Andrew Desenberg shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Andrew, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I love music. There have been more evenings than I care to admit that I’ve slipped down to the basement after dinner, and after the kids finish their homework, with the intention of only listening to one record, only to find myself glancing up at a clock showing early morning hours. There’s something about the analog process of putting on a record, pouring a glass of something cold, and putting my feet up after a long day that can literally make me feel like I’m time-traveling. It can also reset something in my soul. It’s way too easy to let your life be driven by your work, and to let your hobbies feel like they always need to generate income… It’s one of the few things in my life that exists for the sole purpose of existing.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I go by ‘The Gnarly Gnome’ (that’s a story within itself). The brand started with a craft beer blog more than a decade ago, a little corner of the internet where I could share my love for the craft beer industry. I now spend every waking moment telling the stories about the beverage industry in Cincinnati. It’s not just the drinks themselves, it’s the people that own the companies, the folks that make beer, wine, spirits. It’s the coffee shops and the dive bars. I spend a lot of time on social media, I make podcasts and videos, I work with clients to help them make their own content, and this year (2026) I’m launching the most significant project that I’ve ever launched – a magazine all about drinking in Cincinnati.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I have found throughout my career that I’ve always been on a path, even if I wasn’t always sure where it was leading me. Sometime you come around a corner and realize that you were headed to the exact spot that you were needing to go to, without even knowing that was what lie ahead. Before the world told me who I was… and I still don’t really know who I am… I was headed to this exact spot. It’s like througout life little bits at a time, things are revealed.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could travel back in time and tell my younger self ANYthing… It would be that you are in control of it all. The world around you is defined by your decisions (good or bad), and the more good you put out around you, the better your experience will be. Try to put out more good into the world than you get back, always.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I feel like when I created the Gnarly Gnome, it (and he) may have unknowingly centered around a few very critical parts of my personality. As time has gone on and the platforms I use have grown, so has my understanding of those parts of my personality. The fundamental shift for me was when I realized that it should also direct the rest of my life – my career, my hobbies… all of it. I feel more myself today than I ever have, and sharing it with the public has opened the door to a deeper understanding of who that person is. I would not have been able to do that before I was as public-facing as I am today.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people understand, today and when I’m gone, why I do what I do. I honestly LOVE the industries I work with and share content about. I would be doing this even if I knew that it would never make a dime. It’s so easy for people on the internet to fake passion, to artificially showcase something that feels very real, and I hope that people know that isn’t me. How you do that? That’s a whole different question…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TheGnarlyGnome.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/The_Gnarly_Gnome
- Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheGnarlyGnome
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/TheGnarlyGnome
- Other: https://www.CincyDrinks.com
