Ol’ George #53: It’s the Great Pumpkin Beer, Charlie Brown!

 Ol’ George #53: It’s the Great Pumpkin Beer, Charlie Brown!

Notes on #53: 

1. This was an idea I had a year ago and couldn’t get to, saving it for later. I remembered it after finishing #52, realized it was almost Halloween and decided that this would be the week that I did two in one week, one right after the other. Make up for that one week in June that I skipped. I thought I could do it all in one evening, but, alas, this hand-coloring takes time. 

So, there we go, 53 strips in 13 months. In your face, haters and doubters! 

(Sorry, that makes me sound too much like our current butthead in chief.) 

2. George as a devil was an easy pick, Chester as Aladdin Sane seems out of left field, but I arrived at it naturally. Once I assigned my hatted characters non-hatted costumes, I thought that my hatless character should have one. But, no, Irma is no witch. She is a princess. 

The original version I wrote was a simple joke, but this comes out of Irma’s mouth oozing with sarcasm. 

3. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is an astounding work of art centered around a child’s delusions. Where were the Van Pelts? Did they have no concern for their young son’s mania and his nights in the pumpkin patch, freezing himself, awaiting his imaginary fantasy creation? Where are the Peanuts parents? I hold them complicit! It’s bad enough what happened to Sally, Peppermint Patty, others, but when would the authorities finally become involved? Lucy actually behaves as a parent to Linus, while still allowing his odd beliefs, but in a real world…I wonder when he would give up the idea? You know what? I don’t want to know. 

Ol’ George #52: The Sign (part one)

 Ol’ George #52: The Sign (part one) .

Notes on #52:

1. In 2007, I did a sketch of an ill-tempered cat that I decided to render as an oil painting, something I hadn’t, and still haven’t, done much of. I wasn’t thrilled with the results, despite being satisfied with the basic design, and it went into my closet.

The next year, it inspired me to rework it for another project. I put a hat on his head, gave him a cigar, and this one was done in ink and watercolor. The project I intended the illustration for never saw the light of day, but I liked the work well enough to frame it and keep it on the wall. 

Sixteen years later, I was looking at that picture and got the idea for Ol’ George. The cigar was ditched but he remains hatted and blue. 

In January of this year, I thought about ordering stickers of some of my work and happened to have a pic of Bad Kitty on my phone. Soon, I had 100 Bad Kitty stickers to give to friends and plaster all over the place. A few months ago, I had a friend with better computer graphic skills help me rework the image into something maybe more commercial. Then, it hit me: this could be the logo for George’s new favorite beer! I thought back to a strip I did in July and, the ideas started flowing . There are a few more chapters here. I won’t do them all together, they will be broken up by one shots. 

Later, I realized that I had already shown George drinking a beer called Bad Kitty. Well. We can do two things: pretend this is a prequel or an origin story, or not worry about it. Either option is fine with me. I will not ret-con. 

2. This is the happiest I’ve ever drawn George. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum. 

3. Here we are at #52, under a year after I revealed this project to the world. I will strive to meet my goal of one a week, maybe even two, if I can. Not slowing down. #cat #cartoon #i

Hammerheart Dunkelwald Smoked Dunkelweizen Ale

 

Hammerheart Dunkelwald Smoked Dunkelweizen Ale.

6.1% ABV.

Hammerheart Brewing, Ely, Minnesota. 

Dark brown, nearly opaque, large and lasting cocoa-tinged head. 

In the nose: smoked malt sits right up from the start. Campfires and smoked meats. Dark malts beneath. 

In the mouth: smooth and delicious! Weizen sweetness blends perfectly chocolatey malt goodness, with that hint of smoke right behind. Slight caramel notes. This rides so clean on the palate. 

Ol’ George #51: 86 47

 Ol’ George #51: 86 47

Notes on #51:

1. This is the 3rd time that the star of his own strip has no lines. The first time was #3, which also featured Donald Trump, being kicked out of the Mos Eisley Cantina by bartender Wuher, who speaks the only line. It’s also the only one-panel strip (but won’t be the last). So, there is another bar George visits, but it’s a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. 

2. This one’s been on the hopper awhile, but I was stuck on the ending. Originally I imagined Irma dropping an anvil on his head, but I didn’t want her to be seen as violent. She did once threaten George with a baseball bat, but that was a movie parody and shouldn’t count. Once I put the Portland frog in there, it fell into place. 

It occurred to me that it might come off as a non-sequitor to some, but I’m not worried about that. There will always be some strips that not everyone will get. It occurred to while re-reading Krazy Kat that there are always some that I just won’t get. That’s okay. There’s always the pretty pictures and the shapes and colors. 

3. For the first time, no bird-theme beer ads on the wall (or tongue in cheek slogans), but evidence of the bar’s stance on Budweiser. 

Junkyard Uncle Chuck’s Czech

 

Junkyard Uncle Chuck’s Czech. Czech-style Pilsner lager. 

4.5 % ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, Minnesota.

Crystal clear, bright golden color, slim white head.

In the nose: lovely floral aromatics, beautiful hoppy expression.

In the mouth: fresh and zesty, light-bodied, easy drinking. Hop bitterness stays on the tongue and lasts through the bright, breezy finish. Touch of malt sweetness. Soft mouthfeel. A genuine pleasure.

I don’t drink a lot of pilsners, but I would if they were all as good as this. 

This Czech style Pilsner is the perfect companion for any fishing expedition, even if it's just sitting on the dock with your Uncle Chuck. Brewed with European malts and traditional hop varieties, this easy drinking, light-bodied beer is a fresh interpretation of a flavorful classic.

Ol’ George #50: Krazy He Calls Me

 Ol’ George #50: Krazy He Calls Me 

Note on #50:

1. I got the idea for Ol’ George last September after finishing a biography of “Krazy Kat” creator George Herriman. George takes his name from the cartoonist, as well as his hat-wearing habit, and the”0l’” appellation (though Herriman spelled it “ole”). (And, you may have noticed, no one actually calls him that.)

Over the past year and 49 strips, George has met Snoopy, Popeye, Bill the Cat, Charlie Brown, Cathy, Zippy the Pinhead, Fritz the Cat, Cosmo Cat, and Superman. Also in the past year, I have read and re-read every Krazy Kat volume in my collection, as well as whatever else the library had on hand. After closing the covers on Krazy and Ignatz The Complete Sunday Strips Volume Three 1935-1944, I knew that the only way to make #50 special was finally have George and Krazy meet. 

2. I could go on and on about how remarkable a comic strip Krazy Kat was, but you didn’t come here for that. I am one of those who eagerly and wholeheartedly declare it the greatest strip of all time. If you’ve never read it, I urge you to visit your local library and check out a volume. You have to have a heart ready to receive an enormous amount of whimsy and be able to accept about a dozen or so absurd conceits at once in order to get it. 

3. I realized too late an error. Krazy shouldn’t be saying “we had a tryss (“tryst”)”, it should have been “hed.”

4. For 31 years, Ignatz held an enmity for one resident of Coconino County alone, his hatred aimed only at the fanciful feline. I’m not the only cartoonist to imagine the mouse attacking his hero, brick in hand. Charles Schulz did so in the early ‘50’s. But he had Charlie Brown emitting a “heart react”, like Krazy would. I just couldn’t see George responding that way. Instead, his addled bean makes him sing Krazy’s favorite song. 

Venn Basic Decency Pale Ale

 Venn Basic Decency Pale Ale.

5% ABV, Venn Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Clear, light amber-hued, slim white head.

In the nose: basic hoppiness, basic slight citrus. 

In the mouth: starts out mild, moves quick into clean hoppiness, delightful citrus, minor grapefruit and major lemon/lime. Nice and easy on the palate, crisp and refreshing, highly likable. 

Ol’ George #49: (title forthcoming)

 

Ol’ George #49: (title forthcoming)

Notes on #49

1. Vern, I’m sorry George called your beloved pup a “dumb mutt.” I can’t control him sometimes. 

2. There are nearly 20 beers out there with a “snozzberry” theme, most of them fruited sours. Geni’s is a Belgian lambic, and has been around since last week when I drew George drinking one on a birthday card for my friend Winona. She gets credit for naming Irma after writer Erma Bombeck, because bartenders give advice, as did E.B. I switched the spelling because I’s are easier to write than E’s. 

Junkyard Festbier Lager Bier

 Junkyard Festbier Lager Bier. 

Well, it’s October, perfect time to drink up some Oktoberfests. Twenty six more days for märzens! What, they’re taking down the tents in Munich? Whaddaya mean? 

5.3 % ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN. 

Clear, golden hued, ivory head. 

In the nose: herbal, floral, some slight sweetness. 

In the mouth: clean, light bodied, and exceptionally malty. Exquisitely drinkable, robustly flavorful. I am slowly but surely coming over to the Festbier style. It certainly has its charms. 

FESTBIER is our take on a crushable and crispy German style lager that will keep the party going!

With its smooth body, light mouth feel along with a stronger hop presences than our Junktoberfest, this will keep any classic celebration rolling into the wee hours of the morning

Headflyer California Love West Coast IPA

 Headflyer California Love West Coast IPA. 

7% ABV, 55 IBU, HeadFlyer, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue, fine layer of ivory froth atop.

In the nose: highly hopped, prickly pine and citrus. Just right. 

In the mouth: starts out largely bitter and packed with grapefruit and lemon. Dry, brittle, beautiful. Clean, crisp, light bodied. Non-stop hoppiness. This one delivers.

I passed on a 4-pack because I wanted to try out this free sample first. Now, I’m going to make sure I get more next time I see it. Well-done West Coast. 

Wooden Ship Sparky’s Gone Rogue American IPA

 

Wooden Ship Sparky’s Gone Rogue American IPA.

Vera hops, terpenes. 5.3 % ABV, Wooden Ship Brewing, Minneapolis, MN. 

Crimson colored, lightly hazed, slim white head. 

In the nose: soft and fruity, with an encroaching certain something. Dankness is coming….

In the mouth: fruity at the front, with practically no bitterness, something I look forward to in an IPA. Soft, light bodied, easy drinking, but lacking in character. I keep trying to like it, but it’s coming up short. Not sure what they’re going for, but I’m not digging it. 

An IPA made with Vera hops, as well as OG Kush and Sour Tangie terpenes!