Stories From A Bar

For Episode 30 I welcome back to the show Owner/Brewer at Artisanal Brew Works Kurt Borchardt! We talk about how Artisanal is adjusting to doing business during a pandemic, raising money for out of work hospitality workers with collaborative beers, future beers coming, and a shared desperate need for a haircut. Enjoy!

For Episode 29 I'm joined by the head brewer at Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery Scott Veltman! Talking everything from how he got into brewing, working at Ommegang and C.H. Evans/The Pump Station, to life on the farm and the best ways to support Indian Ladder these days. As well as what we've been up to when not working of course. Enjoy!

For Ep 28 head brewer of C.H. Evans Brewing at The Albany Pump Station Sam Pagano returns to the podcast! In this quarantine edition of the podcast Sam and I have some drinks while talking about the status of the Pump Station/C.H. Evans. From his new role as beer delivery driver, to the options available to help support the business, as well what we've been doing to keep ourselves entertained at h...

In Episode 27 I get my inner Viking on and head to Helderberg Meadworks in Esperance, NY to drink mead and hang out with owner Peter Voelker! There's talk of Vikings, horns, mead, skulls, and of course our worst fashion choices. Enjoy!

Welcome to Wisconsin! In this episode of The Statesman Series (Ep 26) I am joined by Anthony Rossi, host of the podcast Videogame Crosstalk, to talk all things Wisconsin. By that I mean late night couch humping, a fake kidnapping, clogging toilets, tons, and tons, and tons, and tons, and tons of acid, and of course beer from New Glarus Brewing Co. Enjoy!

In Ep. 25 I head out to Middleburgh, NY to check out Green Wolf Brewing Co. I sit down with Justin Behan (Owner) and Caleb Wiseman (Bar Manager) to talk about all things Green Wolf and Middleburgh. Topics include the beers, the town, a hurricane, super powers, and for some reason camels. Enjoy!

In Episode 24 I sit down w/ Jim Gilbert from the Albany based online publication Nippertown! We discuss local music and venues, traveling the country to photograph concerts (bands big and small), a little time travel, and of course all things Nippertown and what what the future holds for it. Recorded at the awesome Albany Distilling Bar and Bottle Shop in Albany, NY. Enjoy!

In Episode 23 I hang out with tattoo artist and owner of I&I Tattoo Chad Foster! Hear him talk about everything from tattooing and getting I&I Tattoo up and running to his time in the band Sofa Kingz and being lost in Scotland. Check it out!

Welcome to Florida! In this episode of The Statesman Series (Ep 22) we are talking Florida Man stories! I'm joined by Aaron Sturdivant, host of the Horror With Sir Sturdy podcast, as we talk weird stories about orgies, gators, manatees, and even an arm less Florida Man. All while drinking Guayabera Citra Pale Ales from Cigar City Brewing out of Tampa, FL. Enjoy!

Another Night Another Episode! For Episode 21 I sit down with Mike Bellini and Mike Schaffer of The Real McCoy Beer Company! Covering all things Real McCoy including their new Tap Room at the Abner Doubleday house in Ballston Spa, NY. Even updated the intro/outro music to a little something better suited for this episode from the band Real McCoy. Check it out and Enjoy!

It's Ep 20 and also the first Ep of The Statesman Series! In this episode The Gentle Cupper himself (Mike Townshend) returns to drink and talk about a variety of ridiculous "Michigan Man" news stories. Talking the proper term for people from Michigan, a lost porn collection, stealing intimate products from Spencer's, an absurd number of copies of Shrek on VHS, stealing a taco cart, and more! All w...

For Ep 19 I hang out at the Speakeasy 518 in Albany, NY with Bar Manager Emmanuel Treski! We talk all about the Speakeasy, Swing Dancing, Spirits, and what makes a good cocktail. All while sipping on some fantastic drinks made Emmanuel himself. Check it out!

For Ep. 18 I head north to Artisanal Brew Works in Saratoga Springs, NY to hang out and drink with one of the owners Kurt Borchardt! Hear Kurt talk all about how Artisanal Brew Works came to be, their awesome beers, the logo/can art, and the pride he takes in his work and staff. As wll as his go to dance move of course. Check it out!

In Ep 17 I hang out and have some beers with the host of Horror With Sir Sturdy the podcast Aaron Sturdivant! Want to hear about beer making monks in Belgium? you got it. Want to hear about Australia's grossest drinking tradition known as "The Shoey"? you got it. Have you also been itching to 2 somewhat drunk guys talk their way through the plot of the awesome movie Bubba Ho-Tep? you got it. All t...

In Episode 16 I hang out at Oligan Distilling in Latham, NY and talk/drink with owner Sean O'Keeffe! Hear about all about Oligan Distilling and all the great stuff they have going on, distilling in general, Sean's background, which historical figures we would wedgie, and our weapons of choice for the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse. Enjoy!

In Episode 15 I hang out at Back Barn Brewing Co. in Duanesburg, NY chatting with retired Lieutenant Colonel (Air Force), Cancer Survivor, owner, and all around bad ass Brenda Schworm! We talk about her time in the miltary, turning a pre-Revolutionary War barn into a brewry, and of course if animals could talk, which would be the rudest.

For Ep 14 I hang out with Sam Pagano (head brewer of C.H. Evans Brewery at the Albany Pump Station). We talk about everything from how he got into brewing, taking over the C.H. Evans brewery, the Pump Station, if you can get a DUI on horseback, motorized beer stools and coolers, and why you might actually be better off mixing different types of alcohol when you drink. Also, apologies to people of...

In Episode 13 I hang out at Loch & Quay in Albany, NY drinking and chatting with owner Frank O'Connor and Manager John Mickle! Hear some great stories from Frank and John, about getting Loch & Quay going, spending time in Ireland, some The Office triva, and other drunken nonsense. Including some great t-shirt ideas.

It's The Stories From A Bar Christmas Spectacular! Anthony Rossi (of Videgame Crosstalk) joins me at The Olde English Pub in Albany, NY as we discuss Christmas music recommendations, the legitimacy of Die Hard as a Christmas movie, and weird Holiday Traditions from around the world! Enjoy!

For Episode 11 I hang out with local musician Ryan Clark! We talk about his music, touring, creative process, and inspiration for getting into music. All while hanging out at the Albany Pump Station and having some great beers!

It's Episode 10! In this episode I hang out at Indian Ladder Farms in Altamont, NY and talk with owner Dietrich Gehring and brewer Scott Veltman! We talk about the history of the farm, how it's evolved, the cidery and brewery, and of course growing hemp. Cheers!

Episode 9 is here! Recorded at The Van Dyck Lounge/Mad Jack Brewery in Schenectady, NY my buddy Mike Townshend returns as we cover everything from some more ghost stories to cheese rolling to Lord of the Rings poop references! You read that last part right.

It's October! To celebrate I talk and have some drinks with Maeve McEneny Johnson from Discover Albany at Pearl Street Pub talking about some of the ghost stories and hauntings involving Albany, NY. Enjoy!

This episode is truly for the History/Beer nerds out there as I drink and talk with the man, the myth, the mustache Craig Gravina! we discuss the Albany Ale Project, his book Upper Hudson Valley Beers, Albany's rich brewing history, and of course some facial hair.

In this "Homebrew" edition of Stories From A Bar friend and colleague Mike Townshend and I drink terrible beers while talking mostly of creepy clowns. There's also talk of Bruce Campbell, huge burritos, Kevin Bacon, and Goats. Yeah, this one really went off the rails quickly and often.