Ol’ George #11: Mind Your P’s

 

Notes on #11: 

1. Chester is back, after his first appearance in the first strip from way back in October/November. I’d forgotten that he always wore a button bedecked vest. I hope that every time he appears, I get a little better at drawing him. Of course, that’s my general, every day wish about everything.

2. Ditto Irma the bartender, in her 4th appearance.

3. I thought the “peanut butter pickle” was weird enough to gag George, but sure enough there are several of those out there, but none is a Porter.

Barn Town Brewing in W. Des Moines canned PB Pickle Tickle Blonde Ale, which poured a bright green and seemed to be liked. 74 check-ins on Untapped, 3.25 average.

Lagunitas made a PBP pils for a Strange Beer Frstival. Several people reported getting neither flavor. 12 check ins. 2.17 average.

Martin House Brewing of Fy. Worth, TX made one as a Gose. One commenter said it didn’t work as a sour. 4 check ins.

Craft Life of Hudson, FL did a PB Dill Cream ale. Also 4 check ins.

I can’t come up with a weird beer without discovering it already exists. Maybe someone will take a pickle beer (my store has two in stock, by Oliphant and by Destihl) and a PBP and combine them, tell me how it tastes. Too bad that I finished a Destihl PBP a few days ago, could’ve kept it “in the family”, so to speak. 

Belching Beaver West Bestern West Coast IPA

 Belching Beaver West Bestern West Coast IPA. Brewed with Simcoe, mosaic, strata & Idaho 7 hops.

7 % ABV,  91 IBU, Belching Beaver Brewing, Oceanside, CA. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large, lace-leaving ivory froth.

In the nose: grapefruit, lemon and pine. Bold citrus hop bouquet.

In the mouth: brisk blast of bitterness on the palate, slowly turning down and finishing dry. Lean bodied and loaded with hops. Approachable for the style, though: an easy drinker with a consistent hoppy edge. Ends crisp, dry, fruity, delicious. 

Road trips. Beer festivals. Airport bars. Celebrations. 2 AM taco runs. Some things are just best enjoyed with friends – and for this West Coast IPA we’ve combined forces with some of the Best-in-the-West for this 3-way brew collaboration, Westbound & Down Brewing Company and Craft Coast Beer & Tacos. A resinous IPA loaded with Mosaic, Simcoe, Strata, and Idaho 7 hops that showcases exactly what makes the West best. Grab a friend, crack some cans, and stay a while. We’ll leave the light on.

Arbeiter Julebukk Black Cherry Imperial Stout

 Arbeiter Julebukk Black Cherry Imperial Stout. 2023. 

11.3 % ABV, 64 IBU, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Been sitting on this for a year. Time to crack it open.  

Full ebony appearance, large cocoa brown head, immensely opaque. 

In the nose: roasty malt, deep and dark, with dark fruit rolling out from under. Smoke and oak blends with chocolate. 

In the mouth: big malt, rich cocoa, slight smoke, and cherry hiding in the back. Wait. Spoke too soon. Here it comes…coming in tart, bright, fruity. Nice. Increasingly delightful. This actually makes me wish it were colder outside. 

Victory Merry Monkey

 Victory Merry Monkey. Belgian/style ale with cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg.

10 % ABV, 35 IBU, Victory Brewing, Downington, PA. 

Christmas is long over, the New Year in full swing, what better time to cozy up with a holiday ale?

Clear, with an odd complexion..,dark orange? Ruddy red? Light burgundy? With a brief white head. 

In the nose…sweet, fruity, tart, spicy. Quite a lot going on. Rather delightful.

In the mouth: holiday spices lead the surge. Gingerbread dunked in cranberry juice. Orange peel shows itself, mingled with nutmeg, all on top of a tripel, the most of which remains is the alcohol level. A warming, and charming,

This Belgian-style Holiday Ale combines the beloved flavor profile of Golden Monkey with notes of cranberry, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg to deliver a delightfully smooth finish, perfect for merry gatherings with family and friends.

Dangerous Man Rye IPA

 

Dangerous Man Rye IPA.

6.5 % ABV, 55 IBU, Dangerous Man Brewing, Maple Lake, Minnesota. 

Clear and copper-y colored, under a large , lusivory head. 

In the nose: hoppy, malty, spicy, an intriguing mix. Rye dominates, but I dig it. Earthy, slightly sweet.

In the mouth: bright hoppiness, small bitterness, quickly swallowed up by rye malt sweet and spice. Bready, earthy, hearty. Loads of character and flavor in this, a style rarely attempted. Not my favorite style of IPA, but I can appreciate it and I’m glad someone trots one out once in a while. 

Summit Saga Juicy IPA

 Summit Saga Juicy IPA. 

5.2 % ABV, 55 IBU, Summit Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Clear, golden hued, bright ivory head atop.

In the nose: lovely hopping, citrus and spices notes.

In the mouth: nice bit of bitterness up front, sliding off a tad near the end of the swallow. The juicy part rises up on the palate and blends with the bitter. Swims happily in the mouth, goes down nice and easy, but never lets you forget it’s an IPA. Ends dryly. Highly likable. 

Currently only available in the Saga Goddess Series variety pack.