In an attempt to get to better know the person sitting next to you at the bar, we’ve started column entitled the ‘Barstool Diaries’.  Randomly we will choose a regular that we see out often at bars and events, and our resident intern, Yotam Dror, will sit down with them for a beer and get to know them. The result will be what follows.  Do you want to be featured in this column or have someone you think should be? E-mail Yotam at: Yotam@beerscenemag.com.

 

Meet Stephen Lyford                                                                                                                                                                                                             42 year old resident of Bellmawr, NJ

What he’s drinking: Great Divide Espresso Yeti  

What do you do for a living?

I do “software configuration management.” My dad was a software engineer too, so I think that’s probably where I picked it up. I remember being a kid going to a Christmas party at work and they had punch cards. You’d literally punch holes in the cards and feed them into the computer and that programs the computer, like a player piano.

Do you come to Philly often?

I wasn’t much of a Philly person, and I definitely wasn’t a city person till five years ago. Thanks to the beer scene now I have more friends in the city, and since I work in PA, I literally drive through the city five days a week. I’ll drive home, stop off somewhere ‘oh they’re having what on tap?’ stop up there on the way home and have a couple pints.

When did you become involved in the beer scene?

Almost ten years ago, I started bumping into a friend at beer fests. This was back when beer fests were maybe $25 and maybe eight beer bars in the city. Now I can’t even keep up with the new breweries coming out. As more places opened I went to more bars, tried more beers, and met more people.  The people were as awesome as the beer.

Steve moves on to a pint of Half Acre Daisy Cutter

Did you have this love for beer when you were younger?

I used to think it was disgusting when I was younger. I remember thinking when I was 21-22 that Coors Extra Gold was not too bad. I was your typical college drinker, doing Jager-bombs, cocktails and dollar bud light bottles.

How often do you come to Philly just for a beer?

2-4 times a week, depending on what’s going on. I love new places, there are certainly places I go back to over and over, but with the sheer amount of really good places to go, I’d feel like I was denying myself if I was a creature of habit at one or two places.

Any types of alcohol you enjoy besides beer?

I am an emerging bourbon and single malt whiskey drinker. If you appreciate any one alcohol you can learn to appreciate others. Just like beer, I discovered subtleties in the flavors and what styles I liked.

Do you have a preferred style of beer?

I am a hop slut.  I love hops; give me an IPA, a double IPA, a triple IPA. Throw hops down my throat.

What are the downsides of this passion?

The downside is it can be expensive. Sometimes I go out wanting two beers and a snack, end up having five beers and a full entrée.  There are some people; I don’t know how they do it. Also, good beer and good food equals a beer gut.