currently, Fireman’s does not have a tasting room open to the public, but they hope to have a tasting room and merchandise store in the near future – or maybe even a Fireman’s Brewhouse and restaurant starting in Southern California (I’m hoping they find an abandoned firehouse to convert like the Ghostbusters did, but instead of the Ghost Containment Unit in the basement, they have fermenters). The next craft that they have their sights on brewing will be a big beer, like an IPA or their Brunette with their Fireman’s coffee or some chili peppers. They hope to make a brew that’s unique that will have the beer nerds talking. If you’re worried that they won’t have a name for any new beers because they ran out of women’s hair color types, then have no fear, they’ll just start a new line of beer names such as the names of famous fire station chiefs (which will probably sound better than the Mullet Märzen).

Rob Nowaczyk is still an active duty firefighter and is a highly trained instructor with the Urban Search and Rescue team that helps out at disasters around the world. Most of the team at Fireman’s Brew are experienced firefighters or are still active duty. Fireman’s Brew strives to help the firefighter community as well as local communities. They also strive to satisfy the craft beer community with a soon-to-be nationwide product of the highest quality. The next time you’re under the heat of the scorching sun and you want a cold refreshing beer, reach for a Fireman’s Brew and help out someone who sacrificed their life under some real heat.