Drinking Partners

Dave Cerminara, owner of Apis Mead and Winery in Carnegie, has the Drinking Partners nostalgic and amazed with his peanut butter and jelly-tasting mead as their latest podcast opens. Back for his second visit, Dave stops by to talk about the opening of his new building, a few blocks from his current spot in Carnegie and an upgrade in both space and brewing equipment. Of course, Ed and Day amusingly force Dave off-topic as they describe him as a “good time in a bottle.” (They might be Apis fanboys.) The evolution of Apis since its early days is the heart of the episode, and listeners will enjoy hearing what Dave and his team have planned for their expansion. Spoilers: The new space will have thirty taps and Apis will soon be available in cans! Visit Apis Mead and Winery in their new location (206 Mary Street, Carnegie) for their grand opening event on August 4, 2018. For more info, check out Apis at www.apismead.com.

With three VR cameras recording the latest Drinking Partners podcast, listeners will be able to experience the mayhem in a whole new way! Sean Smith– CTIO of Pro Digital VR – brings his technology to the studio for this unique experience that combines what the Drinking Partners do best with what Pro Digital VR has mastered. Can’t make it to a live podcast? Just visit https://prodigitalvr.com/drinkingpartners/ to jump into the fun. As Mr. Smith mentions, VR is an “empathy machine” that allows viewers to step into someone else’s world, and the Drinking Partners world is one that offers hours of laughable entertainment. Privacy in the digital age is a talking point throughout as the men discuss the blurred lines that instant accessibility creates and the importance of maintaining digital freedom. And then there is the conversation about space travel and aliens. Listen in to decide for yourself what to make of that one! As Ed says, “Earth is going to get gentrified.” You might need a beer after that one, so check out Fresh Fest, which will take place August 11, 2018 at Threadbare Cider House: “Diversity and different voices in the industry make an industry better,” Day promises.

Live and loose from Industry Public House, the Drinking Partners showcase themselves in true and fun form in this action-packed and interactive podcast. From the opening seconds, the tone is set as Ed and Day argue about how to even begin the episode. Brian Eaton, cofounder of Gristhouse Brewing, and the Beer Executive Officer of Industry, Colin McCullough – whose work title has the Drinking Partners both jealous and giddy – join the panel. Craft lovers will enjoy the explanation and recipe sharing behind sour beers, but beware the discussion on clowns that follows! Did you know there was such a thing as cookout sandals? To learn more, listen for Ed’s description and, for longtime listeners, hear once more of his hatred of feet. Interested in a “beercation?” Both Brian and Colin share their top picks for breweries to include. The Drinking Partners are at their best live, and this latest release is no different as they toe the PG-13 line with hilarious results. Love festivals, beer, and games? Make sure to visit Craft Carnival, a one of a kind beer festival with activities that will entertain everyone. To learn more, visit www.craftcarnivalpgh.com and use promo code partners2018 for $10 off! Find more about Industry Public House at www.industrypgh.com.

What’s better than getting beer shipped to you from Troeg’s while sipping on beer from Mindful? Not much, the Drinking Partners decide in their latest podcast release. Happy and well-lubricated, Ed and Day welcome noted Pittsburgh blogger, and, according to Day, the daredevil of journalism, Virginia Montanez. Ms. Montanez shares a unique perspective as she relates her history of being “outed” as a once-anonymous political commentator, which caused her to lose her job with a non-profit, which leads into a conversation about the consequences of free speech. Several, Drinking Partners-esque detours offer laughs as the trio muses about deer as vermin, privacy concerns, and the political happenings in and around Pittsburgh, all within a few breaths. After years of blogging as Pittsburgh’s preeminent and wittiest voice, Ms. Montanez now shares her thoughts on Twitter. To follow her and her latest thoughts, find her @janepitt.

As the Drinking Partners enjoy Mindful Brewing’s McCord – a Belgian strong golden ale – they give a rowdy welcome to Paige Mitchell, an entertainment journalist who curates Front Paige Me, a Pittsburgh-centric event blog. The podcast features Ms. Mitchell sharing behind-the-scenes stories from some of her best interviews, much to Ed and Day’s delight. As Ms. Mitchell states, “An event ain’t poppin’ unless Front Paige Me has been there.” Some names are dropped, others are not; but this latest podcast highlights who’s who in Pittsburgh and beyond in a fun, brisk fashion. Stay tuned through the end to hear Ms. Mitchell’s dream interviewees and to find out how the Drinking Partners feel about significant others cheating with celebrities and which ones are acceptable. To read more about Paige Mitchell, visit www.frontpaigeme.com.

After a NSFW opening, the Drinking Partners start the party early as they celebrate Ed’s birthday while indulging in some Mindful Brewing crowlers. The vibe is already tingling with a fast-paced energy when Pittsburgh’s favorite magician Lee Terbosic joins in. Although Mr. Terbosic does not divulge trade secrets, he does reveal the training and preparation that goes into his act and admits why he had Franco Harris at his Houdini100 event and how he wanted to make Sydney Crosby levitate. The back and forth between the Drinking Partners and Lee Terbosic never slows and offers listeners a rare chance to understand what happens behind the stage; and the fashion choices that the men make for performances, including a confession from Ed that he irons his sweatpants. A charming, banter-full podcast that has something for everyone. Catch Lee Terbosic and his new 52 Up Close show at Hotel Monaco now; for tickets, visit www.52upclose.com. The Drinking Partners will be at Comtra Theatre May 26 for an early show (7pm) and a late-night, college-special show (9:30pm).

After taking part in an American Brewing Guild class, Steve Ilnicki began the process of going from beer lover to brewer. A few years later, he opened Spoonwood Brewing in Bethel Park, a brewpub that focuses on the in-house experience and offers a full kitchen to accompany its rotating beer list. The Drinking Partners sip on Spoonwood’s staple – the Killer Diller IPA – they discuss the concept of small batch brewing and how to maintain quality over quantity. Without explanation, the conversation moves into strange territory. How strange? Bathroom etiquette and barber shops. Some time later, the men get back on track and talk about the seasons of beer as Mr. Ilnicki names a style for each season. Listen through to hear an important discussion on the intersection of Black culture and beer culture and learn more about Fresh Fest Beer Fest, a Drinking Partners-sponsored event happening August 11 at Threadbare Ciderhouse and Meadery. For more info about Spoonwood Brewing, visit http://spoonwoodbrewing.com.

As the Drinking Partners sip on beers provided by Mindful Brewing Company, Ed declares, “We bring guests back to see how we’ve grown,” and they welcome Pittsburgh-based death metal band Greywalker and two of its members – Brian Howe and Joe Solak. This latest Drinking Partners release will be of particular interest to all musicians as it explores the ideas of content creation and how to please an audience while keeping your identity clear. Midway through, the men compare music to beer as they examine the differences between metal and rock and roll in a fun and dynamic conversation. Brian continues the theme by explaining how Greywalker can be considered “accessible metal.” During the podcast, the Drinking Partners sample the Greywalker collaboration beer as they compare different genres of music. A main focus of the interview focuses on distinguishing the brand from the music, and listeners will be intrigued by the group’s conclusions. Graywalker will host an album release July 7 at the Rex Theater; for more information, find them at https://www.greywalker.net.

In the early minutes, Ed promises, “We kind of playful then we say some serious s***,” as both Drinking Partners are on their best behavior to welcome Marita Garrett, the first woman to be elected mayor of Wilkinsburg. Mayor Garrett deftly explains the abundance of potholes to the complaining Drinking Partners before exploring her other mayoral duties and offering her best (and hilarious) advice.
Local politics takes center stage midway through when Mayor Garrett offers advice on citizen involvement and how to become an active participant in government. As only the Drinking Partners can master, moments of serious analysis are punctuated with wild interjections, with Mayor Garrett playing along perfectly. An engaged listen that will inspire and encourage listeners. To learn more about Mayor Garrett and her community initiatives, find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MayorMaritaGarrett/.

ShuBrew’s Zach Shumaker, a longtime favorite of the Drinking Partners, stops by the studio is this fun, friendly, and fast episode. Listeners will learn how the latest Drinking Partners and ShuBrew collaboration beer – Bred – came to be, from the black malts to the cherry accents to the uniquely named moniker. A celebrity-inspired story from Zach connects all the beer dots, as Ed and Day add colorful commentary before the conversation shifts to video games and how intricately they are connected to ShuBrew’s beers. With each beer that Zach pours, he gifts listeners with exclusive information about the offering and explains how ShuBrew’s new fermenter system allows them to experiment more. Or, as Ed says, “Zach’s dropping jewels on this episode.” Beer lovers, especially those who enjoy learning about the behind-the-scenes processes and decisions, will particularly enjoy this interview, and its focus on the creation behind each beer that Zach has brought. From yeast and bacteria strains to tiny pizzas, the guys mix facts and fun in a way that will have you laughing. That Drinking Partners experience of mixing laughs with great beer continues Saturday, April 28 at the release party for Bred. Stop by ShuBrew from 3-7 pm to fill your growler with the Drinking Partners black pale ale before seeing live stand up at Comtra Theatre at 7 and 9:30 pm. For tickets, visit www.comtratheatre.ticketleap.com.