Dad’s Hat Rye: Great Whiskey, Great Story
Happy New Year, Happy New Episode!
I recorded this interview with Herman Mihalich of Dad's Hat Rye in September (I said October in the podcast, but it was definitely September), the day we had the launch party for American Whiskey Master Class at their distillery in Bristol, PA. Not at all central PA, I realize, but I do say that it’s mostly about food and drink in Central Pennsylvania, right?
Still coming off the holidays: I tell you how I make two of our holiday party favorites: hot-smoked salmon, and Lew's Smoked Nuts®! It's REALLY easy, and you don’t need a smoker. You can do them on your gas or charcoal grill with a couple of cheap pieces of extra gear (I’ll tell you what to get, and no, I don’t get any kickback on that, either; leaving so much money on the table…). You can even do them at the same time, like I do, if your grill or smoker is big enough. Best thing is that the whole side of salmon looks fantastic on a platter or carving board. The nuts? Well, they just taste like smoky heaven.
We took my 91 year old Aunt Alice out for lunch just before Christmas (for those of you who have been following my writing a long time: Alice is the widow of the familiar Uncle Don, who accompanied me on many research trips, including a wild trip to Düsseldorf and Köln, his only trip abroad). We went to the Brickerville House (north of Lititz, up near the original Michter's distillery) for lunch, and I got PA Dutch-style chicken and waffles and fried eggplant, which took me back to my childhood. So good.
What Am I Drinking Today? The newly-released 2026 Tröegs Independent Brewing Nugget Nectar, just picked it up at the brewery on Monday on my way to the taping of the What’s Brewing PA season finale. (Got some Star Gazer Stout and Dark Lager, too; carpe freakin’ diem, baby!) It's so fresh, it's so hoppy, it's so good; definitely has a place in the Gotta Have It pantheon, along with Celebration, New Glarus Serendipity, and Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest.
The Smack Dab In The Centre segment went in the opposite direction: I mentioned four great places in Centre County for NA drinks in Dry January - Big Spring Spirits has a ten-drink mocktail menu for the month, Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks offers their usual assortment of seltzers made with Tait Farm shrubs, the great Otto's Pub and Brewery sodas you can get there, at local groceries, and at Hofbrau Pizza in Bellefonte, and Happy Valley Nomadic Spirits!
There’s also a brief plug for one of my favorite events: Elk Creek’s Day Of Delicious Darkness, on Sunday, February 22nd. It’s a celebration of dark beers, with a special tasting menu from Chef Jon Forshey; it’s also a celebration of the extended Elk Creek community that brings far-flung friends of this unique venue together for an afternoon. Join us!
Next episode? Back to the regular Thursday schedule, I know that much, but...topic is still up in the air. Ideas are percolating! (No, not another coffee episode, I promise.)
Seen Through A Glass celebrates central Pennsylvania, and is sponsored by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. Come visit Centre County!
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