Tacoma’s Mash helps you make beers designed for your palate

Jason Trujillo was a so-called “corporate boy” for most if his life. Now, he’s given up the office walls and chain of command to help beer connoisseurs brew their very own beers.

Jason and his wife Jennifer run Mash, in Tacoma. It’s a far cry from how things used to be.

“She said, ‘I don’t see you anymore,'” Jason recalled on Seattle Kitchen. He solved the problem by quitting his job, but he didn’t know what he wanted to do yet. So he and the family drove cross country in search of life’s next calling.

They hit a few breweries along the way – and they came across a few different ideas. For a while Jason and Jennifer entertained the idea of opening their own restaurant. “But we didn’t want to work that hard,” said Jason.

They settled on being the supplier to home brewers – from beginners to experts – when they returned home.

Those that walk into Mash get a taste of the couple’s expertise. Jason said he makes sure that when a first-timer walks in, they leave with all the instructions they need to get started at home.

Much like any recipe, the key is the ingredients, and Jason said they help you find the right recipe or blend for what you like best.

“I find out what kind of beer they like that’s on the market, and that’s what we shoot for,” he said.

From different types of grain, brewing temperatures and roasts there are plenty of options to be found.

“You can make anything,” said Jason. “Your only limit is your imagination.”

Seattle Kitchen can be heard on KIRO Radio Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays and noon. Available anytime ON DEMAND at MyNorthwest.com.