By JEROD CLAPP

Senior Editor

jlclapp@ius.edu

 

                At 5 a.m. on Feb. 29, a host of regular patrons of The New Albanian Brewing Company showed up to have bright lights and cameras in their faces.

                According to Indiana law, it was too early to serve alcohol. For them, though, it wasn’t too early to support their second home.

                NABC held a special tailgate party for WHAS-11’s “Good Morning Kentuckiana” program to kick off their 10th anniversary celebration of Gravity Head. Roger Baylor, NABC owner, asked some of his regulars to come in early to fill some of the seats for the camera.

                Terry Meiners, local television and radio personality, and Don Ruark, WHAS news photographer, wanted to make sure there were other people in the establishment for the broadcast.

                As Baylor was getting everything ready for the show, Kat Risley, NABC patron, asked him about how to approach the situation.

                “So what are we supposed to do?” she asked.

                “Act natural,” Baylor said.

                The crowd of about 12 people sat on the leather couches by the bar in Rich-O’s, listening to Guns N’ Roses and talking politics, philosophy and sports.

                Chris Shireman had to be at work later that morning, but still came by for some conversation.

                “This is the only place you can have a decent political conversation without being called an idiot,” Shireman said.

                Shireman said aside from the early morning cameo appearance, he’s helped with other events at Rich-O’s, such as art shows.

                Richard Rush, a New Albany attorney, said it had been a while since he’d been up that early.

                “I’ve been to a lot of tailgate parties, but never one at 5 a.m.,” Rush said.

                Rush said he was a friend of Baylor’s and wanted to show his support, and the promise of coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts helped, too.

                Ed Needham, owner of The Homeroaster coffee shop in New Albany and Rich-O’s regular, said he caught wind of the party and wanted to give Baylor a hand.

                “I saw his blog [“The Potable Curmudgeon”], and he said something about coffee,” Needham said. “So I kind of invited myself to help out.”

                George Arensman, another customer of Rich-O’s, said even though he enjoys the beer at the brew-pub, he has other thoughts on his mind when he drops in.

                “A lot of times when I’m coming here, my first thought on the way is, ‘I wonder who’s at Rich-O’s,’” Arensmen said. “It’s a different situation drinking here than it is almost anywhere else.”

                After Meiners and Ruark got their show completed, many of the patrons stayed on the couches until they had to go to their jobs.

                Shireman said he likes helping out at NABC, and gave his reason for waking up at 5 a.m.

                “Loyalty, man. Loyalty,” Shireman said. “It’s a rather tight-knit group of people, we’re all close friends. It’s like Cheers man, but better.”