The Drinking Partners, having moved up to “boardroom material,” welcome head brewer Lauren Hughes from Necromancer Brewing. She joins to discuss the three B’s: business, beer, and bikes. After a career in music and arts education, Lauren’s focus shifted back to her interest in brewing, which led to a career change. With Necromancer, she explores “dead styles” of beer, finding ways to modernize old and traditional brewing for new drinkers. Did you know that beer was once brewed without hops? Listen in as Lauren explains the ingredients behind the older styles and why it’s so hard to make a good Pilsner. “There’s nothing to hide behind,” she adds. Stay tuned for an important conversation about the culture of beer and what steps Necromancer is taking to lead the industry forward and how to create an inclusive brewery and industry. To wrap up the interview, Ed and Day ask for an explanation on beer naming. This latest episode is an informative roundup of all things brewing, from recipes to culture, and a necessary listen. Learn more about Necromancer: www.necromancer.beer

Tune in for the latest Drinking Partners podcast as Ed and Day chat with Cinderlands head brewer Paul Schneider and Trace Brewing’s Head of Marketing Aadam Soorma about their newest collaboration: Pittsburgh Mixed Culture (www.pghmixedculture.com). This saison-centric festival will feature breweries from across the country and Belgium by, “bringing dozens of world-class brewers together … to demonstrate our love for the Belgian brewing traditions that inspire us, make a clear connection between local agriculture and beer, showcase fermentation-driven beer, and highlight the complementary roles of brewer and nature in making mixed-fermentation beer.” The July 30th event will take place at Freedom Farms in Valencia, PA. Spontaneous comments from Ed and Day pair well with Paul’s detailed explanation of the spontaneous process of mixed culture brewing in Day’s favorite type of conversation: edutainment. This rare to Pittsburgh style gets to shine with its own festival, although Ed’s suggestion that an essay praising saison be a requirement was not accepted. The conversation around mixed culture craft brewing is ripe with knowledge and will turn the average beer fan into an aficionado, but don’t worry if you get confused, as Ed admits. Listen in until the closing minutes to hear Drinking Partners advice on how to conquer a beer festival and make plans to check out Pittsburgh Mixed Culture Fest on July 30 at Freedom Farms.

From a new location – Emerald City in Pittsburgh, Pa – the Drinking Partners podcast returns with a double dose of dynamic duos. Ed and Day welcome Jacquea Mae and Byron Nash of NASH.V.ILL in this energetic and exciting interview. Self-described super-fan Day and an inquisitive Ed listen in as Byron recounts his first introduction to Jacquea: “The spirit took over” and she joined in, from the audience, during his last song. The impromptu duet was so impressive that they teamed up to form NASH.V.ILL. There is never a dull moment as Ed and Day drop jokes in between questions and stories, proving that the Drinking Partners comedic magic has not faded. Jacquea’s advises on how important making mistakes are to better one’s skills, and Byron explains how their on-stage improvisation that often results in unexpected and thrilling performances. Byron’s advice, midway through, is a must listen: “If you are brave enough to suck in front of people, you fix it way faster.” It wouldn’t be a true Drinking Partners episode without Ed breaking into song - stay tuned throughout to hear his renditions. The closing minutes of this newest Drinking Partners focuses on industry-specific advice and guidance from Jacquea and Byron, including a discussion on collaborative projects and sharing ideas. Intermixed with the sage wisdom are saucy interludes from Ed, rounding out a lively and mighty interview.