We sat down and chatted with Leif Anderson, Co-Owner and Head Brewer at Mash Mechanix Brewing in Colorado Springs. Leif tells us what makes their brewery tick and what fuels their passion for craft beer. Spoiler alert: it’s not *just* beer!
how did your craft beer story begin?
I started out, like many brewers, as a homebrewer. I was a science teacher and brewing was a natural fit for me as a lifelong learner. Little did I know it would lead me to where I am today, co-owning, brewing, and operating a brewery. We opened our doors in March of 2021 and we haven’t looked back!
What's the story behind the Brewery's name: mash mechanix?
We are all car guys! We love a good old American muscle car and have brought that vibe into our taproom, I guess you could say that it’s our ‘special ingredient’ at the brewery – our love of cars. From old gears repurposed as sign holders, to the 2 car shows we host at the brewery every summer, we love everything mechanical. If you are a lover of cars, definitely plan to attend one of our car shows at the brewery in Colorado Springs. The number of beautiful, exotic, and truly one-of-a-kind cars that hit the road for these events is out of this world.
What's your favorite beer on tap right now and why?
I wouldn’t say I have a single favorite beer on tap now, but I do have a Harvest series on tap that includes many of my favorites. Each year we source fresh peaches from Palisade for a Peach Wheat, fresh Pueblo green chiles for our Green Chile Blonde, and fresh pumpkins from Rocky Ford for our Pumpkin ale. I’m proud that these are all Colorado sourced; farm-to-glass beers!
What's your favorite collaboration brew?
I have enjoyed all the collaborations that we have been privileged to participate in! As a former educator, collaborations with other brewers fill my desire for learning. I have never left a collab brew day without having learned something valuable and a big smile. There are so many talented individuals in our industry who are willing to share their expertise and knowledge for the sake of making all of us better in the craft industry.
What is your favorite Colorado Brewers Guild event?
My favorite CBG event, by far, is Colorado Pint Day. It is so cool seeing so many craft beer lovers come together on a single day to help support their favorite breweries and the Guild. The excitement generated is contagious for both the avid glass collector and the customer getting their first pint glass. This day really brings together the local community.
