Thanksgiving is coming, so here's a food show, and a family Thanksgiving side recipe, and "shop local" holiday advice! 

"Wild Food"? That's right, this is the FORAGING episode! I interviewed two foragers, both friends of mine here in Penns Valley: forester Andrea Ferich and my friend and pinochle partner, John Dubosky. They'll tell you about how to find and harvest wild mushrooms, we talk a little about paw paws, and Andrea talks about ginseng and some cool stuff she's doing with hickory nuts, and I finally get to talk to someone about teaberry!

I'll tell you about our family fave Thanksgiving side dish, scalloped oysters, and the supply crisis that almost ended it. The next episode is dropping Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is Small Business Saturday, so I've got a bunch of central Pennsylvania small shopping suggestions for you.

And...there will be a bunch more in the show notes on the new website! That's SeenThroughAGlass.com! Huge thanks to my daughter Nora Bryson for building the site, with a merch store, a blog, Corgi pix, and more to come. Finally, STAG has a home! 

What I'm Drinking Today is a winter classic from way back, Samuel Smith Winter Welcome, a beautifully malty mouthful that soothes my weary soul at this time of year.  The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about grooving to live music at some great drinking spots (you know, multitasking).

I'll tell you about two American Whiskey Master Class signing events in central PA in December, and remember, a signed copy is a great holiday gift for your whiskey-loving friends that you can now buy at the new website!

Next episode will be a Mifflinburg profile that's also our first holiday episode. Get ready!

See you in two weeks (and two days)!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Finally! A Lancaster County episode, about "America's Coolest Small Town," "Pennsylvania's Best Small Town To Retire In," a place with "a downtown dripping with charm": Lititz, Pennsylvania. 

I grew up not far away, and I'm pretty familiar with Lititz. For instance, Josh Kauffman, the brewer I interviewed at Rooster Street Butcher? I already knew him, and his parents, and his grandparents...even his great-grand-dad. We'll dig into the history of this town, deeply linked to the same Moravian church that shaped Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It's that kind of episode, but don't worry; you'll feel like part of the family when we're done. 

We make other stops too, like the world-class beer bar, the Bulls Head Public House, the insanely varied and wonderful coffee at Whiff Roasters, America's oldest pretzel maker, Julius Sturgis, and the chocolate cake that makes me nostalgic at the Brickerville House. 

What else? Well, What I'm Drinking Today is a throwback to the very first episode: once again, I'm having Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. Love that stuff. The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about the upcoming Christmas celebrations in Bellefonte (and you better get your train tickets pretty soon!).

I maybe mention my new book, American Whiskey Master Class, a few times, too, but come on, it's a great gift for your whiskey-loving friends!

Next episode will be the first of this year's string of holiday episodes, a combination Thanksgiving and foraging episode, complete with interviews with a forester who forages mushrooms, walnuts, hickory nuts, and paw paws; and a friend who forages for the joy of it.

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

THE WOLFE IS LOOSE!!

Erik Wolfe, that is. I sat down with Stoll & Wolfe distillery co-owner/founder/distiller Erik Wolfe a couple weeks ago when we did an American Whiskey Master Class event there. I wanted to get his thoughts on a number of things, and as usual, I had a whole page of questions to ask. 

That's not what happened. I asked my opening question, and Erik took off like a rabbit. We covered -- excuse me, he covered a lot of territory, and honestly, I found it all fascinating, so I just let the recorder roll. It's a bit longer than we usually go, but I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it.

I did take the book to Baltimore shortly after that, and had an event at Sisu, a new little bar with a big personality, run by friends of mine...and maybe yours, because they've become well-known in State College and Philadelphia. I also got a great dinner in Little Italy, at Benny's, advertising "The Best Balls On The Block," and it was no hollow boast. 

What I'm Drinking Today is a Stoll & Wolfe whiskey, very limited release, one barrel only of a rye whiskey made with Rosen rye and malted Rosen rye. The result was intriguing, and wonderful. The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about pizza again; three great spots in Centre County! (More pizza because holy cow! That Original Italian Pizza episode went crazy! You loved the OIP Story!)

Next episode? I have an interview with an old friend, a young old friend, who's brewing in Lititz, Pennsylvania, and I take the opportunity to profile that wonderful little town, our first Lancaster County profile. I also deliver some big news about the Seen Through A Glass holiday schedule that I think you're going to like. A lot. Be sure to listen all the way to the end, especially this time! 

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

THE MYSTERY IS SOLVED!!

It's something that's bothered me for years: who owns the Original Italian Pizza shops?! They're all over central PA, dozens of them, all pretty similar, but all a little bit different. Thanks to a tip from Shy Bear's Jason Ufema, I got to interview John Pannizzo, the son of the man who started it all. 

We get the whole story...and that's all I'm going to say. This is a good one, you should listen to it. 

There's more about pizza, just because, and then some more about pizza. You won't suffer, I promise. 

What I'm Drinking Today is a favorite wine, Tenuta di Ulisse Amaranta Montepulciano D'Abruzzo. It's great for Fall foods! The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about the new Happy Valley Gravel Adventure Guide, a handy guide to riding the bike trails of Centre County!

Next episode? I have a far-ranging interview with one of the most thoughtful distillers I know. We talk about heirloom grains, yeast, cornstalk rum, and Moravian pacifism. I'll also tell you about two places I visited in Baltimore while on my book tour.  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Wherein we return to Lewistown and Shy Bear for another interview with podcast inspiration Jason Ufema to get the straight skinny on what's going on with their Hershey satellite operation. 

Shy Bear Brewing owner Jason Ufema was only the fourth person I interviewed for the show, and the quality of that interview is a painful memory, so we decided to have a do-over. Seriously, there was stuff we missed, and it was a chance to talk to a pretty wired-in guy about how things are going in the brewpub business. 

Speaking of Lewistown, Goose Day is coming up! It's officially September 29th, but since that's a Monday, they've streeeeeetched it out to include the weekend, so things start flying on Friday the 26th. There's a drone spectacle, craft vendors, music, goose and blackberry-themed drinks (yes, goose drinks!), and of course, lots of goose dinners, goose pizza, goose tacos, and so on. It's great fun!

What I'm Drinking Today is a first: fresh draft beer from my home tap, this year's Troegs Oktoberfest. The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is TWO side-by-side upcoming Fall festivals, the Millheim Oktoberfest on September 27th, and the Aaronsburg Dutch Fall Fest on October 4th and 5th (plus I slipped in a plug for the Mifflinburg Oktoberfest that same weekend).  

Next episode? It's a big one! You've probably seen an Original Italian Pizza shop in central PA, they're all over. The OIPs are ubiquitous, but varied: the signage and menus are similar, but not exact, and then there's about ten shops up in Syracuse. Are they franchises? Single owner? Or is it just a common name? Well, I've got the story, direct from the son of the guy who started it all, with some inside scoop on the whole thing. You gotta listen to this one!

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Oktoberfest Polka Party" is AI-generated, and I apologize for that. I gotta find another clip for Oktoberfest. It's available at StockTune https://stocktune.com/free-music/oktoberfest-polka-party-4061-18253

"News Intro" by Kalvin C The Media Guy from pixabay.com/music

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

After three years, we finally have an episode on Pennsylvania wines. I discovered Traminette, a delicious white wine grape, and it was time to press on!

Pennsylvania has over 400 wineries! So it's definitely time to talk about them. I responded to this by talking about one grape: Traminette. I talked to George Hazard, co-founder of Juniata Valley Winery, where they only grow Traminette. We talked about growing grapes, making wine, and the versatility of this hybrid grape.  

I also interviewed by friend Dave Dreese, who you've met before (Dave's an occasional companion on my research runs around the state). Dave's an expert on something I wanted to talk about: dirt roads. They're an overlooked wonder in the Keystone State, there are thousands of miles of them, and they will take you places you couldn't get to otherwise. Well, you know; without hiking, I guess. Fun segment!

The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about the Punkin Chunkin Fall Festival in Howard on October 18th! Gourds fly across the lake! Trebuchets, air cannons, catapults! Food trucks, craft vendors, pumpkin pie eating contest! FREE PARKING AND ADMISSION! 

Next episode? Beats me. Got a couple ideas and some phone numbers. We'll figure something out.    

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

When your central PA town is too small to get the attention of Wegmans, or Giant, or Weis, it's time for a local hero: the independent grocer!

Rural Pennsylvanians need to eat too, and we like variety just as much as city-dwellers. Luckily, just like with craft brewers, and small butchers, independent grocers can often deliver stuff that bigger supermarkets can't. Local stuff that's too small to work with the big guys, the delicious favorites that the big guys don't understand (pepper slaw? Pickled quail eggs? Ham salad!!), and fresh-as-this-morning local produce!

I interviewed two local grocers: Russ Burkholder, of Burkholder's Country Market right here in Millheim, and Lindsay Hutchinson, who runs People's Provisions, in Elliotsburg. Burkholder's has made local a mission, and Russ has some great insights on how an independent stays afloat. Lindsay has a very special idea at People's Provisions, about fostering community with food in central Perry County. You'll want to visit both places -- and your local grocer -- when you're done listening. 

I cooked with some provisions I got at Burkholders, mixed with vegetables from a friend's garden, and I'll tell you about that; lots of hot peppers and corn and cheese! 

What else? The Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest collaboration beer is What I'm Drinking Today, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about finding the blazingly fresh locally-grown food that's bursting out of Centre County fields right now. I'm also going to be taping new episodes of What's Brewing PA with Glen Macnow next month, and I give you a heads up on what's coming there. 

Next episode? After almost three years, I finally have an episode about Pennsylvania wineries! I got a bottle of Traminette, and it intrigued me, and I just kept digging till I came up with a story.   

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

You've got to do what I finally did this episode, and get off the highways that bypass the town of Duncannon, sitting just downstream of the confluence of the Juniata and the Susquehanna.

This episode came together in about a day and a half, thanks to Michael Lindgren at Lindgren Craft Brewery in Duncannon. I've been drinking their beer at Pisano's Winery here in Millheim, and when circumstances put me on the road to Duncannon, I thought I'd see if he could give us an interview. 

He did, and my traveling companion Dave Dreese and I went there, and to the Doyle Hotel across the way, and an Appalachian Trail hostel called Kind Of Outdoorsy, and the iconic Red Rabbit Drive In, and then on up the river to Williams French Fries in Millersburg.

That put us on the far side of the Susquehanna, 20 miles either way from a bridge to our side of the river. No worries: we got a ride on the only remaining paddlewheel ferry in the US, the Millersburg Ferry. Come along, it's like riding with Hank and Tom and Becky on the river.  

What else? Well, What I'm Drinking Today was a delicious dram of Michter's 10 Year Old Rye, the 2025 release, and it is exceptional. The Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about the upcoming Another World Music Festival, three days of 30 bands on two stages, right here in beautiful Penns Valley, the smack-dab center itself!

Of course there's more American Whiskey Master Class news as we get closer to the September 23 launch date! Events in Washington, PA and Baltimore, and if you just can't wait, you can pre-order it here! 

Next episode will be about the great local grocery stores in central PA, everything from four aisle markets to ten-store chains with full-service butcher shops and fresh seafood. They aren't Whole Foods or Wegmans, but they're not 7-11s either, and they're out here where central PA actually lives. Let's go shopping!

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au  Music promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

You all know about the Battle of Gettysburg, so we're not talking about that. 

Instead, I'm jumping right into the town before the battle (a little bit of history, some of it is still around today), and the town today, which is a huge tourist attraction that tends to be a little less touristy than most huge tourist attractions, because of the solemn nature of the history. 

But when we've toured the battlefield...we're looking to get our drink on, and Seen Through A Glass has you covered. 

I interview Yianni Barakos, the founder, owner, and distiller at Mason Dixon Distillery. Yianni built his first still when he was 11. That's right, eleven years old. It's an interesting story. We talk about how that happened, how he survived that (and almost didn't survive a car crash), why he opened a distillery, how he wangled a permit to grow grain on the Gettysburg battlefield, and why he bottles most of his whiskey as single barrels. We also talk about Tsipouro, a clear spirit, "like Greek grappa," he said. 

Then Dave Dreese and I take a grueling excellent tour of Gettysburg's drinking spots, missing a few out of a desire to stay healthy: the Garryowen Irish Pub, Gettysburg Moonshine Company, the Dobbin House, Bantam Coffee Roasters, Appalachian Brewing Co., Reid's Orchard and Winery, Michaux Brewing, Fourscore Beer Co., and Spirits of Gettysburg. Yes, all in an afternoon. Don't try this at home, we are professionals. 

We announce the winners of our DelGrosso Foods contest, with a winner for a selection of 12 jars of their Original and La Famiglia DelGrosso sauces, and another winner of two day passes to the DelGrosso Amusement Park and Laguna Splash Water Park! Thank you to everyone who participated!

I went out looking for good farm fresh food, and found two dozen "seconds" peaches that just needed a loving home. I cut them up and made two quarts of peach shrub, then used the pulp to make a delicious peach-blueberry pie. That's getting the most out of your fruit!

What I'm Drinking Today was A.Bowman rye whiskey, a softer, sweeter version of Old Overholt. The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is all about the 151st annual Centre County Grange Fair, coming in August!

Next episode? I'm being a little cagey about it, because I'm not 100% sure it's going to pan out, but...it's very local, and very central PA at the same time. The interview is already done, and let's just say I was a little surprised at how forthcoming my interviewee was. Very informative!  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

"Swallowtail Jig" by Grumpynora at https://pixabay.com/users/grumpynora-14374548/

US Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps "The Caissons Go Rolling Along"

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

What's the Biggest Thing In Tipton? 

America's oldest family-owned pasta sauce maker, DelGrosso Foods!

The DelGrosso family has been making pasta sauce in Tipton for over 75 years, and running their amusement park even longer. Joe and Michael DelGrosso tell me the stories behind this; the love story, the beer garden story, the innovation story, and through it all, their family story. Maybe the most amazing story is how this 78 year old sauce company doubled their sales in the past two years. It's a real success story!

Hear about hot pepperoni, hot sauce, and how DelGrosso's new sauce has catapulted into second place nationally in only a few years of sales. You'll also hear stories about this clan grew up together, then spread out, but still comes together to keep the business running. It's very much a central PA story, about small towns, small companies, and family strength, with a dash of railroads and luck. 

Once again, a long interview; the longest we've run yet, so not a lot of time for other stuff, but we do have a contest for you! DelGrosso Foods donated two prizes: a selection of 12 jars of their Original and La Famiglia DelGrosso sauces, and two day passes to the DelGrosso Amusement Park and Laguna Splash Water Park! Easy directions for how to enter are in the episode, listen and win!

And just because, I still shoehorned in Tipton and Tyrone stuff: Austin's Texas Hot Dogs in Tipton, and then Tyrone stuff: The Brew Coffee and Tap serving great coffee and craft beer and wines, the small but mighty -- mighty delicious! -- Sugar Mill Bakery, and a great little deli, Mac's Market and The Gridiron, with full service meats and the signature Tyrone hoagies topped with a cool drift of thin-sliced onions.  It's a long episode, but it's worth it!

What I'm Drinking Today was the latest Michter's 10 Year Old Bourbon release, a leaner Michter's than usual. The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment covers the upcoming Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest, coming next weekend, July 19th! 

Next episode? It's a Gettysburg episode, which required a marathon pub crawl with my buddy Dave Dreese. Plus the winners of our big DelGrosso Giveaway!  

See you in two weeks!

Until then?

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!

Seen Through A Glass is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!

This episode uses these sounds under the following license:

"Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

“Un petit tour de manège” by jean-paul-v  from pixabay.com/music

arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com)

"Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://www.scottbuckley.com.au

All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.