Beer Sessions Radio™ Episode 114 (listen here) sounds like the lead-in to a joke: America Walks Into a Bar is the title of guest Christine Sismondo, who joins Killmeyer’s Old Bavarian Inn owner Ken Tirado to discuss Prohibition and the history of “tavern as meeting hall.” In addition, Barry Smyth of Fraunces Tavern talks about some of the oldest bars in America.

The history of the tavern pre-dates the Revolutionary War and, in fact, is caught up in many monumental events in Colonial America (the Salem Witch Trials, early political meetings). Of course, beer was a big part of early American history because it was considered the safest way to hydrate.

Check out the episode and hear some urban legends of NYC bars and get a history lesson in libation!

This week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio™ (listen here) brought together several big names in the local brew scene. Representing three different Boroughs were The Bronx Brewery (Damien Brown and Chris Gallant); SingleCut Beersmiths, Queens’ first brewery (represented by Rich Bucheta); and Brooklyn Brewery‘s Maia Raposo. The rise of so many craft brewers in the city has led to many of these brewers forming a non-profit (pending) coalition: The New York City Brewers Guild. As secretary of NYCBG, Maia is trying to build awareness of the group, whose mission statement is “to advocate for and promote awareness of its local brewing members; to increase the visibility of local beers through programming, events, and consumer education; and to foster a healthy, ethical, and growth-focused craft beer industry throughout the city.”

Also on the show were regular contributors Dave Broderick and Jen Schwertman from Blind Tiger, who talked about their recent trip to San Diego’s Craft Brewers Conference. Get the inside scoop from the insiders… all while trying some cool new beers!

On May 12, 2012, Jimmy’s No. 43 will host the first ever NYC Beer Film Festival featuring clips from the finest beer-related films and video podcasts being made today. In addition to webisodes from the Happy Hour Guys, Beer Nation, and The BrewHaHa, you can expect to sample film segments from American Beer, Beerituality, Beer Wars, and a special preview of the much-anticipated Beer Hunter: The Movie. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet the hosts and producers and participate in lively discussion between each visual offering. Come support the filmmakers and vloggers anytime between 4PM and 8PM, there is no cover for this event; beer (wine and food) available for purchase. A schedule of showtimes is below:

4:15 Beer Nation Tours The GABF
4:30 The Happy Hour Guys: The 2012 Trailer
4:45 American Beer – Director’s Cut Clip
5:00 100 Beers in Thirty Days with Laurie Delk
5:15 The Brewhaha – TBA
5:30 Craft Beer Bandit
5:45 Beer Wars Trailer
6:00 The Happy Hour Guys: The Alchemist, Tragedy and Triumph
6:15 American Beer Trailer
6:30 The Brewhaha – TBA
6:45 Beerituality – Character Bios
7:00 Sneak Peak of Beer Hunter the Movie
7:15 Beer Wars – Deleted Scene, The Cloudberries
7:30 Ian Films
7:45 Beer Nation – DC Pub Scene

Peter Kennedy's homegrown hops are thriving in this year's warm spring.

It sounds a bit like a witch’s brew, but mugwort and horehound are but two of the many flowers that can make your beer bitter, along with more traditional hops. Ben Grainger of Bierkraft and Peter Kennedy of SimplyBeer.com discuss growing their own beer ingredients and the “Bible,” The Homebrewers Garden (authors Joe and Dennis Fisher join in by phone). If you’ve ever wondered how to use dandelion or heather in your mash, this episode is for you!

The Fishers talk about their journey from growing a few ingredients (many of which can be grown on a windowsill for interested apartment dwellers) to becoming farmers up in Maine where their crops include hops and other brewing botanicals.

And it wouldn’t be Beer Sessions Radio™ without some colorful anecdotes, including drinking with wildlife and camping out with makeshift home brew.

Nøgne Ø Beer drinkers at Swift included (from left) "Just Adam," Tom Tate, Tim Stendahl and Shelton Brothers' B. R. Rolya.

The Norwegians are coming, the Norweigans are coming! Norway brewery Nøgne Ø Beer has taken over the taps at a couple different Good Beer Seal Bars in the East Village. On Friday at Jimmy’s No. 43 representatives from beer importers, Norwegian dignitaries, Nøgne Ø’s Tore Nybø, and the famed (some might say “infamous”) co-founder and brewmaster Kjetil Jikiun were all on hand for an intimate Ultimate Nøgne Ø Night and Dinner. Then, yesterday, it was “Clone Wars” at Swift Hibernian Lounge when a small group of Nøgne Ø Beer lovers gathered to compare the original with a couple clone beers, including an amazingly robust porter clone beer brewed by Tim Stendahl and Tom Tate at Bitter & Esters in Brooklyn. In addition to the Nøgne Ø brews, Swift has more than 20 taps and many unique bottles available, in addition to a full pub menu.

Mark Burford of Blue Point chats with Jimmy Carbone about Long Island brewing.

This past Tuesday on Beer Sessions Radio™, Jimmy Carbone welcomed Long Island brewers Mark Burford (Blue Point Brewing Co.), John Liegey and Greg Soroski (Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.), and Paul Dlugokencky from Blind Bat Brewery. Aside from colorful anecdotes, these brewers discuss the long, tortuous (and, occasionally, torturous) path to bringing craft beer to Long Island. In addition, LI beer blogger Niko Krommydos (Super Neat Beer Adventure, Yes!) weighs in on the larger beer scene currently happening in “the sixth borough.”

Also included in this week’s episode is a nod to Earth Day: a discussion about grey water and the green movement among craft breweries. Listen to the whole episode (#111) here.