How to Day Drink Like a Pro With Cincinnati Author Michael D. Morgan

There are several legitimate reasons to drink beer with every meal on Super Bowl Sunday. For football fans, it’s essentially a holy day meant to be observed. Nothing is more important than “the big game,” and for many, watching football demands beer. en there are people like Michael D. Morgan — author of Cincinnati Beer and cohost of the Brew Skies Happy Hour podcast. Morgan is a recognized authority on all aspects of Cincinnati beer, which includes its consumption. Morgan says he doesn’t care for the Super Bowl and isn’t shy about his reasoning, but for folks like him, drinking beer is still an excellent pastime when football is the last thing you want to watch.

There are several legitimate reasons to drink beer with every meal on Super Bowl Sunday. For football fans, it’s essentially a holy day meant to be observed. Nothing is more important than “the big game,” and for many, watching football demands beer.

en there are people like Michael D. Morgan — author of Cincinnati Beer and cohost of the Brew Skies Happy Hour podcast. Morgan is a recognized authority on all aspects of Cincinnati beer, which includes its consumption. Morgan says he doesn’t care for the Super Bowl and isn’t shy about his reasoning, but for folks like him, drinking beer is still an excellent pastime when football is the last thing you want to watch.

Regardless of your motivation, preparation is needed if you want to drink beer all day without ruining your whole weekend, Morgan says.

Regardless of your motivation, preparation is needed if you want to drink beer all day without ruining your whole weekend, Morgan says.

CityBeat: Do you have any big plans for Super Bowl Sunday?

CityBeat: Do you have any big plans for Super Bowl Sunday?

Mike Morgan: I have an abstract respect for the con of the Super Bowl. As a grift, it’s brilliant.

Mike Morgan: I have an abstract respect for the con of the Super Bowl. As a grift, it’s brilliant.

A bunch of billionaires have duped an entire country into accepting that the largest annual day of pro tability in their multi-billion dollar for-pro t businesses (which are already heavily subsidized by taxpayers) is now treated as “an American holiday” where every red-blooded capitalist is supposed to do their part to help make obscenely rich people richer — even if it’s those people “who watch for the commercials” to help drive viewership numbers up so that the ad revenue of those commercials can climb even further into the stratosphere.

A bunch of billionaires have duped an entire country into accepting that the largest annual day of pro tability in their multi-billion dollar for-pro t businesses (which are already heavily subsidized by taxpayers) is now treated as “an American holiday” where every red-blooded capitalist is supposed to do their part to help make obscenely rich people richer — even if it’s those people “who watch for the commercials” to help drive viewership numbers up so that the ad revenue of those commercials can climb even further into the stratosphere.

e whole thing is a con, and I’ve got better things to do on any given Sunday than to be a mark.

e whole thing is a con, and I’ve got better things to do on any given Sunday than to be a mark.

CB: In that case, you’re uninvited to our party. Still, we plan to drink beer all day, so how can we do that and avoid total ruination?

CB: In that case, you’re uninvited to our party. Still, we plan to drink beer all day, so how can we do that and avoid total ruination?

MM: I think the keys to successful endurance day drinking are pretty simple. First and foremost, is water, water, water. You have to stay hydrated. Second: food. You have to have good food sticking to your gut.

MM: I think the keys to successful endurance day drinking are pretty simple. First and foremost, is water, water, water. You have to stay hydrated. Second: food. You have to have good food sticking to your gut.

CB: What are “stick to your gut” kinds of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner while day drinking?

CB: What are “stick to your gut” kinds of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner while day drinking?

MM: Well, I’m not a big breakfast guy, so I usually just go straight for lunch. If you’re gonna get serious, Herb and elma’s [Tavern] cheeseburgers, or a Dunlap [Cafe] double cheeseburger – those are a really nice place to start with lunch.

MM: Well, I’m not a big breakfast guy, so I usually just go straight for lunch. If you’re gonna get serious, Herb and elma’s [Tavern] cheeseburgers, or a Dunlap [Cafe] double cheeseburger – those are a really nice place to start with lunch.

CB: Dinner-wise, do you have the same kind of method with a high-protein, high-fat, high-carb kind of meal?

CB: Dinner-wise, do you have the same kind of method with a high-protein, high-fat, high-carb kind of meal?

MM: Yeah. I mean, usually just because that’s what sounds good when I’ve been drinking.

MM: Yeah. I mean, usually just because that’s what sounds good when I’ve been drinking.

CB: As long as the Super Bowl party has more than chips and dip, we should be ne. What style of brew should we consider when buying beer for the day?

CB: As long as the Super Bowl party has more than chips and dip, we should be ne. What style of brew should we consider when buying beer for the day?

MM: Low ABV (alcohol by volume) beers –and when I say low ABV beers, I’m not going crazy. I’m not talking about Michelob Ultra. I just mean if I start out with [MadTree’s] Psychopathy, I’m gonna have to moderate or things are gonna go sideways. [Editor’s note: Michelob Ultra has an ABV of 4.2%

MM: Low ABV (alcohol by volume) beers –and when I say low ABV beers, I’m not going crazy. I’m not talking about Michelob Ultra. I just mean if I start out with [MadTree’s] Psychopathy, I’m gonna have to moderate or things are gonna go sideways. [Editor’s note: Michelob Ultra has an ABV of 4.2% while MadTree’s Psychopathy is 6.9%.] while MadTree’s Psychopathy is 6.9%.]

CB: Lighter beers are the best route for long haul drinking. Something like lager or pilsner?

CB: Lighter beers are the best route for long haul drinking. Something like lager or pilsner?

MM: Right.

MM: Right.

CB: So, eat heavy entrees and drink lighter beer while staying hydrated. Is it that simple?

CB: So, eat heavy entrees and drink lighter beer while staying hydrated. Is it that simple?

MM: I think the real secret is you cannot stop. One of the problems with drinking is you don’t make your best decisions when you’re doing it. But the thing that I think people screw up most is they talk themselves into, “I’m going to quit drinking for a bit,” or. “I’m going to take a nap.” And you’re done. You’re always done. When you do that, when you get out of the game you can never really get back in it and you’re just gonna feel like shit for the rest of your day, or evening and night. So, you’ve got to moderate, but you gotta stay in the game.

MM: I think the real secret is you cannot stop. One of the problems with drinking is you don’t make your best decisions when you’re doing it. But the thing that I think people screw up most is they talk themselves into, “I’m going to quit drinking for a bit,” or. “I’m going to take a nap.” And you’re done. You’re always done. When you do that, when you get out of the game you can never really get back in it and you’re just gonna feel like shit for the rest of your day, or evening and night. So, you’ve got to moderate, but you gotta stay in the game.

Michael D. Morgan’s latest book, Cincinnati Beer, is available at arcadiapublishing.com and local bookstores. Brew Skies Happy Hour podcast: brewskies.beer.

Michael D. Morgan’s latest book, Cincinnati Beer, is available at arcadiapublishing.com and local bookstores. Brew Skies Happy Hour podcast: brewskies.beer.

Music

A Big ‘Little’

A Big ‘Little’

Breakthrough

Breakthrough

Cincinnati musician Mol Sullivan releases A Little Hello, her most cohesive body of work yet.

BY KATRINA ERESMAN

Cincinnati musician Mol Sullivan releases A Little Hello, her most cohesive body of work yet.

BY KATRINA ERESMAN

If you’ve been paying attention to the Cincinnati music scene over the last decade, you’ve probably heard of Mol Sullivan. e singersongwriter has been performing around the city since the early 2010s. She’s toured the country, been an NPR #DeskoftheDay pick and lmed a colorful music video in a public pool.

If you’ve been paying attention to the Cincinnati music scene over the last decade, you’ve probably heard of Mol Sullivan. e singersongwriter has been performing around the city since the early 2010s. She’s toured the country, been an NPR #DeskoftheDay pick and lmed a colorful music video in a public pool.

But this month, Sullivan arrived at another landmark in her music career when she released her new EP A Little Hello on Ruination Record Co., a small label based in Chicago and New York.

But this month, Sullivan arrived at another landmark in her music career when she released her new EP A Little Hello on Ruination Record Co., a small label based in Chicago and New York.

“ is is not only the rst body of work that I’m releasing with a label,” Sullivan tells CityBeat, “but it’s also the rst body of work that’s, like, cohesively, thoughtfully produced.”

“ is is not only the rst body of work that I’m releasing with a label,” Sullivan tells CityBeat, “but it’s also the rst body of work that’s, like, cohesively, thoughtfully produced.”

Sullivan has been busy over the last several months creating content and promotional materials to accompany A Little Hello, which came out Feb. 3. As CityBeat speaks with Sullivan, she’s on her way to do the second round of edits for the cowgirl-themed music video for her song “Bury the Hatchet.” It’s one of three music videos she’s put out for the EP—four if you count the bonus track “Deep End Dive.”

Sullivan has been busy over the last several months creating content and promotional materials to accompany A Little Hello, which came out Feb. 3. As CityBeat speaks with Sullivan, she’s on her way to do the second round of edits for the cowgirl-themed music video for her song “Bury the Hatchet.” It’s one of three music videos she’s put out for the EP—four if you count the bonus track “Deep End Dive.” ere’s a lot that can go into releasing an album, and in an ideal world artists would have an entire team working with them to make it happen. In her career, Sullivan has juggled much of it herself, but hopefully not for much longer. ere’s a lot that can go into releasing an album, and in an ideal world artists would have an entire team working with them to make it happen. In her career, Sullivan has juggled much of it herself, but hopefully not for much longer.

“Mostly the label stu is for the support that that brings and working to have a team that can help automate some of the backend work that goes into all this,” she says. “I don’t want to burn out. I’m grinding right now in the hopes of having a sustainable future.”

“Mostly the label stu is for the support that that brings and working to have a team that can help automate some of the backend work that goes into all this,” she says. “I don’t want to burn out. I’m grinding right now in the hopes of having a sustainable future.”

Even with the videos almost complete, the songs nished, the promotional photos taken and the band rehearsed for tour, Sullivan has loose ends to tie up. And when asked how it feels to be nearing the end of this process, she gives a delightfully unconventional answer that epitomizes the playfulness behind many of her songs and visuals.

Even with the videos almost complete, the songs nished, the promotional photos taken and the band rehearsed for tour, Sullivan has loose ends to tie up. And when asked how it feels to be nearing the end of this process, she gives a delightfully unconventional answer that epitomizes the playfulness behind many of her songs and visuals.

“[It’s] like I’m getting ready to go to the Christmas event, and I’ve got my holiday shopping done, and I have everything wrapped up with a beautiful bow, but I’m still panicking to, like, get my side dish done. And I’m gonna be 20 minutes late,” she laughs.

“[It’s] like I’m getting ready to go to the Christmas event, and I’ve got my holiday shopping done, and I have everything wrapped up with a beautiful bow, but I’m still panicking to, like, get my side dish done. And I’m gonna be 20 minutes late,” she laughs.

And in case fans need a visual aid for the metaphor, the side dish is green bean casserole.

And in case fans need a visual aid for the metaphor, the side dish is green bean casserole.

“I’m a total slut for green bean casserole,” she says. “But with fresh green beans – no canned business.”

“I’m a total slut for green bean casserole,” she says. “But with fresh green beans – no canned business.”

If the extra content is the side dish, then A Little Hello is the main course. Its six tracks span a seven-year period of Sullivan’s life, dipping back into a pre-sobriety era and evolving into the

If the extra content is the side dish, then A Little Hello is the main course. Its six tracks span a seven-year period of Sullivan’s life, dipping back into a pre-sobriety era and evolving into the person Sullivan has become.

Sullivan’s lyrics and vocal performance play with both the heavy and the light. “Bury the Hatchet” for instance, takes the listener on a swift emotional journey from a lamenting and heartfelt “What a shame” to an equally sincere “Yeehaw!” person Sullivan has become.

Sullivan’s lyrics and vocal performance play with both the heavy and the light. “Bury the Hatchet” for instance, takes the listener on a swift emotional journey from a lamenting and heartfelt “What a shame” to an equally sincere “Yeehaw!”

All six tracks are earnest and complex, and the credits are lled with familiar names from the Cincinnati music scene, like Alessandro Corona and members of WHY? ere’s the upbeat, piano-driven opener and title track, “A Little Hello” featuring Stephen Patota (Flocks) on guitar, the ethereal waltz “Fight 4 U,” and “Rounder” with Victoria Lekson on harp, plus two bonus tracks, including “Golden” which has the voices of Brianna Kelly, Kate Wake eld, Jess Lamb and Sara Hutchinson.

All six tracks are earnest and complex, and the credits are lled with familiar names from the Cincinnati music scene, like Alessandro Corona and members of WHY? ere’s the upbeat, piano-driven opener and title track, “A Little Hello” featuring Stephen Patota (Flocks) on guitar, the ethereal waltz “Fight 4 U,” and “Rounder” with Victoria Lekson on harp, plus two bonus tracks, including “Golden” which has the voices of Brianna Kelly, Kate Wake eld, Jess Lamb and Sara Hutchinson.

Sullivan says that some of her best experiences as a musician have been collaborations, and she’s excited to be in a position to open that door for others.

Sullivan says that some of her best experiences as a musician have been collaborations, and she’s excited to be in a position to open that door for others.

“It’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s engaging, and I wanted some of my favorite voices to be featured on a song,” she says. “I’m really looking forward to expanding the collaborative horizons in the future. I think it’s just a really fun way to be supported by and support my community.”

“It’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s engaging, and I wanted some of my favorite voices to be featured on a song,” she says. “I’m really looking forward to expanding the collaborative horizons in the future. I think it’s just a really fun way to be supported by and support my community.”

With the EP out in the world, Sullivan turns her attention to touring and prepping for more upcoming releases. She starts this month with shows on the East Coast. Next, she and her band are heading West before returning to Cincinnati for a release show at Northside Tavern on March 3. And as far as Sullivan is concerned, the tour will be a success no matter how it turns out.

With the EP out in the world, Sullivan turns her attention to touring and prepping for more upcoming releases. She starts this month with shows on the East Coast. Next, she and her band are heading West before returning to Cincinnati for a release show at Northside Tavern on March 3. And as far as Sullivan is concerned, the tour will be a success no matter how it turns out.

“Having great shows and having a great reception—that’s all incredible,” she says. “[But] touring, itself, is the prize. I love traveling, I love spending time with my friends and making music and meeting new people.”

“Having great shows and having a great reception—that’s all incredible,” she says. “[But] touring, itself, is the prize. I love traveling, I love spending time with my friends and making music and meeting new people.”

For how busy Sullivan has been in preparing for the release of A Little Hello, she seems impressively calm. She says she is embracing the uncertainty that comes with new releases with a positive outlook—one that could help any creative maintain sanity.

For how busy Sullivan has been in preparing for the release of A Little Hello, she seems impressively calm. She says she is embracing the uncertainty that comes with new releases with a positive outlook—one that could help any creative maintain sanity.

“I have no control over how it’s received, how well things perform,” Sullivan says. “I’m not writing for that. I’m just writing what I feel like. My goal has been to make things that I am proud of, and I’m just so excited that these things that I’ve been excited about for so long are just like — they’re done.”

“I have no control over how it’s received, how well things perform,” Sullivan says. “I’m not writing for that. I’m just writing what I feel like. My goal has been to make things that I am proud of, and I’m just so excited that these things that I’ve been excited about for so long are just like — they’re done.”

Mol Sullivan’s A Little Hello and accompanying videos are out now. Info: molsullivan.com.

Mol Sullivan’s A Little Hello and accompanying videos are out now. Info: molsullivan.com.