The Proust Questionnaire is a famous questionnaire about one’s personality. Its name and modern popularity as a form of interview is owed to the responses once given by the French writer Marcel Proust. Ben’s Beer Blog has co-opted this format in order to provide a revealing look at people making beer and working in the beer industry in Ontario. As such, I’ve renamed it The Proost Questionnaire, since “proost” is the Dutch word for cheers. Clever right?
Andrew Peters is a co-founder of Forked River Brewery. Here’s why he likes survival stories and wishes he could sing.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
A crisp autumn day hiking with the family, back to the campsite for a cold beer, music around the campfire, then gentle rain on the tent roof.
What is your greatest fear?
Disappointing people–friends, family, customers.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Building a life here in London with a wonderful family, and helping to foster the craft beer scene here.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Procrastination (I got these questions a month and a half ago….)
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Disrespect and arrogance.
What is your greatest extravagance?
A great glass of wine when dining out or a bottle at home with pizza on a Friday night. I try not to think about price per ounce.
What is your favorite journey?
Figuratively? Survival stories or self-sufficient living. Like the story of Dick Proenneke and “Alone in the Wilderness.” Literally? Road trips. I love getting in the car and exploring somewhere new.
On what occasion do you lie?
On questionnaires.
Which living person do you most despise?
Thankfully I don’t despise anyone I know personally.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
“Damn it,” said quietly to myself when I remember something I haven’t done or need to take care of.
What is your greatest regret?
Not trying harder in school. I managed to do fine coasting along and there was much more I could have gotten out of my time in school.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My wife, Dina. We’re constantly acknowledging how lucky we are to have each other, and have been together….um…twenty-five years now.
When and where were you happiest?
It just keeps getting better.
Which talent would you most like to have?
A good voice. I love to listen to and play music and being able to sing is something I wish I could have more than any other talent.
What is your current state of mind?
Constant vacillation between stressed and relaxed states.
What is your most treasured possession?
My Fender Strat, which was a Christmas gift from my parents back in high school, and my Takamine acoustic, which was a wedding present from my wife.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not having anyone to share things with.
Where would you like to live?
Alternating between Northern Ontario and travels to new places.
What is your favorite occupation?
Um. I’m a brewer and co-owner of a brewery….is there a better one?
What is your most marked characteristic?
Being easy-going and always looking for the humour in things.
What do you most value in your friends?
Dependability. The friends I’ve had throughout my life are ones that I can call up an ask for anything. Although I hate asking for things, I know they’re there for me.
Who are your favorite writers?
I’ve tended to shift to non-fiction over the years and always enjoy books by people like Jon Krakauer, Brian Greene, and Michael Lewis, but will always pick up anything by William Gibson, Michael Winter, and Cormac McCarthy.
Who are your heroes in real life?
People who sacrifice their own time and happiness for others. People who try and make things better for a future that they themselves may never even benefit from.
What is your motto?
On the other hand…
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