Drinking Partners

The Drinking Partners start the episode with a request: They’re looking for a new beer collaboration to create “The blackest shit we’ve ever done.” Their requirements are many, but all hilarious. Shortly after, they welcome Knowledge Hudson, fellow Epicast podcaster with his Ten Minutes of Knowledge podcast. What follows is an esoteric and philosophical conversation that explores religion and self-identity and individual and community evolution. But also looks into the necessity of siestas! Listen in as the Drinking Partners and Knowledge examine concepts not usually talked about in the studio. A thoughtful and wise listen. To hear more from Knowledge Hudson, check out his podcast, Ten Minutes with Knowledge.

Ed starts this special-release episode with an attempt to sing – again. This boisterous interview with Bill Oates of Three Rivers Underground Brewing owes much of its laughs to Mr. Oates, who gifted the Drinking Partners with a large selection of beer. He stops by the studio to discuss Brewing Up a Cure 2018, which has raised over $300,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and is one of Pittsburgh’s longest running beer festivals. Over 75 homebrews will be featured at the event, as well as some of Pittsburgh’s favorite local cider, mead, spirits, and beer. Day grows impatient as he waits for Bill to open the first of four beers that he has brought. He is not disappointed as he tastes a German Dunkel, a dark lager, or, as Ed calls it, “What Jon Snow drank.” That should clue in listeners to what sort of craziness will transpire in this latest release, one that combines detailed conversation centering on brewing and beer with more hilarious tangents than anyone will be able to count. To buy tickets or make a donation to Brewing Up the Cure, please visit: http://brewingupacure.org.

The Drinking Partners welcome Tamara Whiting, founder of SisterFriend Inc, a non-profit organization, “by women for women dedicated to sustaining feminine health.” Founded in 2015, SisterFriend, Inc has distributed over 10000 menstrual health supplies and works with numerous community initiatives to ensure that their products will reach those who need them most. The interview examines the necessity of SisterFriend and its aim to make “menstrual equity” happen while eliminating the stigma around discussing feminine hygiene health. Ed and Day, and Ms. Whiting herself, pepper the interview with jokes and stories, and the Drinking Partners experience a few epiphanies related women’s health in the latter minutes. To support this important organization, please visit to learn where you can donate: http://www.sisterfriend.org.

The Drinking Partners buzz with cheery energy and chatter as they welcome The Olga Watkins Band into the studio. Vocalist Olga Watkins, guitarist Jay Weaver, and drummer/percussionist Subha Das open the interview with the band’s backstory. What started as a jazz trio evolved into a funk/soul/r & b/blues band, and the group’s opportunities blossomed as a result. A particularly dynamic conversation develops around the band’s interactions and communication through music and rhythm as they perform which transitions into the similarities between comedy and music. From bad sets to professional influences, the group explores those similarities with depth and authenticity. The history of music in Pittsburgh rounds out the rest of the interview, but stayed tuned until the end to hear the band perform live in the studio. You will not want to miss it! To catch up with and listen to the Olga Watkins Band, check out their website: http://www.olgawatkinsband.com.

In this celebratory episode live from Fresh Fest Beer Fest, the Drinking Partners welcome Harlem Brewing owner and brewer Celeste Beatty, who Day praises as the “Beyonce of beer,” before asking if she has a lemonade brew. With such a fun and fast start, the energetic and vocal crowd readies for the Drinking Partners experience that delightfully develops and continues as Black Frog Brewery’s Chris Harris joins in. Both Ms. Beatty and Mr. Harris share stories of the innovative, yet difficult journeys involved in opening their breweries, with Ed and Day (unsurprisingly) interrupting with often-hilarious results. Midway through the interview, the panel examines the themes central to Fresh Fest and the connections and collaborations that can come about from sharing different culture’s brewing traditions. The episode concludes with a question and answer segment, one that highlights the knowledge and passion of the live audience. Inquiries range from the history of ancient brewing – Ms. Beatty is currently exploring recipes found on Egyptian papyruses – to community engagement. The interview only ends so that the festival can begin – a fitting transition after all that was discussed.

An early examination into all things Philly-related makes for an entertaining opening to the latest Drinking Partners release. Jason Cercone, founder of Breaking Brews – a Pittsburgh-focused craft beer blog and website dedicated to highlighting and promoting the libations culture and community – joins Ed and Day as the talk switches to the Steel City and the thriving alcohol industry. Mr. Cercone’s goal, and one that the Drinking Partners enthusiastically support, is the make Pittsburgh a “drinking destination.” In support of that, he has founded Pittsburgh Libations Week, a year-long celebration with its inaugural week set for October 12 – October 20, 2018, an event that will educate and enhance those who sip anything crafted in Pittsburgh. The interview is a dynamic and thorough look into how both Mr. Cercone and the Drinking Partners have been advancing the idea of Pittsburgh as a “boozy” city. For anyone who enjoys any of the city’s craft creations, this is a must listen. For more information about Pittsburgh Libations week, visit https://www.pittsburghlibationsweek.com.

The Drinking Partners open their latest podcast with a care package from Troeg’s Brewing Company, which included Nimble Giant, a Double IPA. With beers in hands, they welcome Sam Leonard from Pittsburgh Local News and Shannon Harris, a Texas-based beer blogger and award-winning home brewer. The early conversation focuses on Sam’s take on the happenings in and around Pittsburgh and the role of media and free speech. Shannon – known as The Brew Brotha – is highlighted midway through as he offers his thoughts on the beer scene in Texas and Black beer culture across the country. He explains in the latter minutes how he collaborates with breweries across the country, including Dancing Gnome, where he created an “aggressively hopped” styling for Fresh Fest 2018. Listen until the end as the group loosens up and jumps between the beers that Mr. Harris has brought with him and hilarious stories, an unsurprising conclusion for loyal listeners. Hear Sam on the Epicast network with his podcast Pittsburgh Local News, and find Shannon Harris at www.thebrewbrotha.com.

What could be better for a summer podcast than inviting the women behind Leona’s Ice Cream into the studio for a to-die for pairing of beer and ice cream? The Drinking Partners do just that as Christa Puskarich and Katie Heldstab stop by with a generous selection of their homemade, Pittsburgh-famous ice cream sandwiches and beer from a few of their favorite local breweries. Early on, the ladies’ entrepreneurial spirit inspires Day to confess his dream hustle: Selling specialty air.
Listeners will be unsurprised by Ed’s reaction to his co-host’s plans. The playful banter continues, even as the ladies talk about their start and how their ice cream is lactose-free and locally sourced. As beer lovers themselves, Katie and Christa chat with confidence and ease, and each topic is explored in a fun and fresh way, much like their Leona’s products. In the latter half of the podcast, the tasting begins, starting with a Hitchhiker coffee porter paired with a cinnamon sugar cookie and coffee ice cream sandwich. You can find Leona’s Ice Cream at ten local breweries and try your own pairings; for more information on the many locations their products are offered, visit http://www.leonaspgh.com. Find the Drinking Partners and Leona’s at this weekend’s Fresh Fest at Nova Place at 4 pm.

Doug Foster, co-owner of Aurochs Brewing Company, visits the Drinking Partners with his gluten-free offerings and a lesson in the ways of ancient brewing that do not rely on barley, rye, and wheat. The mission of Aurochs has been to provide a flavorful, great-tasting beer, and both Ed and Day deem it a success after expressing some early reservations about the gluten-free process. Curious as to what ingredients make up an Aurochs brew? Listen in as Mr. Foster discusses quinoa and millet and other wild oats. There’s even an exercise in how to correctly pronounce quinoa. As the interview progresses and more beer is drank, the Drinking Partners transition from talking about how clean the Aurochs beer is to their views on karaoke. Mr. Foster’s admission of his favorite song to sing surprises Ed and Day and leads Ed to reminisce. A fun listen that highlights a new, yet age-old process of craft beer brewing. Catch Aurochs at Fresh Fest on August 11 at Threadbare Cider House and at http://www.aurochsbrewing.com.

Hitchhiker Brewing owner Gary Olden and head brewer Andy Kwiatkowski return to the Drinking Partners Podcast following their late 2017 opening of their new Sharpsburg brewery and taproom. Beer lovers will be pleased from the opening moments as the men jump right into shop talk, even divulging what might be the next big trend in brewing: A Brut IPA, a “hoppy champagne” with a low bitterness and minimal sugar. Keep listening to hear a detailed, ingredient-specific explanation of the process to produce the new trend; one that Ed admits he could not understand. From the importance of a water filtration system to enzymatic processes, the early half of the interview is brimming with the science of brewing. A conversation about the dynamics of partnerships, both business and personal, will have listeners laughing and empathizing. Make sure to check out Hitchhiker’s new beer garden and their upcoming beers. For more info, check out their website: http://hitchhiker.beer.