BAD brews and good comedy

Beer bellies and belly laughs merge Aug. 17 at BAD Brewing Co. in a live comedy show.

The Mason brewery will feature comedians Will Green and Pat Seivert as hosts and the line-up features Louis Michael, Mike Szar, Sam Rager and headliner Aharon Willows. Curious about what sorts of jokes you will hear while sipping that IPA? Green’s comedy style tends to rely on stories and his life experiences while co-host Pat Seivert switches between absurdist and observational humor.

“I have a joke about the ‘Purge’ movies that I’ve been telling for a little over a year,” said Seivert. “Usually, it gets a pretty good result and people tend to like that one. I like the surprise of people realizing what direction it’s going in. I’m looking forward to telling that one.“ The comedy show has personal ties for Green and Seivert, in both literal and figurative senses.

For Green, the opportunity to host the show came from a family reconnection. A relative he lost touch with changed careers from Lansing Police Officer to being the owner of BAD Brewing Co.

“The guy who owns Bad Brewing is actually a distant cousin of mine,” said Green. “I hadn’t talked to him in years.”

For Seivert, it reaches back to childhood dreams come true.

“I grew up in Mason and I always liked comedy,” Seivert said. “I felt like there wasn’t much to do as far as shows in Mason, growing up. It’s cool to bring something new to the town.”

Each set will last 15 minutes, with 20 to 25 minutes allotted for headliner Willows. Early attendance is encouraged because the brewery fills up fast. They may even have to move the Good Bites Food Truck for more space.

“The shows at BAD Brewing that we’ve done, we’ve done one already this summer,” said Green, “they’re always really well-attended even though they’re outside, which is usually not great for comedy. The back patio of BAD Brewing is oddly cozy.”

At the last show, more than 100 people filled the brew house. The crowd differs from a regular comedy show as well — mostly on the alcohol-induced coherency front.

“Brewery fans are a mix of ‘they want to drink a little bit and have a good time, but they’re not going to get wasted because they’re having really nice beers,’” said Green.

Green and Seivert said they carefully selected the lineup for maximum laughs.

“Will and I have tried to book people that we know are funny and that we would want to see if we were going as audience members,” said Seivert.

“It’s a high level of comedy, but it’s free,” said Will Green. “That’s hard to beat.”

Comedy Night Thursday, Aug. 17 FREE BAD Brewing Company

440 S. Jefferson St., Mason. (517) 676-7664