An Interview with Tom Seefurth, Creator of Mamma Mia Pizza Beer

Put Your Slice on Ice!

Nothing goes with pizza quite like an ice cold beer. And now Illinois-based home brewers Tom and Athena Seefurth have taken that wonderful combination one step further. Their new creation, Mamma Mia Pizza Beer, has been a hotter-than-hot topic of discussion on radio shows all across the country, and I decided to find out the scoop on this clever new beverage for myself. So needless to say, I was delighted when Tom Seefurth took time out of his busy schedule to chat with me about Mamma Mia Pizza Beer, the secrets of home brewing, Jay Leno, and much more...

SUZANNE: Welcome, Tom. I have to start by asking two obvious questions. How often do you eat pizza, and who do you think makes the best pizza in your neck of the woods?

TOM: Interesting question. We would eat it every day, but realistically a minimum of once a week. Our family really likes the Rosati family pizzas. They have several brands, all different but very good. Definitely Rosati's, Papa Saverio's, and Pizza Cucina. Oh, and Lou Malnati's in Schaumburg is the best sit-down joint.

SUZANNE: Were you eating pizza when the idea for Pizza Beer hit you, or was it something you had been considering for a long time?

TOM: We were interested in designing a beer to complement food. Pizza Beer was part planning and lots of real good luck. My father-in-law lives in Texas and drinks tomato juice with his beer and tops it off with a bit of hot sauce. We figured if we used tomato, oregano, basil, and garlic, the worst case scenario would be that the drink resembled that combination--and since we love to cook, that it would also make a great marinade!

SUZANNE: I'm assuming that when you first attempted to make Pizza Beer, there were some trials and possibly errors. Do you have any funny stories to tell about attempting to get the recipe perfected? And did you solicit taste-test help from friends and family?