Act 130: 'Day Bracey is my war name'
The latest episode of Beers with Nigel brings back one of our favorite guests — Day Bracey, the mastermind behind the Barrel and Flow Festival. From his recent international adventures to his upcoming festival innovations, Day delivers his trademark blend of humor, insight, and real talk about the craft beer world.
From Pittsburgh to Barcelona: Taking Black Beer Culture Global
Day opens up about his eye-opening trip to Barcelona, where he represented American craft beer culture at an international festival. As the only U.S. representation among 30+ countries, Day and his team brought five Black-owned breweries to Spain, creating connections and challenging perceptions along the way.
The experience wasn't without its challenges. Day candidly discusses navigating European attitudes toward Black Americans and how the trip reinforced his mission to showcase the excellence of Black-owned breweries on a global stage. The beers they brought weren't just representative - they were among the best at the entire festival.
Barrel and Flow 2025: Bigger, Better, and On Water
This year's Barrel and Flow Festival (August 9th) promises to be the most ambitious yet. For the first time, Day has expanded beyond the traditional Friday-Sunday format with a full week of events, including the much-anticipated "Barrel and Float" - a boat party on Pittsburgh's rivers featuring curated collaborations and unlimited pours.
The festival's growth reflects Day's philosophy of controlled expansion. After years of perfecting the core experience, he's finally able to get creative again. The highlight? A limited-edition vinyl collaboration featuring 10 musicians paired up to create original songs, pressed on 500 splatter vinyls with no digital release.
The Art of Festival Curation
What makes Barrel and Flow special isn't just Day's vision — it's his ability to synthesize ideas from the community. As he puts it, most of the festival "ain't my idea." His role has evolved into determining what's "affordable or legal" from the constant stream of creative suggestions.
This collaborative approach has created something unique in the festival world: an event that combines unlimited craft beer pours with live art, music, food, and experiences you can't find anywhere else. It's why people travel internationally to attend and why it's building a cult-like following.
Looking Forward: Barrel and Flow Goes to New Orleans
In an exclusive reveal, Day announced that Barrel and Flow will expand to New Orleans on April 19, 2026, with "Barrels on the Bayou." It's the kind of expansion that makes perfect sense — bringing the festival's celebration of Black culture and craft beer to another city with deep cultural roots.
The Real Talk
Throughout the conversation, Day's authenticity shines through. Whether he's discussing getting reading glasses ("diagnosed with old"), his transition from comedy to festival production, or the challenges of being a Black American abroad, he brings honesty and humor to every topic.
The episode is a reminder of why Day Bracey has become such an important voice in craft beer. He's not just organizing events - he's creating cultural bridges and showcasing excellence that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Barrel and Flow Festival happens August 9th in Pittsburgh. For the full week of events and tickets, visit barrelandflow.com.
