Seen Through A Glass

One interview, two absolutely iconic central PA bars: Zeno's, and Chumley's. I got an interview with Ellen Braun, who is the general manager of Zeno's, the bar that brought great beer to State College; and also the general manager of Chumley's, the bar that has quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) provided a safe haven for gay folks from Penn State and the region around State College since the early 80's. We also talked with two of her lieutenants, Justin and Sofie.  I already got the history of Zeno's from long-time manager Dave Staab way back in Episode 4, but things have changed a lot since then, so we needed an update. Chumley's, well, I've wanted to do a 'gay bars of central PA' episode for a long time, and the story is as fascinating and varied as I'd hoped, especially when you throw in the excellent cocktail program.  This is a great interview. I enjoyed doing it, I enjoyed listening to it when I edited it, and I hope you enjoy it too.  (One small correction; Ellen contacted me to note that she misspoke when she said Chumley's new owners had purchased the building. They did not, they only purchased the business.) It is also a long interview, and I didn't have a lot of room for much else, though I did squeeze in how we made a great blueberry cobbler out of our fresh Kiwanis Club blueberries. What I'm Drinking Today was two bourbons, the latest Larceny Barrel Proof release and the new Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 7 Year Old, both Heaven Hill whiskeys with the same wheated bourbon mash bill; I taste and compare them. The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is about the upcoming Route 45 Getaways event which will be right in front of my house. Really!  Next episode? I've got everything ready for a Gettysburg episode, which required a marathon pub crawl with my buddy Dave Dreese. But I'm also getting an interview with...well, with a major central PA food company, and there will be giveaways, folks, prizes for you! So maybe we'll do that one next week, because who doesn't like prizes?   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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "By the Lake" by Musinova at https://pixabay.com/users/musinova-47643763/ arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com) "Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://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.

It's another OG Beer Bar interview with a real original: Paula Seguin of Boxer's Cafe in Huntingdon, serving craft beer since 1991! I went down to Huntingdon to get the interview and have a beer at one of the most welcoming bars I know, and wound up with more than I'd planned: barbecue, fresh-roasted coffee at Standing Stone Coffee, good beer at Juniata Brewing, a couple-three cuts at Best-Way Pizza, and a look at some incredible old cars at the Swigart Auto Museum.  It's a Huntingdon episode, about this "ancient borough" built where ridges, creeks, and the blue Juniata all come together. It's a town that's set in natural beauty, with a small liberal arts college and a high-security state prison, and a lot of people who are trying to make it all work.  What else? I drank a big cup of Standing Stone's Blue and Gold blend coffee, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about Centre County's two historic underground attractions: Penn's Cave and Woodward Cave, which are cool all summer long. There's the PA Cider Fest this weekend, the American Philatelic Society Open House the following weekend, and I've got some news about the first event for my new book (American Whiskey Master Class, out in September, event is at Iron City Distilling on October 18, more details to come!) Next episode? Heck, I don't know. We've got a few irons in the fire.  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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com) "Swallowtail Jig" by Grumpynora at https://pixabay.com/users/grumpynora-14374548/ Coffee Pouring Sound Effect by freesound community from 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.

It's "barbecue," but you know...if you spell it "barbeque," or "BBQ," or "Bar-b-que," it's gonna taste just as good! I got an interview with my man Dave Graham of Graham's Up In Smoke in Philipsburg. Dave's got opinions about barbecue, and that's 100% cool, because he makes excellent barbecue: brisket, pork, chicken (when it's reasonable), sausage, turkey, and salmon. Yes, salmon...but you'll have to wait for Lent! Dave and I got well into the weeds, temperatures, wood, and cuts of meat, and you will be drooling by the time we're done.  I'll give you my opinions on barbecue as well; I have been smoking/barbecueing for well over ten years, and I will challenge your thoughts on this ancient method of meat magic cookery.  What else? I finally got my first Maibock of the year, from New Trail Brewing, and the Smack Dab In The Centre segment is about three GREAT music venues in Centre County (all of them have a liquor license, so, you know).  Next episode? I've got an interview on Monday that I have wanted to get for longer than we've had the podcast, an OG beer bar that I first visited over 20 years ago. That's going to be the heart of a great town profile, I guarantee.   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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com) "Acoustic Blues" by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.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.

When you tell me who to interview, I listen. Who should I interview, I asked folks on Facebook. What central PA creators would you like to hear from? And one of the most asked-for names was Sc'eric Horner, the bartender at Pine Grove Hall in Pine Grove Mills, PA. He's a regular on top bartender lists in the area, he's creative, some say eccentric, but almost everyone agrees: he makes great drinks.  I got the interview, and it's here, all 50 minutes of it. I found him to be open, honest, and a fascinating interview. I think you're going to enjoy this, whether you find cocktails intriguing or not. To be honest, a 50 minute interview didn't give me a lot of room for much else. What I'm Drinking Today is a Liberty Pole Spirits canned Old Fashioned, made with their straight rye whiskey. Can a canned Old Fashioned be any good? We'll find out! The Smack-Dab in the Centre sponsorship moment is about some great cocktail bars in State College.  I would remind you about the small contest we have going on. I'm asking you for your favorite central Pennsylvania foods, and suggestions on which one you'd like to hear about in a future episode. If your suggestion is the winner, I'll thank you by name in the episode and send you five STAG stickers; and I'll draw a random winner from all respondents to get another five-pack of STAG stickers! Next episode? I have a barbecue interview, but I'd rather keep that for warmer weather. I have a couple interview prospects bubbling, they might work out; or I might do a town profile, seems like a good time to get on the road.   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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

Our water tastes great in Millheim. Wanna know why?  Trout.  Trout fishing is a very big deal in central PA, from the Yellow Breeches Creek in Cumberland County, to Cedar Run in Lycoming County, the Little Juniata, and Centre County's Spruce, Spring, and Penns Creeks. I talked to a pair of young fishing guides at The Feathered Hook fishing store in Coburn, and to Tom Doman, a licensed guide who's been fishing Penns Creek since 1979.  We didn't just talk about Green Drakes and wet flies, riffles and lies. We talked about how trout fishing and anglers have brought back and preserved the quality of the waterways in central PA, and how that affects every day quality of life here.  Then I went to a couple of Opening Day parties, which also affect the quality of life around here! Everything can be a celebration, and Opening Day is a good one.  What I Drank Today was a bottle I'd misplaced when we moved back in 2021: Paul John Indian Single Malt Christmas Edition. The extra three years sitting in the dark hadn't hurt it at all. If you've never experienced Indian malt whisky, I hope this encourages you to try some.  The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau spot highlighted four Centre County lodging spots that are perfect for anglers.  And I told you more about a small contest we're running: finding a central PA food to star in an upcoming episode! Tell me what you love, and why it should be the winner! (This is your chance to make me cook ham pot pie!) What's next? I promise you, it won't be fish again! 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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com) "Water Stream" FX by "SPANAC" on https://www.freesoundslibrary.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.  

I went way out in the Pennsylvania Wilds, up in elk country (not Elk County), to interview a couple who make salad dressings and ship them across the country.   Village Eatinghouse dressings...or are they sauces? Marinades? Whatever they are, they're delicious and versatile, and they're made here in Centre County, so I went out and found Clay and Melanie Phillips in Pine Glen, PA. We talked, we tasted, we had a few laughs. You'll like it.  Those dressings made me think of all the ways I do little hacks and additions when I'm cooking, so I talked about that, including another central PA favorite, Gazebo Room Salad Dressing. I give you a couple short recipes for shortcut family favorites, including one with a surprising secret ingredient.  We have another small contest! I'm asking you to fill in a list of Pennsylvania foods at the end of the episode, and suggest what Pennsylvania food you'd like to hear about in a future episode. I'll draw a random winner from respondents to get a five-pack of STAG stickers! There's an absolute bonus on What I'm Drinking Today: three different Dad's Hat rye whiskey tasting, including an as-yet-unreleased Danko rye whiskey.  Next episode, if I can get a second short interview, will be about trout fishing in central PA. I've interviewed two fishing guides, I went to a couple opening day parties -- why didn't anyone tell me about opening day parties?! -- and I learned about fishing.  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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

No, there isn't a salmon run on the Susquehanna, but you CAN get really fresh (frozen) salmon in central PA!  A couple episodes back, we talked about the five pound box of frozen haddock. This time, I talked to the people who actually catch sockeye salmon (and rockfish, and cod, and the big king salmon) up in Alaska, fillet and freeze them, and bring them back to us, wild-caught, and next best to fresh. I interviewed Captain Steve Kurian of Bloomsburg's Wild For Salmon and also talked to two other area fishermen, Captain Dan Brigham of Capt'n Dan's Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon, and Ron Rovansek of Bellefonte's Kodiak Rush. Bring your weather gear, this interview is like being out on the boat! What else? With a story like this, I had to cook some salmon! And I did, on my new soapstone insert for my Kamado Joe grill. It worked like a charm, and I cooked Wild For Salmon sockeye portions and fresh asparagus on it, and baked two local potatoes on the grill. Great meal!  'That's great,' I hear you say, 'But what about the drinks!' I sampled Elk Creek Cafe's new Valley Vista Cream Ale, and I also got in a plug for my friend John Holl's podcast This Week in Rauchbier, the world's most important podcast about smoked beer. Listen to it, I beseech you! Next episode? Got a lot of choices for a change -- got four interviews in the can, doing another one tomorrow night! -- but I think we're going to go with a food producer who's way back in the Pennsylvania Wilds. You've probably seen their stuff. See you again 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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

Yes, it's about Danville. No, it's not because I had to go to Geisinger!  I've been going to Danville for years, almost always for the same reason: to go to Old Forge Brewing. And that's what I did this time, to interview owners Damien and Maria Malfara. I also went to the two coffee roasters in town, Java Momma and Bason Coffee Roasting, then to Rock God Brewing (been meaning to do that for a while now), and I'll tell you about the Shade Mountain Winery tasting room, and the J. Manley Robbins rail trail.  I had one of Old Forge's T-Rail Pale Ales for the What I'm Drinking Today segment, and it was a beauty. The HVAB sponsorship spot was about three great fine dining spots in Centre County.  I'll also tell you about the...pastrami? Montreal smoked meat? Well, the smoked corned beef I made for our St. Patrick's Day family dinner, and then the fun traditional music session we took part in at Elk Creek Cafe on the actual St. Patrick's Day.  The next episode will probably be an interview with Wild For Salmon's Steve Kurian, all about fishing in Alaska, and bringing the salmon back to Pennsylvania for us to find at our local independent grocery store or restaurant. It's an excellent interview, one of the best I've done, I think. But I've got two others to choose from, so I'm not sure which one you'll get.  I'm trying to do better with the Instagram feed; bear with me. Thinking about video, too. We'll see!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Swallowtail Jig" by Grumpynora at https://pixabay.com/users/grumpynora-14374548/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Happy Bottled in Bond Day! Yes, it's another whiskey episode, for a variety of reasons, and there's a chunk of beer as well, so it's kind of a boilermaker episode, if you will.  I got hold of Al Laws, the founder and owner of the Laws Whiskey House in Denver. I told you about visiting there back in October of 2023 (in Episode 25+), but I didn't get to meet Al. Last week, their publicist reached out to me about March 3rd being Bottled in Bond Day, the anniversary of the signing of the federal Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. I love bonded whiskey, so I decided to do an episode on it and share that love.  Al and I talk about using Colorado-grown grain to make a very grain-focused whiskey, more about high-altitude whiskey making, what wheat brings to whiskey, and yes, we did talk about bottled in bond whiskey.   Then I had a rare opportunity to sample five Baltic Porters side-by-side with two brewers (both of whom have appeared on Seen Through A Glass before). I'll tell you how that happened, and you can listen in as we discuss the similarities and differences.  What Was I Drinking Today? Bottle in Bond whiskey, of course: New Riff Balboa Rye, and what a beauty it was. The Happy Valley Adventure Board spot was about the upcoming Maple Festival at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center on March 22-23.  Next episode: again, not 100% sure. I've got some feelers out, but... anyone want to do an interview? Cheers!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://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.

Back to Michigan for Part II of Whiskey Business! I have a great interview for you with Bill Welter, the owner of Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan. I got this interview the same day (in the same room) as the one from episode 46 with Marty Duffy. Bill's got some stories about starting out craft distilling in the early years, and we talk about Three Oaks, a beautiful little spot just two miles from Lake Michigan.  Then I get a teensy bit political, but not in the way you're maybe thinking. It involves gospel music, beer, and home-baked cookies; how bad can that be? I've also got some news about my new book, coming out this fall, and I taste a 19 year old wheat whiskey.  Next episode: not 100% sure. Okay, I have no idea at all. I've got two weeks; anyone want to do an interview? Cheers!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "By the Lake" by Musinova at https://pixabay.com/users/musinova-47643763/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | https://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.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so here we are with a candymaker interview!  Have you ever driven past the small Purity Candy building on Rt. 15, between Lewisburg and Williamsport? I have, but I finally stopped, and learned that the candy is terrific. I got an interview with owner/candymaker John Burfeindt. He spills the beans on Purity's history, tells us about Arlene, the woman who worked at Purity for over 70 years, and talks about making black walnut brittle by hand. Literally by hand, with heavy rubber gloves on, because that stuff's hot!  Then we talk about a central PA staple, the five pound box of frozen haddock. Fry it, bake it, it's meant 'seafood' to generations of locals. I bought my first block and cooked a mighty pot of fish chowder for my in-laws, and I'll tell you about that (and about the Burns Day feast we had, drinking Scotch and reciting poetry; Cathy did a bold rendition of To A Louse.) What else? I had a beer from Lewisburg's Jackass Brewing that may have changed my mind about the place, and we take a trip on the Central PA Tasting Trail.  Next episode? Hell, I don't know. Got a lot of irons in the fire. 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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

It's "cheesesteak," not "cheese steak," and certainly not "Philly cheese steak"!  I got an interview with Pat Romano of the We Are Inn restaurant and motel in Philipsburg. Pat's got opinions about cheesesteaks, and Philly roast pork sandwiches, and management, and...Pat's got opinions. He's also going to be opening a new, much bigger place in State College in April. Probably April.  I talked to Pat because he's from Philadelphia (Norristown, originally), and makes a good cheesesteak. I've seen an increasing amount of talk about cheesesteaks on social media, so I thought Seen Through A Glass should get in on the act. That's right, you're going to get my opinions too! I'll also tell you about a cheesesteak I got off a guy working an outdoor grill during a snowstorm in downtown State College; good times, good cheesesteak! What else? I tasted a rare single barrel corn whiskey from Liberty Pole Spirits, and I'll tell you where to find a place to cozy up to a fireplace with good food and drink.  Next episode? I have some ideas about a Valentine's Day episode, we'll see if that pans 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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

Hey, I'm back! And I brought whiskey! I know, I know, I've been away a long time. Three months? Really? That long? Well...a lot happened, and I'll tell you about it, but briefly: had to drop everything to deal with wrapping up writing my next book, and then I lost my voice. Yeah, imagine that.  But I am back, with some stuff on how and why I write whiskey books, including an interview with my old friend Marty Duffy, who is the North American representative for the Glencairn Glass, the official whiskey tasting glass of Seen Through A Glass. I'll also tell you about a massive pan of choucroute garni I made for our wine club dinner back in October.   Next episode: not 100% sure. Hoping to do an interview that leads into an episode about the West Branch town of Jersey Shore. Fingers crossed. Cheers!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

The Stone Fence Episode? Yeah, I'm up against it with this book project. I didn't get the "here's what it's like writing a book" episode done, but then I remembered that I had a recording of the rye whiskey and cider talk I took part in back in April down at Ploughman Cider in Gettysburg (Thanks, Ben!), so I'm finally uploading that. I did it with Dan Pucci, author of American Cider: a modern guide to a historic beverage. We talked about rye, cider, apples, agriculture, history...it was a wide-ranging presentation. It's two hours long, so maybe you want to go to the end first, because... There's a reminder about two Oktoberfest celebrations in central PA this weekend, Friday October 4th and Saturday the 5th for the Mifflinburg Oktoberfest, and the 5th is Bonshire Brew Works' Pigtoberfest! And on the 5th and 6th, it's the Dutch Fall Fest in Aaronsburg, right next door to good old Millheim: music, food, fun (no beer, but Elk Creek's less than a mile away). Finally, I sampled the Booker's Bourbon "Beam House Batch" 2024-02, and found it to be one of the better bottlings of Booker's I've had recently.  The next episode will probably include interviews from a visit to Journeyman Distillery in southwest Michigan; I'm going out there to help judge their barrel-aged beer festival. Meanwhile, the two-year mark for the podcast is coming up in November...and we are only 43 downloads away from 20,000! Milestone!! (And check the Instagram feed for pictures of the Corgi puppies!)   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Arrow sound effect from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ All sounds (except AI-generated ones!) sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Brookville? Where the hell is that? As I confess, until about five years ago, I'd never heard of Brookville. But back in July, I got a crash course in it, and it was pretty cool! There's Blackbird Distillery just on the edge of town, where they make their shine from scratch, and I got an interview with co-owner Jennifer Black, and sampled some spirits. But there's more! I had lunch at the Moon Palace Chinese restaurant, and I'll tell you why that's worth noting; I got takeout at Devil's Barbecue, and a great box of candy at The Dan Smith Candy Company. I also went to the Greenberg Cadillac Museum, the "world's largest Cadillac collection." It was impressive, and a tribute to both these cars and the loyalty they inspire.  I've also got a rundown on the Oktoberfest celebrations in central PA, starting tomorrow, September 21st, through October 10th, so get on it! Finally, I sampled a new "high wheat" bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company, and found it innovative and delicious.  I am truly unsure when the next episode will be, but I'm thinking about doing an episode on what it's like writing a whiskey book. I mean, I'm in the middle of that right now, so... Meanwhile, the two-year mark for the podcast is coming up in November!  (And check the Instagram feed for pictures of the Corgi puppies!)   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Oktoberfest Polka Party" is AI-generated, and I apologize for that; it was short notice. It's available at StockTune https://stocktune.com/free-music/oktoberfest-polka-party-4061-18253 "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Arrow sound effect from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ All sounds (except AI-generated ones!) sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Clarion has only 4,000 breweries, but it has three breweries. Definitely STAG-worthy.  Okay, if I'm going to be precise, the third brewery, Lost In The Wilds, is in Shippenville, but that's all of five minutes from Clarion River Brewing and Mechanistic Brewing in 'downtown' Clarion, so I'm going with it. I interviewed the three brewer-owners, all in one beautiful day in July. We talk about the natural beauty of Clarion County and the Cook Forest State Park, too.  I've got a segment on Pennsylvania Dutch funeral food, too. My mother, Ruth "Sue" Bryson, died in August, which is why this episode is over a month late. We had a proper church funeral lunch after the service, and I'll tell you what we had, and how I cooked the calico beans, and grilled some Ramblin' Poppy sausages for the family get-together we had afterwards.  We had a keg of Tröegs Oktoberfest to drink, so the last of that is What I'm Drinking Today, along with a Von Trapp Oktoberfest; a funeral episode needs two drinks.  I am truly unsure when the next episode will be. I'm on deadline for a book manuscript, and everything's out the window. Hang in there, we'll get back to normal in October! (And check the Instagram feed for pictures of the Corgi puppies!)   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "spring-forest-141216" by PianoArmor at https://pixabay.com/users/pianoamor-28628048/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Arrow sound effect from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Hungry? Thirsty?  Don't just have food and beer, have the optimal food and beer! Beer and food pairing isn't as easy as you'd think, but it isn't hard either. I've got some guidelines, a little history of the Great American Beer Dinner, some tips from world-renowned beer educational cartoonist Em Sauter, and an interview from my old pal John Holl, a podcaster, a publisher, a raconteur, and the author of three books about beer and food. It's a fun episode, and I'll take you along to a dinner at Revival Kitchen, the incredible farm to table restaurant in, of all places, Reedsville PA, and tell you how I paired beers with each course. Two pretty good pairings, one flop, and one brilliant success.  What else? A follow-up with my basement bar and what happened when I invited the band at Elk Creek back for a drink, and an invitation to join us in Millheim at the end of the month for music, fun, food and drink!  Next episode: a town profile episode, because I know you love 'em! Cheers! The next episode will be out on July 25th, on schedule. This one was late because my mom went in the hospital, and I dropped everything to go stay by her side. She's better, thanks. See you next week.  This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

This is not the cider episode I promised you.  It's better! I was going to give you a pre-recorded presentation I did at the Ploughman Farm Cider taproom in Gettysburg in April, and some talk about the ciders I had while I was there...but then I went to the PA Cider Fest in Biglerville, and got a much better cider episode. Interviews, tastings, and a whole new outlook on cider and drinks in Pennsylvania.  What else? I grilled at home for the first time in over a year, and I had to talk about firing up the old Kamado Joe to do some pork tenderloins. Then I had a small problem with that new home draft system...it didn't seem like a small problem, but it was!  Next episode? I got an interview with my beer writing colleague and old friend John Holl about food and beer pairing. He's done a LOT with it, and you'll learn about it...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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! I asked you who you wanted me to interview, and you said "Give us The Pizza Boy, Al Kominski!" Well, I cannot defy or deny the people, so I went down to Al's of Hampden in Enola on the West Shore and got the interview...and then hung around and visited some more breweries: Ever Grain, Mellow Mink, Sworn, Hemauer, and Liquid Noise. I got in a visit to Sugar Run Brewing in Duncansville as well, and I'll tell you about opening night at the newest bar in Millheim: our home bar, First Draft, is finally complete, and spreading joy among our friends. And if you're interested...check out the @stagpodcast Instagram page to see a picture of our new Corgi puppy, Samwise! Next episode? Back in April, I did an Earth Day presentation at Ploughman Farm Cider's Gettysburg taproom on the agricultural aspects of rye whiskey, along with a cider guy talking about the same thing. We'll hear that, plus I'll tell you what it was like at the PA Cider Fest. 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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

Have you ever had a Maibock? My old buddy Chip "The Beer Guy" Hanuscik lured me up to Northeast PA with Maibock. He talked FOUR brewers into making one, and dangled that in front of me. I took the bait like a brown trout rising to a Green Drake, and I'll tell you all about it. PLUS: NEPA Pizza! The incredible Sabatini's! Tom Brennan! And a real life Wilkes-Barre kielbassi shop!  Next episode? THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! I asked you who you wanted me to interview, and you said "Give us The Pizza Boy, Al Kominski!" Well, I cannot defy or deny the people, so I went down to Enola and got the interview...and then hung around and visited some breweries. You'll get what you asked for...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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

Got some hot stuff for you! Friends warned us that food would be bland in central PA...but not all of it! I talked to two pepper product people; Beth Cowher, who makes her Backyard Flavors sandwich peppers in Aaronsburg, and Janet Robinson, who's been making her Piper's Peck products on the hill outside of Bellefonte since 1998. We talk Scoville units, and pepper jellies, and how to cool the burn; all that hot fun stuff.  What else? Well, we haven't cooked for a while, so I'll tell you about how I finally solved a 45 year cooking mystery that's been bedeviling me (with the help of the good folks at the Penns Valley Meat Market). And my basement bar is finally done, and, well, I'm pretty excited about that! Next episode? I'm headed up to northeast PA where my friend Chip The Beer Guy has pulled off something a little bit magical. I'll talk to him about it, and visit five breweries (and an OG beer bar, and a neighborhood kielbasa butcher)...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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

Do you like hazy IPAs?  Do you hate hazy IPAs? I dug into this cloudy phenomenon with the help of New Trail Brewing partner and Director of Brewing Operations Mike LaRosa. It seemed to be a subject he had been waiting for someone to ask him about, and we went at it. We also talked about New Trail's amazing growth, their excellent big beers, the Crisp lager family, and the shape of craft brewing in general. I tasted their collaboration with Old Thunder Brewing in Pittsburgh, Mini Storm Cell, a 3.75% cold IPA that blew me away, and Crisp Amber, the next member of the family.  What else? I visited two local favorites on the way home from New Trail: Henry's Bar-B-Q in LInden, PA, and had some delicious pork shanks; and I picked up half a dozen divine doughnuts at Nan's Donuts in Loganton, the super-hyped Amish bakery that's open two days a week (and kinda lives up to the hype).  I'll take you inside a whiskey judging competition, and tell you about how my buddy Sam "Mr. Rye Whiskey" Komlenic was honored at West Overton Village.  Next episode? It's hot stuff! We'll talk about hot sauces, hot peppers, and horseradish, the stuff that keeps central PA sweating...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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

I drank rye whiskey in the spiritual home of American rye whiskey, the Monongahela Valley, in the cradle of the Whiskey Rebellion, Washington, PA. I tell you about how the rebellion happened, and how it ended, and how rye whiskey came to southwestern PA. Rye whiskey historian Sam Komlenic joined me for a talk on rye whiskey at Liberty Pole Spirits, and I interviewed Liberty Pole founder Jim Hough.  Sam and I also visited the revived Pittsburgh Brewing, and their Iron City Distilling facility, and talked to distiller Matt Strickland. (Of course we sampled some whiskey!) Then we went to Ponfeigh Distilling in Somerset, where they're just getting started.  I filled a few shopping bags at the Delallo Italian Marketplace in Jeannette, PA and then hit three good eats places in Washington: Shorty's Lunch, Osso's Pizza, and Al'an Ruben's. Then Sam and his wife Amy went along with me to visit covered bridges...but that didn't work out so well! Great trip to southwest PA and the Mon Valley, the heart of Pennsylvania rye whiskey! Next episode? Well, I'll be honest: I'm not really sure at this point. Guess we'll have to see...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!   (Yeah, just realized that I announced this episode as Episode 36, not 37. I'm just...gonna leave that there. Yay!)   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com) US Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps "The Caissons Go Rolling Along Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Water FX from https://freesound.org/people/WebbFilmsUK/sounds/200321/  "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.

I interview Hector Cruz, the Floridian at the heart of the Foodies of State College Facebook group, 20,000 people who want to find the best places to eat in the greater State College area (pretty loosely defined, ask 'em anything). We talked about why he started it, how he runs it, and why everyone loves to fight about pizza and cheesesteaks.  The Foodies group has been a huge help to me finding good places to talk about here, and I'll tell you about the places they suggested, and then my buddy Dave Dreese and I hit the road to sample six more Foodies favorites in one afternoon. Buckle up for tacos, pizza, cider, cheesesteaks and hoagies, more pizza, and a Taiwanese bakery, plus an unexpected treasure on tap. All that, plus the West Virginia triple that's What I'm Drinking Today! There's also some merch news, and an announcement about an event I'm doing on April 20th at Ploughman Cider in Gettysburg, and what you've all being waiting for: Pippin the Corgi joins the podcast! Next episode? MORE RYE WHISKEY! I'm interviewing two distillers in southwest Pennsylvania, the cradle of rye whiskey, home of the Whiskey Rebellion. Plus more covered bridges and whatever good eats I find with Sam Komlenic, Pennsylvania's unofficial rye whiskey historian. Next week, which will get us back on schedule; my teeth are much better, thanks, and feeling moreso every day.   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: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ arrow-impact-87260 Sound Effect found on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com) Pippin barking is actually Pippin barking, recorded on my Pixel 7 yesterday afternoon.  "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.

Find out why we won't have an episode this Thursday. It's a postponement, not a cancellation, so fear not!  Plus: merch news, and a note about a friend's podcast you should REALLY listen to.  See you on April 11th!  Tell your friends about Seen Through A Glass!!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

Grab your phone, your cooler, and your best bud, it's time to go beer hunting! I've been searching for good beers for 43 years. But I really got serious about it when a chance remark by a work friend sent me almost an hour away to the Front Street Pub, in Santa Cruz, the first brewpub I ever visited.  It was magical, and I've been on a quest to have that kind of moment ever since (and it happens a lot). I'll tell you about my experience with beer travel, tell you some of the best ways to find breweries in central PA and elsewhere. Then we'll go on a train ride (really, right on the podcast!) and talk to a guy who's taken this beer travel hobby and is turning it into a regional touring company.  Next episode? I've got an interview with a central PA food celebrity very few people have met. I haven't even met him! Two weeks!  Until then? TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE PODCAST!     This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

Mansfield is at the intersection of two great Pennsylvania highways, Routes 15 and 6. People pass through it every day...but I decided to stop.  I got an interview with Jarrod York of Yorkholo Brewing, stopped at three coffee shops, got two lunches, checked out a butcher, and did a little shopping. It's definitely worth stopping.  Jarrod told me at one point that Mansfield's weather is more New York than PA, and the rest of the episode is too. I went up to Buffalo and Rochester to do some beer judging, and stopped at a few breweries while I was there (okay, I stopped at seven, sue me!). Come romp with me through the Quehanna Wild Area, the Allegany Indian Nation, and beautiful, exotic Buffalo.  Next episode is a surprise (to me, too!), see you in two weeks!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Arrow sound effect from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

It's fish fry time, and that means Fish Fry Friday! I love fish fries! The crisp crust of fried haddock, the tender flake of baked cod, and the banquet of side dishes -- french fries, mac & cheese, cole slaw, stewed tomatoes! -- and a sweet delight at the end. It's even better when it's a community meal, served by volunteers and enjoyed at long tables with folks you may or may not know (and with the desserts being a huge spread of homemade wonders to choose from).  So I did an episode on them. What's in a fish fry, why we do them, how they started, and where to find one locally (Don't miss the links below!). There's an interview with the two people who run the huge fish fry at St. John The Evangelist in Bellefonte, where they take us behind the scenes to tell us how and why it works. (You guys are crazy about french fries!). And I've got some interesting fish fry facts along the way, like the Irish monks who managed to come up with an excuse to eat roast goose during Lent, and the broad history of fish fries in America. What else? There's a Lock Haven follow-up: a visit to the Main Street Grill for dinner and cocktails. And not to bury it, but big news on the sponsor I've been hinting about! Here's a hint: listen for news on the Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest.  Next episode? We're finally back to town profiles, as I visit Mansfield, and interview Jarrod York at Yorkholo Brewing. Two weeks!  Until then? Tomorrow is fish fry Friday, go get some! Remember: TELL YOUR FRIENDS! Altoona diocese fish fry guide  Harrisburg diocese guide  WTAJ guide   PennLive guide  This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "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.

We Are! Meat Lab! Centre County folks know that Penn State drives central Pennsylvania, but some of us also know that Penn State's Butcher Block is the outlet for the school's Meat Lab, where students learn animal husbandry, butchering, meat processing (we'll talk about that difference), and even how to wrap a fresh piece of meat. I talked to Dr. Jonathan Campbell, who teaches at the Meat Lab about all that, and more.  There's also some podcast news -- hello, WSOV-FM listeners! -- a tribute to my Uncle Don Harnish, and tasting notes on Bowmore 12 Year Old single malt.   Next episode? Well, with luck, we'll do that town profile I promised you last time.  Until then? Get your grill fired up and listen to the episode! This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Storm Sound Effect by PlacidPlace on Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/users/placidplace-25572496/) "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.

Mass beer hysteria! I wanted to get more beer content in the podcast, so I invited The Beer Thrillers! Ben Kline, Amy Wolfe, and Josh Doncevic write The Beer Thrillers blog, which is...mostly about beer in Central PA, but they do book reviews (and not just beer books), beer trips well outside the area, and...well, a lot of stuff. We got together at Boneshire Brew Works on a snowy Saturday, ate great pizza and drank great beer while talking about hazy IPAs, the resurgence of classic styles, and why so many Central PA breweries went under recently.  What else? A quick Farm Show report (Goat Sloppy Joes!), and a description of the Burns Night dinner my wife and I are hosting; the annual commemoration of Scottish poet Robert Burns.  Next episode: a town profile episode, because I know you love 'em! Cheers!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "People Talking in Small Room" effect from https://pixabay.com// "Auld Lang Syne" (traditional), performed by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.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.

It's soup! Get a fresh hot bowl of podcast, because it's Soup Season! I've got an interview with mysterious soup cook Jillian Leigh at Otto's Pub and Brewery in State College, spilling the beans about how she makes those amazing soups, the difference between soup and stew, and tips for you to make better soup! I'll tell you about the mad variety of soups we've been eating over the past month, walk you through my father's Snowy Day Soup recipe, and get up close with a bowl of Koru Ramen at Tadashi in State College. Plus some BIG podcast news, and my take on Dry January (right after sampling a 120 proof bourbon).   Next episode? I interviewed three beer bloggers, and we talked about what's wrong with central PA brewers, pizza, and Big Bad Beers. I'll also tell you about our visit to the Farm Show (it's mostly about eating at the Farm Show).  Until then? Grab a bowl, a spoon, and some crackers, and listen to the episode! This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Bubbling Cauldron effect by Mary S. from https://pixabay.com// "Little Bits", Written by Jimmy Blythe (1901-1931) Performed by Johnny Dodds Trio; Recording date: 1929 Public domain, sourced from openmusicarchive.org "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.

For our last episode of 2023, I have an interview with Anne Quinn Corr, long-time food writer for the Centre Daily Times, and author of Seasons of Central Pennsylvania, a beloved cookbook. And of course, you know me: I had to try cooking some of the recipes. (I forgot to thank the members of the "Foodies of State College" Facebook group for their help in connecting me to Ms. Corr; greatly appreciated!) Then come along as my wife and I have our anniversary dinner at the Allen Street Grill in State College, and to the 27th anniversary celebration at Selin's Grove Brewing and the 16th anniversary at Elk Creek Café & Aleworks. I'll sample Boal City Brewing's Bohemian Pilsner and a Keystone State favorite, Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog. (By the way; made a small mistake there. Chas. Jacquin et Cie, the Philadelphia distillery, was founded in 1884, not in the 1840s.)  One more thing: a late-breaking Boilo-making tip, just in time for New Year's!   Enjoy! Happy New Year!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Auld Lang Syne" (traditional), performed by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.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.

It's another extra-special, double-sized, chockful of drinks HOLIDAY EPISODE!! I've got three interviews for you: Dr. Jonathan Campbell of Penn State's Meat Lab talks about your holiday ham; co-founder of The Hummingbird Room, Claudia "Miss Ruby" Sarnow, talks about growing farm to table networks to create their exceptional Christmas menu; and I talk to the folks at Gardners Candies about peanut butter meltaways and bash cakes. I mix up a bunch of great hot holiday drinks (including Boilo!), share my wife's family recipe for fish chowder, and, oh yeah, the first Seen Through A Glass contest! Enjoy! Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "record_scratch_short.wav" by Halleck (https://freesound.org/people/Halleck/sounds/29938/ )  Music Box (Carol Of The Bells) by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Santa Arriving Sound Effect BY SPANAC  Music promoted on https://www.freesoundslibrary.com/ "God Rest Ye Merry Ukuleles," by matthewmikecolemusic  https://www.mikecolemusic.net/ Music promoted by www.pixabay.com

Shhhh.... This short secret episode is for regular listeners only: I won't be announcing it on social media. It announces our first Seen Through A Glass contest. Listen for details, and you can win the very first pieces of Seen Through A Glass merch! Er...feel free to tell your friends about the secret. You know...your good friends.  We'll be back with the holiday episode in two weeks. See you then! This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Music Box (Carol Of The Bells) by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/ Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "magic-christmas-126686" by Grand_Project (https://pixabay.com/users/grand_project-19033897/) All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Reminder: we'll be off until December 16th, when the show returns for a second season, starting with the Holiday show.  Hanover may have thought it was a frontier town, a market town, a transportation hub. But the peckish German-Americans who populated it in the late 1800s and early 1900s knew better. Their ovens and kettles, and a vague hunger between meals, were destined to make Hanover known as Snack Town! My friend Dave Dreese and I hit town on our way to Baltimore, and wow. We visited two of the biggest snack food companies in America, two very old school hot dog joints, and a great butcher shop with their own smoked sausage and cheese. And of course, all those snacky eats need beer, so we hit the town's six breweries. I interviewed the man who makes the last hand-rolled pretzels in Snack Town, Kevin Bidelspach of Revonah Pretzels.  Plus that Baltimore trip: a quick report on the Rye Revival festival and a visit to The Brewers' Art brewpub and a great Irish pub. I make dried beef gravy for breakfast, and give you some suggestions for upcoming small town Christmas celebrations in small town Central PA!  Stick around to the end, some important announcements about the show. See you next month!  This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Chips sound effect from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects/ All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Our first Thanksgiving episode features interviews with two turkey farmers, Nancy Kaltenbach of Polecat Hollow Farm and Mark Sharer of Willow Creek Family Farm. They'll tell you how to get a farm-fresh turkey in Centre County...but you'll have to move fast, Turkey Day is coming! I've got drink suggestions for the big day: cider, beer, wine, and whiskey!  I baked a sweet potato pie, and, well, it could have gone better, but by the time it was done, it was a mighty toothsome slice, I tell ya.  Finally, I invited all my guests from this first year, everyone, back to tell us what side dishes (or drinks) must be on their Thanksgiving table. It was a fun time.   Next episode? To be honest, not sure at this point. But it's going to be coming out on November 16, and then we're taking four weeks off to get ready for the big Holiday 2023 episode coming in December!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Goose sound effect promoted by www.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.

That's right: another episode in only a week! We promised, and Seen Through A Glass delivered! This is the second half of my interview with Todd Leopold, a tasting and visit to Laws Whiskey House, lots of great food from Colorado, Kansas City barbecue, and Eastern Shore seafood (and yeah, beer, cider, and wine, too). And once again..."The next episode drops in a week!" Because this was a bonus episode, there's the regularly scheduled episode coming in seven days! Get ready to come back home to Central PA for a big Thanksgiving episode, with an interview with a turkey rancher, my swing at sweet potato pie, holiday drink suggestions, and visits from everyone I interviewed over the past year. It's going to be great, and it's coming in just one week! See you then!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

That's right: I said Colorado rye whiskey! One of the most exciting developments in American whiskey making was the recent rediscovery of a forgotten part of our past: the three chamber still. It's completely unlike any other type of still, and it was used by most American rye distillers as recently as 110 years ago. Then it disappeared.  But it's back, and I got an interview with the man who revived it, Todd Leopold. I also got a sample of the brand-new 6 year old three chamber rye from Leopold Bros. distillery, and sampled it live with two Penns Valley regulars, Dave Dreese and Rich Gallup.  What else? Brewpubs, cocktails, whisky, and great eats on our drive to Denver; reports from the Yorkholo Brewing Carnival of Stouts, and the Hartslog Heritage Festival, and some really big news... The next episode drops in a week! We're doing our first bonus episode, and you'll get the second half of the Todd Leopold interview (with a lot of talk about Maryland rye whiskey, and what Todd's doing next), Kansas City barbecue, some shoreside fun from Cape Charles, VA, and then... Another episode the following week! Get ready for a big Thanksgiving episode, with turkey, pies, drinks, and visits from everyone I interviewed over the past year. It's going to be great!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

If you're new to Seen Through A Glass (or to podcasts), listen to this. In only a minute, you'll learn what Seen Through A Glass is about, and why you should listen to it. It's pleasant, painless, and short! (And if you're already a listener, this is really easy to share to a friend!)   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

That's good coffee! Get a hot steaming cup of podcast! I've got an interview with legendary small coffee roaster Bill Clarke from The Cheese Shoppe in State College (who tells us how to get a better cup of coffee at home), my memories of a visit to a Mexican coffee plantation, and my first experience with a Pumpkin Spice Latte.  I got Goosed! I went to my first Goose Day in the Juniata River Valley, with goose dinners, goose chili, and a couple on-the-side new beer tank samples at Shy Bear Brewing. It was a fun day.  Next episode? Cathy and I are going to Denver (we'll actually be in Denver as this episode drops), and I'm going to get a serious whiskey interview there. I'll be stopping in Kansas City for barbecue on the way back, so expect that barbecue bar to be set pretty high when we get home.  Until then? Have a cup a joe and listen the episode! This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Goose sound effect promoted by www.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.

I love the ridges and valleys of Central Pennsylvania!  This episode is all about one of those valleys: Nittany Valley, which runs northeast from Bellefonte up toward Lock Haven. It's a long groove, filled brim to brim with farms, little towns like Zion, and Hublersburg, and Mingoville,  It's also home to Blonde Bistro Brew Works, the Hublersburg Inn, Goot Essa cheese makers, and Mark's Custom Meats, a custom butcher. I visited three of these places, and got an interview with Goot Essa's John Esh, his first podcast interview, and my first Amish interview.    I've got information for you on three area Oktoberfest celebrations, and one uniquely central Pennsylvania celebration, Goose Day in the Juniata Valley. Goose Day is like nothing else, and I'm going to get into it this year. Join me! In two weeks...okay, now it's time for the coffee story! Then Cathy and I will be driving out to Colorado to visit family. We'll be gone for two weeks, but I'll have an episode up for you, a special whiskey interview I've got scheduled in Denver. Wait and see!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

Philadelphia was where I used to go play when we lived in Bucks County. My son lives there now, so we went to visit! I got interviews with Ken Correll of Human Robot Brewing; and Tom Kehoe of Yards Brewing; talking about some of my favorite beers.  We visited several restaurants, including the singular Monk's Cafe, and dropped in at another taproom, Fermentery Form.  I've also got a report for you on my home bar, currently under construction. We had some problems with the space, but our contractor is turning those lemons into limoncello! Special thanks to my son, Tom, and his partner Shade for letting us stay with them for a week!   In two weeks...we may finally do the coffee story I've been teasing since we started back in November -- November? Two more months, and it'll be a year since we started this!    This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "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.

Buon Giorno! I scored an interview with Fasta Ravioli's Bob Ricketts, and decided to roll with that, and delivered the best of central Pennsylvania's great Italian delis. From Johnstown to DuBois to Harrisburg and Altoona, we've got some excellent food out there waiting for you. I'll tempt you with a run-down, then tell you the cheats I use to make a grand pasta dinner for the family.  Next time? We're going to Philly for a week to visit our son and some old friends, so it's a given you'll be hearing about some of the great stuff in the City of Brotherly Love. Beer? Definitely. Cheesesteaks? Almost certainly. What else? I gotta keep some surprises! See you in two weeks!    This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Acoustic Blues" by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.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.

A Sweet Treat To Beat The Heat! This episode is all about Soft-Serve Ice Cream, that delicious, simple, magical stuff that you can find at independent family-owned stands all across central Pennsylvania. We got a great interview with Penn State's wizard of ice cream, Dr. Bob Roberts, the man who runs the famous Penn State Ice Cream Short Course. He tells us all about what soft-serve is, and isn't. Then we visit TEN soft-serve stands across six counties, and I rediscover the all-American cheeseburger.  Plus some cool extras! We have our first celebrity guest drinker, Glen Macnow, radio personality from WIP SportsRadio in Philadelphia, and he and I drink beer floats, beer with ice cream (Glen actually had a cider float, which I've never had before). We also have our first promotion! The Rails and Ales Brewfest of Altoona has given us a promo code just for STAG listeners to get five bucks off a general admission ticket for this August 19th beer festival. That's big-time podcast stuff, baby! Listen to the episode to get the code.  Next episode? I've got a couple things cooking: might be a coffee episode, might be a south-central town visit. We'll find out in two weeks; meanwhile, let's go for ice cream!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Ghost 50s Track" by Brolefilmer Music promoted by www.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.

Carlisle was once a military outpost on the frontier of the British Empire, founded in 1751 and home to the Carlisle Barracks, now the second-oldest continually active military post in the US (suck it, England!). But that's not why we're here! I walked all over the center of Carlisle, visiting 4 breweries, a cider bar, a distillery pub, a cocktail bar and a Belgian beer specialty café, and a cheese shop and a hot dog joint. I got another OG Beer Bar interview! But that wasn't enough, so I hit a barbecue shack and another brewery before heading home. It was quite a day.  Once again, special thanks to my daughter, Nora, for taking care of Pippin when I went to Carlisle.   In two weeks...I've got about three different producer stories percolating (word choice: one of them is coffee). We'll see which one pans out. See you then!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Glow by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au US Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps "The Caissons Go Rolling Along Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Water FX from https://freesound.org/people/WebbFilmsUK/sounds/200321/  All sounds sourced by STAG Music Librarian Nora Bryson, with our thanks.

We took the portable podcast gear on the road to the western mountains of North Carolina. Cathy and I are in Ashe County for two weeks, and I went a bit nuts with interviews: two brewers, a cheesemaker, a mad sausage maker, and one of our favorite cider makers. It's a gorgeous place, and full of outdoor fun: hiking, tubing, kayaking, and biking. There's live music almost everywhere, and barbecue is almost everywhere too, but we found great pizza and a remarkable little Cuban restaurant. In two weeks...I'll probably have a little bit from our visit to Richmond this weekend, maybe the Stone brewery, but I'd like to get to Carlisle. Much depends on the weather. In any case, we'll See you then!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Water Noise" and "Water Stream" FX by "SPANAC" on https://www.freesoundslibrary.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.

This episode takes us deep into the woods, from Black Moshannon State Park to Chinklacamoose on the Susquehanna: welcome to Philipsburg and Clearfield! We'll visit two wineries and interview the brewer at The Dead Canary in Philipsburg! Drink along the Western Branch at Dented Keg Brewing, and see the Toasted Monkey; visit the nationally famous Denny's Beer Barrel Pub and the world famous (in Philipsburg) We Are Inn! And THREE barbecue joints that are in the running for the best in Central PA (my personal list).  In two weeks, the travel begins as we visit breweries, cideries, and a cheese factory in the mountains of North Carolina. See you then!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Water Noise" FX by "SPANAC" on https://www.freesoundslibrary.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.

How about a snort, a shot, a tipple, a wee dram? How's about a whiskey?! It's just me this time, because I looked around to find someone to interview about whiskey, and then remembered I've written two books about it! I'll tell you how whiskey is made, clear up some common misconceptions about whiskey, and of course, I'll taste a few whiskeys. Then I've got some announcements about upcoming central PA drink events, including two this weekend.  Next time? Honestly, the contractors just tore the back three rooms off my house and knocked a big hole in the basement wall, and I don't really know what's going on. But there WILL be an episode IN TWO WEEKS!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Welcome to the Home of Governors: Bellefonte. Once the most important town in central Pennsylvania, Bellefonte still has a lot to offer, and we won't get to more than half of it! Burgers! Cider! Pizza! Fancy Italian pastries and coffees! Cocktails! And an interview with the folks at Big Spring Spirits. We had fun, and we're going back for more; maybe we'll see you there.  Once again, special thanks to my daughter, Nora, for finding the rushing water sound effects, and for joining me as we inspected the joints of Bellefonte.  In two weeks...well, I'm not sure. Still trying to put together a couple big interviews. Might be a food producer episode, might be another town visit. See you then!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "Water Noise" and "Water Stream" FX by "SPANAC" on https://www.freesoundslibrary.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.

There are six breweries and a satellite taproom in State College, Bellefonte, and Boalsburg: Otto's Pub, Boal City Brewing, Antifragile, Axemann, Happy Valley, Robin Hood, and the Voodoo taproom. We'll talk about all of them, as well as some of the craft brewing history of the area, and what's coming, including, I think, a small scoop about a new outlet in Selinsgrove. Interviews with Mike Smith of Boal City, Caleb Peachey of Robin Hood, and Joe Jaglowski of Axemann.  As we get ready to redo our kitchen in our home in Millheim, I'll tell you about two of the last meals I cooked in the old kitchen before we tear it apart.  In two weeks we're going to dive into one of the towns we touched on today: Bellefonte. Beautiful, historic Bellefonte is crammed with good eats and drinks, and you deserve to know about it. See you then!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ "In Search of a Hero" by dasaintz on TuneTank.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.

How do ya like these apples! We're going to York and Adams Counties, the heart of Pennsylvania apple country, to learn about Pennsylvania apple cider! I visited two cideries, and got two interviews, and tasted three ciders. I'll also tell you about my hobby: visiting every one of Pennsylvania's 212 covered bridges. Then it's a sample of what the next six months will be like as Seen Through A Glass goes on the road (we're moving out of our house for renovations): draft whiskey highballs and Portuguese pastries in Philadelphia. Next time? Who cares, let's have another cider!   This episode uses these sounds under the following license: Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ "Champ de tournesol" by Komiku at https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Country Fiddle Wave by Daddys Music Music promoted by www.pixabay.com "Glow" by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https: //www.chosic.com/free-music/all/