Ol’ George #10: Time and a Bottle

 

Notes on #10: 

1. This is the sixth week in a row that I have started a strip on a Sunday, finished it on a Monday, and showed it to the world on Tuesday. It’s a project conceived in September, begun in October and proceeded with in earnest in November. The year ends on a nice round number. Ten down, who knows how many to go. I am happy about that.

2. Father Time ends the streak of George’s hatted drinking buddies. Will Baby New Year begin a new one? 

3. George’s beer of choice tonight is Robinson’s Old Tom, an English Old Ale that I once had the pleasure of putting on tap at the Blue Nile years ago. Unfortunately, it is no longer available in this market, or this country for all I now. It was named for the brewery’s cat, who has appeared on every label. 

Happy New Year, everyone!

Ol’ George #9: He Said Ho, Ho, Ho...

 

Fat Orange Cat Winter Warmer

 Fat Orange Cat Winter Warmer. 

7% ABV, ale with spices. Fat Orange Cat Brew Co., New Haven, CT.

Dark brown color, leaning into black, cocoa toned head above. 

In the nose: nice and roasty toasty. Notes of ginger, malt, vanilla. Comfy-cozy are we. 

In the mouth: flavors of gingerbread, cocoa and marshmallows, spiced Christmas cookies all leap out and play on the palate. Crisp, smooth, delicious. Dark fruits jump into the fray, mixing up with spices. Full bodied and fully flavored. 

One of my favorite new winter warmers of recent memory. I’m going back for more before it’s gone. 

Pryes Drops of Time Whiskey Barrel Aged English Barleywine

 Pryes Drops of Time Whiskey Barrel Aged English Barleywine. 

11.1% ABV, 23 IBU, Pryes Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Cleanish, dark burgundy hue, beneath a slim ivory cap. 

In the nose: rich malt, caramel, dark fruit, cherry, leather…touch of vanilla…everything I like in a Barleywine.

In the mouth: big and boozy, rich and malty, more caramel and vanilla, whiskey cones forward and grabs the reins. It starts as little sparks and culminates in a lovely cacophony, merging into sweet harmony. Magnificent. 

The tradition of brewing English Barleywine has been a part of Pryes Brewing since our very beginning. Drops of Time marks the zero hour of our return to brewing and bottling this historic style, and it is well worth the wait. Rich toffee, sticky caramel, and vanilla barrel characteristics come by way of a long boil, an extended aging time in rye whiskey and bourbon barrel, and blending this concoction at the exact right moment. Time is of the essence, and Drops of Time is the reward for our patience.

Allagash Tripel Belgian-style Ale

 Allagash Tripel Belgian-style Ale. 

9% ABV, 18 IBU, Allagash Brewing, Portland, ME. 

After more than 20 years, Allagash is back in Minnesota. Can those guys hold a grudge! Just because one distributor in a particular state goes out of business and owes you thousands of dollars, it doesn’t mean they all will. 

So, I’m returning to this beer that I first took notes on back in 2003, but forget about those. New notes this time.

Clear, with slight chill haze, bright golden, large ivory froth.

In the nose: citrus and spice, orange and coriander. Slight sweetness.

In the mouth: more spice tingling the palate. High alcohol warms up the insides. Pleasant hopping keeping the mouth happy. Medium bodied, thoroughly enjoyable. 

An altogether excellent take on this Belgian style. Good stateside renditions are rare and I’m overjoyed that we have back. (And in 6-packs!)

This strong golden ale carries herbal notes and passion fruit in the aroma. Suggestions of honey and biscuit are found in the beer's complex, varied palate. Brewed with our 2-row barley blend, hopped with Nugget and Hallertau, then fermented on our house yeast, Tripel offers up a complex, yet dry finish.

Ol’ George#8: He Said No, No, No

 

Ol’ George#8: He Said No, No, No…

Notes on #8: 

1. George does not believe in a higher power. As long as he can reach the barstool, he’s fine.

2. George is not a fool, nor an ignoramus. He’s strictly a smart aleck. Not everyone gets the joke, though, especially when part of the punchline never leaves his brain. 

3. This strip has nothing to do with my disdain for hazy IPAs. I just needed a funny IPA name. Did you know that there isn’t a Golden Fluff beer out there anywhere?Doesn't seem right. 

4. Poor Irma. To have a regular like George can really try your patience. By the way, she is supposed to be an emu, but I don’t think I have nailed that visually just yet, so let’s just say that she’s a sub-tropical flightless avian, with the patience of a saint. 

Castle Danger West Coast IPA

 Castle Danger West Coast IPA.

7% ABV, Castle Danger Brewing, Two Harbors, Minnesota. 

I’m at the last can of the six pack, time for note-taking. Or, my procrastination imp whispers into my ear, just drink it up and buy more tomorrow. Nope, not today, imp!

Clear, bright golden toned, fresh ivory head atop.

In the nose: burst of hop aroma from the start, citrus and pine aplenty. All the things I like. 

In the mouth: brisk, bitter, dank and dry. Perfect West Coast, light bodied, just enough malt, just enough out of balance. Grapefruit, lemon, lime and pine paint the palate. Delicious hop bitterness hangs long on the palate. 

Okay, I will definitely get some more of this, gonna add it to the regular rotation. Need to reward these guys for making it a year-round. 

Meet our West Coast IPA! Immerse yourself in a medley of citrus, pine, and resin, embracing the authentic West Coast hop experience. Picture savoring the bold blend of grapefruit, zesty orange, and a hint of pine resin, creating a taste sensation that’s pure West Coast. With a crisp and bitter finish that hits the mark, our West Coast IPA embodies the classic flavors that make this style iconic. Here’s to bringing the West Coast vibes to the North Shore!

Off Color Beer for Power Plays Baltic Porter

 Off Color Beer for Power Plays Baltic Porter. 

7.5 % ABV, Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Il. 

Dark brown color with ruby highlights, cocoa BBC toned head, utterly opaque. 

In the nose: malty, creamy, nutty. Highly likable.

In the mouth: dark, smooth, rich and surprisingly drinkable. Well, I’m not surprised, but I bet someone is…Slightly sweet, barely bitter, and a joy to quaff. Quite delightful.?

They don’t call this a Baltic Porter anywhere, but they should. “Baltic-style dark lager?” Give me a break! 

At a feisty 7.5% ABV, our Baltic Style Strong Dark Lager hits hard enough to put you in the penalty box for a five minute major.

MALTS: Pils, Munich, Extra Special, Dark Roasted

HOPS: Nugget, Saaz

SECRET INGREDIENTS: Ice Cold Lagering

Dangerous Man New Zealand Pilsner

 Dangerous Man New Zealand Pilsner.

5.4% ABV, 30 IBU, Dangerous Man Brewing, Maple Lake, Minnesota.

Clear, golden hued, large ivory head. 

In the nose: nicely hopped, floral notes, slight fruitiness. 

In the mouth: brief blast of bitterness, then comes the grapes. New Zealand hops always give off a white wine character and this beer has it aplenty. Light bodied, crisp and clean, with unflagging hop flavors. Easy drinking, highly enjoyable. 

This New Zealand Pilsner is a light-medium body and smooth lager brewed featuring unique New Zealand hops.  A crackery malt base provides support for this very drinkable, refreshing and hop-forward pilsner, really letting the New Zealand hops shine with bright notes of citrus, melon, tropical fruits, grass, and white grape.

Ol’ George #7: It’s Tom, Tom, Tom…

 Ol’ George #7: It’s Tom, Tom, Tom…

Notes on #7;

1. I was thinking of another idea for #7, but when I realized that Thomas Alan Waits (born Dec. 7, 1949, Pomona, California) had just celebrated his 75th birthday, I bumped this one up.

2. In this seventh installment, Tom is George’s 5th drinking buddy, the second based on a real human being and the second one drinking root beer and not real beer. I don’t know if Tom actually drinks that beverage, but if his wife Kathleen hadn’t made him quit the sauce all those years ago, he probably wouldn’t have made it to the present anniversary and we’d be without so many great songs. 

3. Tom’s quote is not of his own invention, but he speaks the line to Martin Mull and Fred Willard in a 1977 episode of “Fernwood Tonight” after singing “The Piano Has Been Drinking.” Look it up on YouTube, it’s hilarious. Some say it was first spoken by Tommy Smothers on “The Smothers Brothers” TV show, others say Dorothy Parker originated it, but I can’t nail down the truth. 

4. The punchline is just an excuse for George to make reference to a certain film about a man for his times that I’ve seen probably a hundred times. The cowboy on the label is another clue (hint: it’s not Wilford Brimley.) And if you still don’t get it…obviously, you’re not a golfer. 

5. Tom carries on another tradition of George’s drinking buddies. They all wear hats. (In Snoopy’s case, a flight helmet.) Will they all remain hatted? Who can say? 

Ol’ George #6: He Drinks His Spinach

 Notes on #6:

1. Popeye the Sailor Man entered the scene on January 17, 1929, (almost 96 years ago!)in a episode of Thimble Theater by Elzie Crisler Segar, hired by his future sweetie’s brother, Castor Oyl, to sail a ship carrying he, his stowaway sister, and her then-boyfriend Ham Gravy away from the men trying to capture his African Whiffle hen with lucky powers. That’s why  you come here, for comics trivia, right?

2. I thought “spinach saison” was a good joke, but it surely exists. A brewery in Derbyshire, England called Popeye’s made one called I Eats My Spinach. Although, if you scan the pics on Untappd, it’s an IPA called I Eats Me Spinach. Sometimes the beer appears to be green.

The whole spinach thing was not a part of Segar’s work. It was made up for the animated cartoons. Segar wrote Popeye’s laugh as Arf, Arf, Aff, though the voice actor rendered it as Ack, Ack, Ack! 

Edit: Having just read a 1932 Sunday where Popeye proclaims his love of spinach, I must admit I have it wrong up there. But it definitely exaggerated in the animated films. 

More comics trivia! You’re welcome!

3. The bird, by the way, was a gift to Castor from he and Olive’s uncle, Lubry Kent Oyl. Elzie Segar, cartoon genius!

Schell’s Northland Gold

 Schell’s Northland Gold. 

4.9 % ABV, Schell’s Brewing, Nee Ulm, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, large white head. 

In the nose: fresh, clean, slightly malty, thoroughly noble.

In the mouth: crisp, light-Schell’s Northland Gold bodied, easy drinking. Classic Helles lager. Minor hopping. Exceptionally refreshing. I don’t mind this one at all. 

Introducing Schell's Northland Gold, a delightful Session Lager crafted to perfection for moments of easy enjoyment. This radiant beer pours a deep golden hue, capturing the essence of the Northland's rich landscapes.