Ol’ George #66: F*ck Ice Part Two

 

Notes on 66:

1. Didn’t I do Fuck Ice just two weeks ago? Yeah, well they killed again, so here we are. It’s kind of a familiar joke, but I gave it my own twist. Thanks, Winona!

2. Who’s Irma calling Boss? That would be me, in my second appearance in my own strip. Sometimes I leave my lofty perch above my creations and enter their world to drink with them. Ol’ Grand-Dad on the rocks is my drink when I’m bored of beer. OGD OTR, I’ll tell the bartender. Or, used to. Because, you know. 

3. Border Patrol in Minneapolis? Are we worried about Manitobans sneaking in? 

Barrel Theory October Rust Märzen

 Barrel Theory October Rust Märzen. 

5% ABV, 18 IBU, Barrel Theory Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Clear and copper-colored, mighty white head atop.

In the nose: sweet and malty, note perfect for style. 

In the mouth: super smooth, malty and delicious. Light to medium bodied. Soft finish. Fully flavored. Thoroughly enjoyable. Slightly out of season, but I don’t really care.

“Märzen Ale” says the label. Oh, is it, now? Yeah, I can see that. 

Ol’ George #65: The Sign Part 6

 

Ol’ George #65: The Sign Part 6

Notes on # 65:

1. The first Ol’ George without George! Just our two favorite females. Does this “pass the Bechdel test “? No, because they’re discussing our male lead. Too bad.

2. I think that Irma has nightmares about George. For this she left Australia? 

3. One episode left in our epic Saga of the Sign! I don’t know about you but I’m dying to find out how it ends! 

Firestone Luponic Distortion IPA

 Firestone Luponic Distortion IPA. 

5.9 % ABV, 50 IBU, Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, California. 

Once upon a time, there was an IPA series with this name. Two of them have appeared here, 9 & 14. This one came from the current variety pack. Is this one of those? I have no way of knowing, so we’ll say it isn’t. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory froth.

In the nose: big citrus with a dollop of pine. Orange rind and lemon zest.

In the mouth; deliciously bitter from the start. Refreshingly quenching. Light bodied, easy-drinking, with citrus notes bounding off the palate. Nice and dry. Quite delightful. 

A Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules. Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending hop flavors.

Ol George #64: F*ck ICE

 Ol George #64: F*ck ICE

Notes on #64:

1. Wasn’t it only last week that I vowed to keep politics to a minimum and keep this strip grounded in escapist fantasy? Yeah, but then last Wednesday happened. A few miles away from where I write and draw this, an American citizen was murdered by an agent of our very own government. And I can’t ignore it. It’s been a rough week here in Minneapolis and this is my small way of saying where I stand. 

Will I lose fans or followers? Don’t care. Maybe I’ll gain more? Maybe. But I had to do this. I’ll be back to the “funnies” soon enough.

2. This is Cuddles the Cockroach’s second appearance. He appeared first last May for a “bugs on the patio” gag. He doesn’t come into the bar much because he’s eight feet tall and the health department and everything.

This must be the first time Balonious has seen Cuddles. Dude is trippin’. 

3. 

Pipeworks Blizzard King Mosaic Dry-hopped Black Pale Ale

 

Pipeworks Blizzard King Mosaic Dry-hopped Black Pale Ale.

5.5 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, Illinois. 

Pretty much black, impenetrable, opaque, with a lush, creamy, light brown head. 

In the nose: highly hoppy, mixed with malt. Mosaic berries dance with dark malts. Especially inviting.

In the mouth: brisk bitterness on the palate, with a clean, smooth mouthfeel. Goes down extra fine. Medium bodied, long, chocolatey finish. I’m digging this long time. 

Mosaic Dry Hopped Black Pale Ale

Inbound Dorcha Extra Stout Coffee Stout

 Inbound Dorcha Extra Stout Coffee Stout. 

7.2 % ABV, 31 IBU, Inbound BrewCo, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clearish, dark brown body, large, lush and lasting creamy tan head.

In the nose: roasty toasty, coffee and cream. Bittersweet. Quite enticing. 

In the mouth: it all comes together. Richly roasted, full bodied, just enough of everything. Plenty of coffee, but never too much. Thoroughly satisfying. I enjoy this all the way down. 

Foreign export stout brewed with coffee and cocoa nibs. 

Town Hall Brewery Truffala Trip West coast IPA

 

Town Hall Brewery Truffala Trip West coast IPA. 

7.2 % ABV, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden color, large ivory head. 

In the nose: bold citrus and pine. 

In the mouth: bracing bitterness starts it off, urging another sip. Clean, crisp, bursting with hoppiness. Smooth and supple malt bill delivers a light and lovely mouthfeel. Orange meets mango. 

Quite tasty. This is exactly what I want in an IPA.

Inspired by modern West Coast IPAs, leaning on hop influence from throughout the whole process for aroma, flavor, and bitterness.

Ol’ George #63:

 Ol’ George #63: 

1. I should have done this one on Thursday, January 1, except for the fact that I hadn’t thought of it yet. Last year, I did a Father Time/Baby New Year, a New Year’s resolution gag, and a Dry January gag. Didn’t want to repeat myself, so variations on those were out. Spent New Year’s Day coloring old and new strips. So, in an effort to do something new, I went vertical, and the result appears poster-like, which I’m liking. 

And I didn’t want to talk about how awful 2025 was…this strip is escapist fantasy, and I’m trying to keep it that way. 

2. I knew I wanted my three top human co-stars in there, but who else? Riblet the dog? Gavin the squirrel? Horatio the hare? No, a guest star whose time has come, Pogo Possum! He’s drinking a beer? Sure, his own strip was kid-friendly, but he’s not there anymore, is he? He will be back, maybe soon. 

3. Who did George meet in 2025? Thelonious Monk, Gumballhead the Cat, Zippy the Pinhead, Balonious Funk, Baby (Hang in There, Kitty), Cuddles the Cockroach, David Lynch, Frank Booth, Dale Cooper, Elephant Man, Eraserhead guy, Sting from Dune, Bill The Cat, Cathy, Charlie Brown, Bigfoot, Norm Peterson, Rasputin, Greg, Hello Kitty, Fritz the Cat, Cat in the Hat, Top Cat, turkey, Tweety, Sylvester, Big Bird, Snuffy, Superman, Mr. Natural, Flakey Foont, Zaphod Beeblbrox, Marvin, Geni, Cosmo Cat, Charles Bukowski, the Portland Frog, Gavin, Ignatz, Krazy, Lucy, Batman, Robin, Hamm’s bear, Horatio, Duchesse. That’s a lot! Who’s next? What does 2026 hold in store? 

Victory Very Merry Monkey Spiced Holiday Ale

 

Victory Very Merry Monkey Spiced Holiday Ale.

9.5 % ABV, 25 IBU, Victory Brewing, Downington, Pennsylvania. 

Clear, burnished golden color, large and lacey ivory head. 

In the nose: gingerbread, orange, nutmeg & clove. Christmas cookie time. 

In the mouth: hot, fierce, filling, sweet, spicy. The base beer slowly emerges, golden monkey crawls from the crumbs. Full bodied, warm and wonderful, holiday flavors baked right in….mmm, I’m digging it. 

Add a little bit of SPICE. Your favorite holiday tradition, Merry Monkey, returns with a lively hint of gingerbread in this Belgian-Style Tripel. Notes of cinnamon, sweet molasses and an oomph of ginger will remind you of all that's great about this classic cookie.

Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve Stout 2025

 Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve Stout 2025. 

5.7 % ABV, Rogue Ales, Newport, OR. 

Black, opaque, slim, creamy brown head. 

In the nose: dry, roasty, little bit of chocolatey. 

In the mouth: extra dry. Smooth and sturdy. Full bodied, ending bittersweet. Appropriate. 

Dark as a winter's eve and smooth as Santa's sleigh ride, this holiday stout is layered with rich chocolate malt and toasted oats. A creamy head tops each pour, while notes of cocoa and coffee bring warmth to the season. Bold yet balanced, it's the perfect companion for long winter nights.

Omegang Everything Nice

 

Omegang Everything Nice, strong Blonde ale with seasonal spices. 

9 % ABV, 27 IBU, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York. 

Clear, golden, slim white head. 

In the nose: malty, creamy, spicy. Coriander? Ginger? Clove? Sweetness meets spice. 

In the mouth: spice greets the senses first, trips the tongue. Loads of ‘em, with the light body and smooth flavors of a Belgian blonde. And the 9% ABV adds to the fun. 

Lightly dusted with spices of the season, Everything Nice is a warming, wintry Belgian-style blonde ale. This supremely cozy confection pairs perfectly with any traditional holiday treat. Note the flavors of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and white pepper as you sip next to the fireplace. We hope this fresh-baked offering brings warmth and light to you and yours.

Hops: Citra

Malt: Two-Row Barley, Caramel Malt 

Ol’ George #62: The Sign Part 5

 Ol’ George #62: The Sign Part 5

Notes on #62:

1. Maybe you’ve figured it out already, but here’s where we start to see where this storyline is heading. More to come…

Stiegl Sonnenkönig V Imperial Russian Stout Barrel Aged 2018

 Stiegl Sonnenkönig V Imperial Russian Stout Barrel Aged 2018. 50% beer and 50%  beer aged in cherry schnapps barrels. 

9.2 % ABV, 22 IBU, stieglbrauerei zu Salzburg, brewed and bottled in Austria. 

Solid ebony, slim, brown head, full opacity.

In the nose: deep and rich, dark fruits, plums and raisins, ash and smoke, cocoa and coffee. 

In the mouth: plummier, prunier, dark, fruity, funky. Full-bodied, rich and delicious. It’s that cherry schnapps barrel aging coming through. Something I’ve definitely never had before. Slightly tart, but never sour. A touch of tannin. Great balance between sweet and bitter. Elements of both at play. Thoroughly unique and actually delicious. 

Ein mächtiges Russian Imperial Stout ist Fundament des über mehrere Monate im Kirschwasser-Eschenfass gelagerten „Sonnenkönig V.“. Schwarz wie die Nacht beeindruckt das ausladende Bier mit markanten Röstnoten, die aber doch auch Weichseltönen und Holznuancen Raum lassen. Die Erinnerungen an reifen Burgunder kommen nicht von ungefähr, bietet sich Nase und Gaumen doch eine Aromenlandschaft von dunklem Steinobst, Kaffee und schließlich zarten Balsamiconoten. Gemeinsam mit dem alkoholischen Körper tanzen sie den langen letzten Tanz einer majestätischen Ballnacht.

Ol’ George # 61: Santa’s Gonna Be Here

 Ol’ George # 61: Santa’s Gonna Be Here.

Notes on #61: 

1. Tom Waits and Santa Claus both appeared originally last December, in episodes 7 and 9, respectively. Will this be a recurring thing, these two teaming up every holiday? Wouldn’t that be something?

2. I can’t even remember how I came up with this one, though it was only a few days ago. It all came together quite naturally, I assure you. “Jesus Gonna Be Here “ first appeared on Tom Waits’ 1992 album “Bone Machine “. Thirty-three years is enough time for everyone to get around to hearing the record, I think. I’ve only done it once at karaoke. I should do it every night and be known as that one guy who does that one Tom Waits song, instead of what I am, which is the Guy Who’s Done Over 800 songs, most of which no one knows because they’re all from the 60’s and 70’s. 

3. This is a bit of a tribute to Rogue Ales, once upon a time a major force in brewing, now done.  The first beer George is drinking is a Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve, which I was drinking when I started drawing this one. This year’s version, anyway. The label’s get  a bit more abstract as it goes on. 

Lupulin West Coast Bliss West Coast Style Double India Pale Ale

 

Lupulin West Coast Bliss West Coast Style Double India Pale Ale.

9% ABV, Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue, lovely layer of ivory froth.

In the nose: big citrus, with creeping onset of tropical tones. 

In the mouth: soft and peachy, with a bitter buzz beneath. Bitterness crawls up and dominates, with ABV coming after. Getting a panoply of flavors now, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, a flash of pine. Full bodied, fully flavored, giving up the goods. 

Complaint, though: still not dry and bitter enough. Nice try, though. Signed, the picky West Coast IPA fanatic east of the Pecos. 

Born from the same recipe that built Blissful Ignorance, this evolution trades haze for clarity and softness for bite. Mosaic and Citra still shine with tropical fruit and citrus, while Chinook Abstrax and Simcoe Hyperboost bring resinous pine, bright grapefruit, and a crisp finish. Same Bliss, different coast.

Einstök Ölgerö Toasted Porter

 Einstök Ölgerö Toasted Porter.

6% ABV, Einstök Ölgerö, Aukereyrarbaer, Iceland. 

Is the my first Icelandic beer, ever?

Impenetrable, dark brown, toasted tan head. 

In the nose: soft, creamy, malty. Right on the money. 

In the mouth: all the goods are here. Toast and roast, some cocoa, some coffee, rich malt, but never too heavy. Not really robust, more in a brown porter style, easily gulpable. 

Quite nice, this. 

Aromatic coffee from Kaffibrennsla Akureyrar subtly bands together with toasted malt undertones in our Baltic Porter. While dark in color, this classical version of a lagered porter has a medium mouthfeel and dark chocolate notes that result in a smooth on the palate, easy-to-drink brew you'll want to face again and again.

Ol’ George #60: Stupid Sexy Flanders

 Ol’ George #60: stupid sexy Flanders 

Notes on No. 60: 

1. This is one of those strips you may not get if you’ve never shopped the Belgian section of your local liquor store. But, you can “get it” if you understand that George is a cat, and a cat, cartoon or otherwise, will always obey its biological imperative. Who this woman is and why she holds a bird is a mystery I still haven’t uncovered, and I’ve tried. If anyone knows, clue me in. 

2. It just hit me, that I have a sign with a Simpsons reference and a beer style that has inspired many Simpsons references. My favorite was Stupid Sexy Flanders from Fair State. 

I almost did another Bad Kitty sign, but I’m keeping those only to entries in the Saga of the Sign storyline. Number 5 is coming up soon. 

Surly West 1792 Bourbon Barrel aged Doppelbock

 

Surly West 1792 Bourbon Barrel aged Doppelbock.

12% ABV, Surly Brewing, Twin Cities, Minnesota. 

Clouded, deep mahogany hued, utterly opaque, under a slim whitish head.

In the nose: caramel and toffee, vanilla and oak. Hints of cocoa. 

In the mouth: rich, complex, full of malty wonders. Natural flavors of the doppelbock trade time with the sensations of the barrel aging. It all comes together in a wonderfully warming way. Brown sugar and roasted/toasted malt plus vanilla and a comfortable warm of oak and maple. Yum a dum dum. 

Final release in the Bottle Project Compass Series. West takes Surly's Doppelbock (if you attended SurlyFest or Darkness Day, you may have tasted this beauty) and ages it in 1792 Bourbon barrels. The beer's rich, malty character is aided and abetted by the oak and caramel notes of the barrel and its former occupant.

BlackStack Focus Group: Krush

BlackStack Focus Group: Krush. Single Hop West Coast Style IPA. 

7.1 % ABV, BlackStack Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory head. 

In the nose: bold and fruity, pineapple and papaya. Very tropical, with a whiff of dank.

In the mouth:  brash and bitter, on the tongue and on the palate. Aspirin-like astringency leans hard. Light bodied and easy drinking. Some citrus coming around, a prickle of pine. Aroma threw a curve, but we’re getting something close enough to a West Coast IPA that I’m fairly satisfied. 

Not too shabby there. 

Before we get to the beer, I just need to get your opinion on a couple of things. Focusing all of our attentions on Krush Hops, formerly know as Experimental HBC 586. Can I get a show of hands on who's ready to KRUSH one of these bad boys?