Whitman Brewing Spotlight: Meet Karley and Nick

What better way to start September at Saratoga Sips and Scenes (say that five times fast) than featuring Karley Robinson, a bartender at Whitman, and Nick Meyer, Whitman’s head brewer! I’ve gotten to know them over the years, and it was so nice to sit down with each of them and learn more about their journeys. Be sure to check out last week’s post for more info about Whitman: Whitman Brewing Guide, Top Tips from a Longtime Regular.

From Barista to Whitman’s Longest-Tenured Bartender

Let’s begin with Karley! Karley started at Whitman in 2021, making her Whitman’s longest-tenured bartender. Prior to Whitman, she was a barista at Healthy Living Market. She didn’t have prior experience working at a brewery and shared she is so grateful for the opportunity to learn. She recognizes that everyone has to start somewhere and is so happy Whitman gave her that opportunity!

Karley’s favorite parts of working at Whitman are the people she works with, working for Kathy and Bill, and the customers who have become friends (aww). A memory that stands out is Whitman’s first Pride Fest (I was there!) and her favorite beer that debuted at the fest, a sour called Love Wins: Strawberry. Karley’s go-to beer at Whitman is Praise the Sun (a beer lover’s favorite with multiple community awards on Untappd). 

Definitely say hi to Karley next time you’re at the bar. I’ve had many conversations with her over the years and she is a delightful person. Whitman is lucky to have her and I’m grateful to know her! Pro tip: ask Karley about her fur baby, Bagel the cat, and you’ll become fast friends!

A Conversation with Nick Meyer, Head Brewer

Recently I had a chance to chat with Nick over a beer. My first, very important question was about his first craft beer… turns out it was a Chimay White Label, nabbed from his dad’s stash. His dad loves Belgian beers and definitely knew it was missing. Nick is originally from Long Island, though he’s got credentials that locals will appreciate: he rode horses and competed in dressage until he was 16 (no Saratoga story is complete without horses).

In college, Nick majored in Marketing at the University of Hartford (fun fact, he was in a fraternity too!) and profiled Thomas Hooker Brewery in Bloomfield, CT for one of his classes. He ended up bartending there a couple of days a week and worked his way up. Whenever a position opened up, he raised his hand to learn it, all the way from packaging to canning, giving him a wide range of experience.

After a couple of years, he started working in the cellar at Back East Brewing in Bloomfield, CT, where he met Keegan Dombrosky. When Keegan was offered a role as director of brewing at Whitman Brewing, he offered Nick the head brewing position. Even though he was new to brewing and had never been to Saratoga, Nick was ready for a new challenge!

Brewmaster or Artist?

Nick started off under the direction of Keegan, following his recipes and learning from him along the way. Nick quickly came into his own and developed his own recipe for his favorite beer at Whitman: All My Friends Are Bread. He had a vision for both the recipe, a flagship pilsner, and a funky label. He sketched out a mockup in a “Life is Good” design style after googling “cartoon screaming eyes” and “cartoon screaming mouth.” He showed it to their marketing person, and she ran with it. Much to his surprise, it became the iconic label it still is today. See below for Nick’s original sketch!

Nick’s Top Recs for visiting Whitman

I know it can be intimidating to go to new spots, so I asked Nick what to do if you’re new to Whitman. He acknowledged that Whitman is such a large, sprawling space, so it’s hard to know where to start… Nick encourages people to approach a bartender and just ask some questions! They are friendly (I can attest to that) and will help you figure out which beer is best for you. 

If you want Nick’s must-have beer list, he recommends trying All My Friends Are Bread, I’m So Citra, and Dick Murphy Lite. Food-wise, he highly recommends the (spicy—you have been warned!) pizza “My Italian Grandpa” and any flavor of boneless wings (to quote Nick, “It’s a f-ing sauced chicken nugget!!”)

When I asked Nick about the best part of his job at Whitman he shared something along the lines of: I get to work with my best friends (shoutout to Sam and Alex), brew beer and do something I love every day. Honestly, it sounds like a dream when you put it like that (are you hiring? just kidding!) Nick acknowledged that working in a field you love can come with its challenges. He wisely shared, “There’s a way to be passionate about something without throwing yourself into the fire… that’s how you end up like Gollum.”

On that note, if you see Nick running around the taproom (or at one of his favorite off-the-clock spots: Pint Sized and 9 Maple), be sure to say hi!

Em’s Takeaway

Clearly, I’m a big fan of Whitman Brewing and the folks who work there! I appreciate that there’s something for everyone. You can find coffee, beer, cocktails, and more, plus a variety of seating for groups of all sizes. The beer is excellent and covers a range, nailing core beers like pilsners and lagers while also brewing the styles people gravitate toward like IPAs and stouts. My personal favorites are any sour beers in the “Now Forager” series.

Having learned more of Nick’s story, it’s cool that he got started with brewing here at Whitman and built out an impressive beer program. And while the allure of the beer may draw you in, I’ve found it’s the people, like Karley and Nick, who make Whitman worth staying for.