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JEF SMITH: high stakes brewer at loaded dice brewery
MEET THE BREWER
VoL. 1 ISSUE 4
By Mike Lerchenfeldt for mibrew trail
a gamble”. Jef and his wife, Jen, are also the owners of this upstart nano brewery in this vibrant community. In the world of craft brewing, he is said to be a risk-taker who is not shy about making different beers.
Smith is a 50-year-old from St. Clair Shores, who moved to the San Francisco Bay area in California about twenty years ago to continue his career as a web developer where he was responsible for working with company teams to create websites. He focused on front-end development, which involved using his creativity to design websites and produce content. For fun, Smith started homebrewing beer with his new friends in California. They would enjoy their new creations while playing poker and barbecuing.
When Jef and Jen eventually decided that it was time to return to Michigan with their three kids in tow, he brought his new homebrewing hobby back with him. He ended up entering his new creations in various homebrewing competitions. The people were lining up to taste them. After receiving a couple medals, Jef received even more encouragement and support from his wife in the direction of opening a family-owned brewery.
ef Smith is the only brewer at Loaded Dice Brewery in Troy which goes by the slogan, “good beer shouldn’t be
J
While on vacation in Ludington, Jef went to Starving Artist Brewing Company. This small barn along with owner, Andy Thomas, inspired him and pushed him even further in the direction of opening a family-owned brewery.
The dream became a reality for Jef and Jen when they officially opened Loaded Dice Brewery this past September where they have impressed their walked-ins with the gambling theme, unique beer selection, and the loud, grungy music.
He is creative with his beers and thinks outside the box. Smith is a great role model for anyone interested in learning more about brewing some ale or a career in the craft beer industry. He has worked alongside other brewers, producing and learning about a variety of beers.
Jef is doing what he loves and is following his passions. He absolutely loves the recipe creation and the beginning to end process from ingredients to beer. Being able to write a recipe and create something different out of raw grains that people can enjoy is a great feeling.
Jef is doing what he loves and is following his passions. He absolutely loves the recipe creation and the beginning to end process from ingredients to beer. Being able to write a recipe and create something different out of raw grains that people can enjoy is a great feeling. He is still learning and is consistently changing and tweaking his recipes.
In the spirit of cooperation and collegiality shared by brewers, Smith has collaborated on some mighty fine, high quality brews with local businesses and other breweries giving him the opportunity to put Loaded Dice Brewery on the map. He is still getting around to identifying his flagship beers. Out of the sixty-one different batches of beer that he has created since opening, fifty-seven of them have been unique.
His favorite beer style is old world, German malted wheats, such as the Hefeweizen, showcasing yeast-driven fruit and spice. His own version, Hef’s Smoking Jacket, is one of their beers that you will see regularly on tap. It is a cherrywood smoked Hefeweizen that’s like a bit of campfire in your mouth.
Jef’s Pass Line Bender is a Coffee Porter recipe taken to the next level. For the current recipe, he chilled out the roasted malts in hops to let the coffee shine. This specific Sumatra blend coffee is roasted locally at Sabbath Coffee Roasters in Clawson.
For Pride Month, and at the request of his several gay and lesbian customers, he is creating a Milkshake IPA batch using thirty pounds of Fruity Pebbles. The lactose and milk sugar will give this brew a thicker mouthfeel. To give back and support the gay and lesbian community, he will be donating one dollar of every pint sold to Affirmations of Detroit.
Through a collaboration with Arctic Circle Brewing
Company in Chesterfield Township, Smith recently created an original Sour beer called Cooler Hand which was made with Sour Patch Kids.
Jef is a proud member of the Michigan Brewers Guild, and he is looking forward to continuing participating in collaborations with breweries that have helped him along the way from being a glorified homebrewer to a brewery owner.
Loaded Dice Brewery is exceptional and worth putting on the summer to-do list.
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Back to Top
Home
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MEET THE BREWER
LOADED DICE BREWERY
Jef is doing what he loves and is following his passions. He absolutely loves the recipe creation and the beginning to end process from ingredients to beer. Being able to write a recipe and create something different out of raw grains that people can enjoy is a great feeling.
ef Smith is the only brewer at Loaded Dice Brewery in Troy which goes by the slogan, “good beer shouldn’t be
a gamble”. Jef and his wife, Jen, are also the owners of this upstart nano brewery in this vibrant community. In the world of craft brewing, he is said to be a risk-taker who is not shy about making different beers.
Smith is a 50-year-old from St. Clair Shores, who moved to the San Francisco Bay area in California about twenty years ago to continue his career as a web developer where he was responsible for working with company teams to create websites. He focused on front-end development, which involved using his creativity to design websites and produce content. For fun, Smith started homebrewing beer with his new friends in California. They would enjoy their new creations while playing poker and barbecuing.
When Jef and Jen eventually decided that it was time to return to Michigan with their three kids in tow, he brought his new homebrewing hobby back with him. He ended up entering his new creations in various homebrewing competitions. The people were lining up to taste them. After receiving a couple medals, Jef received even more encouragement and support from his wife in the direction of opening a family-owned brewery.
While on vacation in Ludington, Jef went to Starving Artist Brewing Company. This small barn along with owner, Andy Thomas, inspired him and pushed him even further in the direction of opening a family-owned brewery.
The dream became a reality for Jef and Jen when they officially opened Loaded Dice Brewery this past September where they have impressed their walked-ins with the gambling theme, unique beer selection, and the loud, grungy music.
He is creative with his beers and thinks outside the box. Smith is a great role model for anyone interested in learning more about brewing some ale or a career in the craft beer industry. He has worked alongside other brewers, producing and learning about a variety of beers.
Jef is doing what he loves and is following his passions. He absolutely loves the recipe creation and the beginning to end process from ingredients to beer. Being able to write a recipe and create something different out of raw grains that people can enjoy is a great feeling. He is still learning and is consistently changing and tweaking his recipes.
In the spirit of cooperation and collegiality shared by brewers, Smith has collaborated on some mighty fine, high quality brews with local businesses and other breweries giving him the opportunity to put Loaded Dice Brewery on the map. He is still getting around to identifying his flagship beers. Out of the sixty-one different batches of beer that he has created since opening, fifty-seven of them have been unique.
His favorite beer style is old world, German malted wheats, such as the Hefeweizen, showcasing yeast-driven fruit and spice. His own version, Hef’s Smoking Jacket, is one of their beers that you will see regularly on tap. It is a cherrywood smoked Hefeweizen that’s like a bit of campfire in your mouth.