Hammerheart The Harpy’s Talon Black IPA or Cascadian Dark Ale

 Hammerheart The Harpy’s Talon Black IPA or Cascadian Dark Ale.

6.4 % ABV, Hammerheart Brewing, Ely, Minnesota. 

Full-on darkness, complete opacity, slim cocoa rim up top. 

In the nose; roasty/toasty malty, with bright grassy hoppiness popping up. Ah, slurping chocolate milk off the forest floor! That’s what I’m talking about! 

In the mouth: full-bodied, rich and delicious. Exactly how I want a black IPA to be. Just about perfect. Pine needles and hoppy blasts mingling with dark malts. Deeelicious. No notes. Once again, I wish I’d bought a second 4-pack. Pretty, pretty good. 

Hammerheart The Harpy’s Talon Black IPA or Cascadian Dark Ale. A dark ale honoring Cascadian black metal legends SKAGOS. A blend of rich dark malts, Alder, Cherry and Beechwood smoked malt, with Warrior and Cascade hops.

Off Color Waddle Oktoberfest Lager (Märzen)

 Off Color Waddle Oktoberfest Lager (Märzen).

6.5 % ABV, Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Illinois. 

Clear, copper colored, slim white head. 

In the nose: malty, herbal, slightly sweet. Lovely stuff. 

In the mouth: rich, malty, clean, tasty. Mild hoppiness, Tasty, smooth, easy drinking’. Not too shabby there. 

I still don’t know what an accordion playing walrus and a märzen adds up to “waddle”. It’s best not to question. 

A fest beer to celebrate the wedding of one of our favorite twenty employees! Brewed in the classic style of an Oktoberfest lager, except if you see it after October, then it is a Marzen.

Ol’ George #99

 Ol’ George #99

Notes:

1. I feel as if I shouldn’t and yet I must explain this one a little. Here we go. 95 had Balonious admit he was 86’d from Wilting Turnip. 96 showed how that happened, while introducing the concept that the world of George and Kelly’s is unique unto itself. 97 had George complain that he wasn’t in 96. In our last, 98, George complains to I, the creator, Irma joins in with her own issues, and somehow, two other characters, Chester and Gavin, know that I am the one to bring their concerns. 

And here was my crossroads. End it there, leave it alone, go no further, or find a way to link it to #100? I knew what I wanted #100 to be, the fifth installment of Fine Art Funnies. (Still a secret.) I found the path. Balonious learned he was a character in a comic strip back in #35..:did he tell the others? It becomes an untenable situation. So, what happens in the penultimate panel? It all goes back into the inkwell. My reality is undone. There is some confusion and perhaps remorse at the end. Not from George, though, who has survived the purge. George is eternal. 

Is this the end? Don’t be silly. Just wait and see. 

2. I don’t use a bottle of ink often. I mainly employ pens and markers. The figures of Balonious, Geni, Riblet and Cuddles are all inked with a brush marker, which sets their look apart. The penultimate panel uses a brush and India ink, for the lines and squiggles. 

3. Last week, I drew myself without glasses, this week with, what gives? That’s just how I am, they’re on, they’re off, etc etc. 

Ol’ George #98

 Ol’ George #98

Notes:

1. I only wanted to give Balonious a new hat. And now we’re on part four, #99 being a bridge taking us to #100, which …won’t be a conclusion or an epilogue. It’ll be something. 

2. This is my third appearance in the strip. First was #35, where I took over the Bugs Bunny role from Chuck Jones’ “Duck Amuck.” Number two was #66 from last January, in which I discussed my preference for chilling a glass of whiskey. 

But I’ve never appeared five times, with my main characters only three times. Something new for everybody. 

3. What happens next? Just wait, you’ll see! Ain’t ya got no patience? 

Firestone Walker Diesel Thunder Double IPA

 Firestone Walker Diesel Thunder Double IPA. 

8% ABV, 43 IBU, Firestone Walker, Paso Robles, CA. 

Clear, bright golden, slim ivory head. 

In the nose: citrus and pine aplenty, with a dot of sweetness. Bright and brimming with hoppiness.

In the mouth: big time bitterness, large and on charge. Plays lovingly on the palate, citrusy sensations loll about the mouth. Lot of grit and grab here, plenty of juice, but mostly dry. Bitter, dry, and strong, just the way I like it. 

I got this in a variety pack, but it’s now released in its own 6-pack, so I’m going back for more. 

Born at the Propagator, this limited-edition beer is a big, bold, and brimming with bright tropical and berry notes with a cannabis diesel hop intensity. A rare taste of our small-batch innovation at full throttle.

Moose Lake Bear Den vanilla porter

 Moose Lake Bear Den vanilla porter.

5.1% ABV, 31 IBU, Moose Lake Brewing, Moose Lake, MN. 

Thoroughly black, absolutely opaque, slim brown layer of foam. 

In the nose: roasted malt, coffee, touch of vanilla coming through.

In the mouth: rich and full, deep roast, coffee and toast. And here comes vanilla, but never too much. Full bodied with a long, malty finish. 

You know what, though? I could use a little more vanilla. 

Arbeiter Schwarzwald Cascadian Dark Ale

 Arbeiter Schwarzwald Cascadian Dark Ale.

6.3 % ABV, 54 IBU, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Dark brown color, nearly black, with a lush, tan head. Almost opaque. 

In the nose: chocolate in the  park, grass stains on cocoa. Just lovely. 

In the mouth: there we go! Nicely hoppy, wonderfully malty. All that described from the nose resides on the tongue. Beautifully bitter, resonantly, deliciously hoppy, riding ona sea of dark, chocolates. Rich, full-bodied, indulgently tasty. Top notch Black IPA, I mean,er, ah…

If you like this review and want to try this beer,I’m afraid it’s long gone from the brewery. I sat on this can too long. Sorry. I keep trying to get better…

Throwback style! We’re hell-bent on helping bring back the Black IPA…erm….Cascadian Dark Ale…whatever it’s called, we call it DELICIOUS. Scharzwald is the German name for the “Black Forest” and we thought it a fitting name. Slightly citrusy, slightly piney, and all the way black it’s a perfect beer to be named Schwarzwald!

Dual Citizen OverstoryWest Coast Double IPA

 Dual Citizen OverstoryWest Coast Double IPA. 

9% ABV, Dual Citizen Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden, slim white head. 

In the nose: citrus and pine galore.plenty of dank on hand. 

In the mouth: oily hop goodness spreads all over the palate, dropping citrus and stone fruit. Intense and increasingly alcoholic Alpha acids all over the place. Nice and dry, with judicious amounts of bitterness. 

Top notch.

West Coast Style with notes of Pine, Tropical Fruit, and Orange Marmalade

Ol’ George #97: Star of the Show

Ol’ George #97: Star of the Show

Notes on 97: 

1. George is an asshole, we all know it. I know it, you know it, he knows it. But you got to love the guy! 

2. I have to cut a lot of stuff out in order to fit the format. Maybe someday I’ll do a long, several page length story on comic book size paper, instead of this Sunday funnies style and shape? Just watch me, I’ll do it! 

Ol’ George 96: He Ain’t Crazy,, He’s Just Drawn That Way

 Ol’ George 96: He Ain’t Crazy,, He’s Just Drawn That Way

Notes: 

1. Last week, I said we weren’t going to do this. And then, I changed my mind. It was too good of an idea to pass up. But it opens a lot of questions. Are the gang at Kelly’s figments of Balonious’ fermented mind? No, they’re real….in their reality. Is Balonious dimension hopping? Does he know that he is? He only discovered that he’s a cartoon 61 episodes ago. How much more can a beer geek take?

2. I was going to have the male beertender call him by his real name (Nevin Coolidge) and shout at him that “cats can’t talk!” but there was no room. I’m happy with how it turned out.

3. I named the TDH TIPA (for those unaware, triple dry hopped triple India pale ale)that BF is drinking the way I assume they all are, by pulling a Sci-Fi novel off my shelf and randomly flipping through. Though it resulted in a very un-Sci-Fi result.

4. The traits that I have so far given to Chester  have included his love of Grain Belt and cartooning. I never mentioned his musicianship, but playing accordion on the streets and bridges of Minneapolis were how the real-life Chester supported his life in an encamped under the 10th St. Bridge. I imagine that accordions are hard to draw. I’ll have to try some time. 

Lupulin Performance Jorts West Coast style IPA

 Lupulin Performance  Jorts West Coast style IPA.

6.7 % ABV, Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, Minnesota.

Clear, bright golden hue, white cap above. 

In the nose: oh, very nice! A little fruity, a touch of sweet, dominated by dank. Tropical notes, with a dry edge. 

In the mouth: crisp and clean. Tropical notes served well in the nose are absent on the palate. It’s all dry and bitter, but never too. Medium bodied, long,bitter finish. Quite delicious. My kind of IPA.

Some athletes train for years. Others just put on their jorts. Performance Jorts proves that greatness comes in many forms, bringing the same fearless confidence and hop-forward attitude wherever the adventure leads. A West Coast-style IPA built to make waves.

Beer Club Brewing Perfect Ten

 Beer Club Brewing Perfect Ten.Belgian Strong Dark Ale. 

10% ABV, 20 IBU, Beer Club Brewing, Mora, Minnesota. 

Dark and murky, thoroughly opaque, slim brown head. 

In the nose: sweetness from the start, caramel malt is key with a judicious use of Belgian Special B. Deeee-lightful. 

In the mouth: effortlessly smooth and tasty. Malt-drive all the way and appropriately delicious. Full bodied, long malty finish. Perfectly balanced for the style. At first I was thinking it was a dubbel, but this is closer to a quad. Strength starts ringing in, but I left this for a nightcap. I am a professional. Do not try this at home without supervision. 

I will slowly savor this into the night as beddy bye time approaches. And dream of the day of my next visit. I’m coming,Mora, don’t know when, but I’m a comin’!