Bohemian Brewery: Bobby Jackson

Bobby Jackson made his way to Salt Lake City from Vermont in September of 2007. Since then, the 23-year-old landed a spot as Head Brewer of the Bohemian Brewery and scored the brewery a silver medal for their Cherny Bock at the 2008 Great American Beer Festival in the German-style Schwarzbier category. Jackson is quickly making a name for himself and the brewery. He’s highly regarded by Salt Lake City’s craft beer drinking scene as one of the best brewers of lagers.


Head brewer of Bohemian Brewery, Bobby Jackson is only 23 years old, making him the youngest head brewer in the state.
Photo: Adam Dorobiala

SLUG: Right off the bat, what’s it like to be not only the youngest brewer in the state, but the youngest head brewer in the state?
Jackson: People will start talking about beer and brewing, and the first question is always, are you even old enough to drink?

SLUG: How did you make your way into the brewing industry?
Jackson: I went to the University of Vermont and pretty much spent the majority of my time there homebrewing. I had been looking into brewing education, and it just happened that The American Brewers Guild was re-filming their DVD, so they were doing a residential program the summer after I had graduated. That was all followed up by a five week apprenticeship at Otter Creek.

SLUG: A lot of people know what their first beer was, but what was your first “real” (micro brewed) beer?
Jackson: It was probably 11th grade. Someone’s parents always had Redhook ESB around—it was rich people beer. But when you are that age, beer is beer. I was typically drinking a lot of Pabst and Keystone Light.

SLUG: Only brewing four beers must be rough on stretching your creative abilities. Have you ever wanted to do more?
Jackson: Definitely—every now and then I get a little antsy. I did release the Chocolate Cherny last winter, and then brewed the floor-malted pilsner recently. Only getting to do them now and then makes them so much sweeter. It also helps me focus on the four beers that we have on hand and keeping them consistent and making them the best beers they can be. That way I never can say, “I wish that I could have done this or that differently.” 

SLUG: How would you describe your experience in dealing with Utah’s legislature?
Jackson: It’s not so much “dealing” with the legislature, it’s more trying to understand them. It’s so backwards. All this new stuff with private clubs doesn’t affect me, since I only go to one bar [The Hog Wallow].

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