Her Campus McGill had the pleasure of sitting down with U3 student Mason Bruno Brenhouse and recent McGill graduate Jeremy Maron at a Thursday 4à7 in Bronfman. This beer-loving duo makes up two of the four founding fathers of the McGill Students’ Brewing Society. They consider themselves connoisseurs (and Campus Cuties), and have been to the Heineken and Carlsberg experiences in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, respectively. Though they’ve yet to hit up the Guinness factory in Dublin, they’re earning their titles as President and Vice-President of the association one beer at a time.
Mason & Jeremy holding one of their top picks, Delirium Tremens.
Emily Campbell for HC McGill (HC McGill): Tell me a bit about yourselves!
Mason Brenhouse (MB): I’m Mason Bruno Brenhouse, a Poli-Sci major and Jewish Studies minor. I’m passionate about McGill, meeting people at McGill, and beer. It was the combination of these things that brought me to found the McGill Students’ Brewing Society.
Jeremy Maron (JM): My name is Jeremy Alexander Maron, I was an Accounting major and I did a minor in Psychology. I’m also very into the social scene at McGill, I always come to the 4à7’s at Bronfman and participate in Hype Week.
MB: In terms of our organizational positions, I’m the President and Maron is Vice-President. We founded the Brewing Society along with Robert Samberg and Brad Reinish.
HC McGill: What does the McGill Students’ Brewing Society do?
MB: We try to promote beer as more of a passion, not just a party thing. Instead of drinking the same beer all the time, we want to get people into something that is crafted and appreciate the artisanal and artistic value.
JM: It’s for people who are interested in the nuances and taste of beer.
HC McGill: What kind of events do you guys host?
MB: They’re something like this (4à7 in Bronfman) but at a microbrewery or a craft brewery. We try to do one or or two events per semester. We’re doing our next one at the McAuslan Brewery in Saint-Henry. It’s about getting people out and trying new beer, and having an experience related to the beer. Like at McAuslan, they do a tour of the facilities and they have cool seasonal flavors like pumpkin.
JM: Last year we did a beer tasting at Benelux, they also brew their own beer and have a ton of their own unique tastes. We got to try maple, cinnamon, and a bunch of cool beers that you wouldn’t just buy at a dépanneur.
HC McGill: Favourite beer?
MB: Great question, very difficult. A lot of people will judge me for saying it, but there’s nothing wrong with a good Heineken.
JM: I’m a big fan of Delirium Tremens. It’s an imported, Belgian beer you can find at the SAQ.
MB: Okay, since Maron went specific, I really enjoy Magic Hat. They don’t sell it in Canada.
HC McGill: Favourite bar in Montreal?
MB: I love Bar Biftek. Such an awesome grimy place. They have popcorn, they have pool tables, and Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters is known to go there when he’s in town.
JM: I love SuWu. Good atmosphere, good music. And mac & cheese grilled cheese.
HC McGill: Do you guys have any little known beer facts?
JM: I actually do. Foam should not be frowned upon. A common mistake that people make is pouring their beer with no foam, but you need it. I learned that at the Heineken experience in Amsterdam.
MB: I have a tip from personal experience. Never brew your own beer barefoot. It will end up being terrible.
HC McGill: Why?
MB: Just don’t do it.
HC McGill: How can students get involved with the McGill Students’ Brewing Society?
MB: They can come out to our next event! Like we said, it’s at the McAuslan Brewery. It’s on November 25th.
JM: It’s a charity fundraiser for Movember!
MB: I’m passionate about the Movember Foundation of Canada and men’s health and I’m on the related Montreal and McGill committees. Since 2012, the Movember team I’m a part of, Brostache, has raised over $50,000. About $12 per ticket is going be donated to charity, and we’re going to be raffling off prizes. With the purchase of a ticket you get two free beers and a raffle ticket. It’s a great opportunity to drink unique beer while giving back to the community. Plus you get to hang with me and Jeremy.
HC McGill: That’s a great note to end on, thanks guys!
MB: Oh, and I’d also like to say hello to my mother.
Check out the McGill Students’ Brewing Society’s Facebook page and their November 25th event.
Images provided by interviewees.