guinness - Pints and Power

Blasphemy or Belonging - the art of mixed Guinness - three pints, a classic Guinness, a black smith (half Guinness/half Smithwicks) and a snakebite (half Guinness/half cider)

pub culture

Blasphemy or Belonging: The Art (and Controversy) of Mixing Guinness

Explore the tradition, controversy, and creativity behind mixed Guinness drinks — from Black and Tans to Black Velvets — and what they reveal about Irish pub culture, ritual, and belonging.

The author with his First Pour Early Release of Pints and Power at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin

Behind the Book

Visiting the Guinness Archives in Dublin

While in Ireland awaiting the wedding that spawned Pints and Power we had the opportunity to spend a few hours digging deep into the Archives at the Guinness Storehouse. Here's the story about the visit.

pub culture

In Defense of the Coaster: Guinness, Irish Pubs, and the Art of the Beermat

A tongue‑in‑cheek ode to the Irish pub’s unsung hero—the Guinness beermat." History, materials, design, etiquette, and why coaster collecting matters.

guinness

Raise Your Glass: 10 Powerful Ways Guinness Pours Heart and History into the Modern Irish Imagination

Discover how Guinness shapes modern Irish identity, from pub rituals and glass design to music, history, and belonging. Explore 10 inspiring ways the black pint pours heart and tradition into every glass.

Behind the Book

“Pints and Power” on the Air: My Interview with Hank Stolz on Radio Worcester

Last week, I had the chance to sit down with Hank Stolz on Radio Worcester’s The Talk of the Commonwealth to talk all things Pints and Power—from the spark behind the book, to the stories that shaped it, and what’s ahead for our Worcester launch party. If

A blonde female singer at the mic, a bearded man, sitting and playing the guitar rocking the music from the stage

pub culture

Last Night at the Local: Music, Friendship, and a Shout-Out from the Stage

Last night at Bolands had it all—live music, laughter, and an unexpected shout-out for “Pints and Power” from the stage. Some Fridays just turn into stories you’ll be telling for years.

A rendered image of Michael Collins in a pub, with two glasses of Guinness on a table and one empty bottle, men in shadows in the background. "Michael Collins, Pubs and Pints of Guinness"

Irish History

Michael Collins, a Pint, and the Power of the Pub

Marking 103 years since Béal na Bláth—how Guinness and the pub framed a revolution.

guinness

House of Guinness is Coming. Are You Ready?

House of Guinness will pour the scandal. Pints and Power pours the story beneath the foam — history, rebellion, belonging, and me.

Headline: The Citadel of the Irish Pub - Photos of Kitty O'Se's, John Cleere, John Kehoe, Bolands, photos of all four Irish Pubs.

pub culture

The Citadel of the Irish Pub: Why the Name on the Door Matters

Not just a fortress, but a refuge, a relationship, and a ritual.

Behind the Book

The First Full Draft Is Done

The first full draft of Pints and Power is complete—122 pages, 11 chapters, and a story that pours through history, identity, and belonging. The pint has settled. The next round begins.

Irish History

The Women Behind the Guinness Name

Their names aren’t always on the brewery gates or the trust deeds. But without them, there’d be no legacy to carry.

Writing Process

Pouring with Care: Notes from the Writing Process

I’m still writing. Still learning. Still wrestling with how to tell a story that’s not just mine—without rushing the pour. This is a reflection on the conflict between the desire to publish and the responsibility to get it right.