Summit Saga Sensation IPA.
5.2% ABV, 55 IBU, Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN.
From the Summit Saga Goddess Series variety pack. What makes a “sensation IPA” and how does one join the Saga brand family? That is what we endeavor to discover.
Clear, golden hued, bright ivory head, long lasting.
In the nose: slightly citrus aromatics.
PIn the mouth: blasts of bitterness, altogether dry. Easy drinking. Medium bodied, just a touch juicy, but mostly brittle and dry. I rather like it.
Hammerheart Jormungandr’s. Rye Pale Ale.
7.5!% ABV, Hammerheart Brewing, Ely, Minnesota.
I’ve had this one twice before this 4-pack, when it was called Jormungandersblod. In May of 2016, at the brewery taproom, and two years later, when I tapped it Acadia Cafe. Neither was an occasion for note taking. Let’s take care of that at last, with, again, the final can.
Murky, brownish, beige ring of foam.
In the nose: slight smoke, bigger caramel, and then along comes rye. Spicy rye malt notes emerge. Just lovely.
In the mouth: more maltiness floods the palate. Rich, robust, smooth, delicious. Nice bitterness throughout. Never quite quits and blends wonderfully with earthy, peppery malts.
Another Hammerheart beer that I fully enjoyed.
Little Thistle Export Stout.
4.2 % ABV, 22 IBU, Little Thistle Brewing, Rochester, MN.
Solid blackness, utterly opaque, slim brown head.
In the nose: malty, sweet, roasted notes.
In the mouth: sweetness on the palate, smooth, caramel-y, notes of toffee, coffee. Medium bodied, exceptionally easy drinking. Very tasty.
I’d happily go back for more.
Collaboration with Modist Brewing. Export Stout. Notes of chocolate and coffee, designed to have several. Inspired by the original.
Ol’ George #33: Balonious’ Funk
Notes on #33:
1. Another one I’ve had in the hopper for a while. Couldn’t decide on an ending. I’m happy with this one.
2. George doesn’t tolerate beer geek wishy-washiness. If it’s a beer, you drink it. (Unless it’s peanut butter pickle porter.)
3. “Is it true?” Some may ask about Balonious’ dialogue. To each their own! I just grabbed some random hop names. Feel however you want to. “Ew, Mosaic tastes like onions…” As George told him in his first appearance, you be you, Sonny Jim…up to a point.
4. Too late, Irma! By the way, the last time I drew Irma, I forgot her apron, leaving her naked behind the bar. Let’s forget that happened.
4.7% ABV, Junkyard Brewing, Moorhead, MN.
Clear-ish, golden-hued, skim white head.
In the nose: got the coco-, got the nut. Big time toasted.
In the mouth: loaded with coconut, light bodied, easy-drinking. Solid cream ale base. Not too much else to say. If you like coconut, go for it. If you’re like Charlie Brown and every other character in Peanuts, stay away.
This coconut cream ale is brewed with toasted coconut and is sure to transport you to paradise!
Notes on #32:
1. This is the fourth in the series where George meets representatives of beers, assesses them in front of them, and delivers a smart ass response. I knew I wanted to do Rasputin, as a fan of the beer for oh, 25 years, at least, but couldn’t think of a gag. Until I heard a coworker sing the song. Thanks, Ezra!
2. All of these strips so far have been inked with felt tip pens and markers. When I was younger, I tried to do everything with nib pens and brushes, like my cartoonist heroes, but wasn’t always successful. One of these days I’m going to give myself enough time to do one all with brush and that’ll be great.
A couple weeks ago, I did my first Ol’ George illustration inked with brush and colored with watercolor. This will be available as a sticker that I will be giving out in person while supplies last.
I intend to redo it and make the new version available for sale in a variety of forms on a website very soon. Hold yer horses, the George merch is coming!
Steel Toe Worn Sole Imperial Alt.
8.5 % ABV, Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN.
Dark brown color, slim tan head, nearly opaque.
In the nose: cocoa, coffee, caramel. Slightly sweet.
In the mouth: more of the same on the palate, rich and robust. Practically delicious. Full bodied. This brings to mind the king of this style, the Urrige Doppelsticke. That’s a compliment.
It’s been gone for a bit, and I deeply regret not buying more than one six pack. So very tasty.
Aromas of dark caramel, toffee, raisin, and slight spice.
Notes on #31:
1. This was one of the first ideas I came up with, way back in October. Something was nagging me about it, though. It seemed like Norm joke from “Cheers.” I’ve seen every episode, so perhaps it burrowed into my brain. I had to be sure of it, but I wasn’t going to watch them all over again. I searched the internet and watched YouTube compilations. Nothing came up. Okay, I did my due diligence. When George Wendt passed away last week, I added the second half.
2. During my deep dive of YouTube, encountered a clip that demonstrated that my strip #13 from January apparently plagiarized Cheers. In their version, Frasier recites “The Raven” and states “that was Poe”, whereupon Coach tells him “don’t be modest, it was great.” I swear I’d forgotten all about it.
3. The laugh track joke I stole from myself. Way back in my high school newspaper comic strip, “Lenny.” I don’t have copies to prove it, though. Steal from the best, am I right?
Notes on #30
1. Wait, what kind of a bar serves dogs, talking cats, and giant cockroaches? Where’s the health department? We’re in a different world here, people. Repeat to yourself, it’s just a comic strip, I should mreally just relax.
2. This might be out of character for Ol’ George. Sitting on the patio means leaving Irma alone inside the bar. Depriving her of his jokes and smartassery. It probably won’t happen again, I did it just for this gag.
3. At first, I wanted to call the big bug Greg, a nod to Frank Kafka’s unfortunate Gregor Samsa, who was turned into some manner of insect in the short story “The Metamorphosis.” But I finally won an argument with myself in favor of bringing out a character I created in my teenage years. Cuddles was pet to the eccentric Granny Giuseppe, and there were possibly other characters. Unless someone can prove otherwise, I wrote stories about these characters, but never published them, or showed them to anyone. I drew them, but never made comics about them. Again, maybe I did, can’t remember, and all evidence is lost. Maybe Granny will appear soon? Is this the beginning of....the Alniverse?!?
Notes on #29:
1. Nothing to explain, just George being a smart ass again, getting Irma’s goat. And she always starts out so positive. One of these days, George, one of these days…
2. We haven’t seen Riblet in 24 episodes. I had intended to use him as more of a regular character, but I haven’t pinned down his look. I’m sure his Mama don’t mind.
3. If you look look back at Balonious’ previous appearances, there isn’t a human among the crowd. (Wait, I’ve never drawn a crowd…some day..) He’s never made Chester’s acquaintance. He wasn’t there to see Tom Waits, Thelonious Monk, Santa Claus, David Lynch, or that couple doing Dry January. He doesn’t even know that…whoops, I’m getting ahead of myself…
Three Floyds Chain Sword Extra Pale Ale.
5% ABV, Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, Indiana.
From the latest variety pack.
Clear, golden hued, short white head.
In the nose: slightly citrusy, brisk and lively.
In the nose: lemon and lime lead the charge on the palate. Crisp and clean, light bodied and refreshing, with an incessant bitterness that pleases the tongue. Goes down nice and smooth. Highly likable.
Not as clumsy or random as other extra pale ales, Chain Sword was brewed with Golden Promise Malt and El Dorado hops - an elegant beer for a more civilized age
9% ABV, 90 IBU, Inbound BrewCo., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Clear, bright golden hue, small white head.
In the nose: floral, fruity, hoppy, citrusy with a drop of the tropical.
In the mouth: bitterness and dank fruity flavors set the palate ablaze. Slightly sticky icky. It’s got the hops. Tantalizing. Full-bodied, generously flavored, a true hophead’s delight.
So, congrats, Inbound, on nine years, though I can’t condone the spelling error on the label. (“Fruit Loop-esk”? Oh, brother!)
This is one I will probably return to before it disappears.
9th Anniversary double West Coast IPA. We took our Fruit of the Loop recipe and jacked it up to 9%. We then applied the same quantity of hops we’d add to a 30bbl batch and crammed them in to a 15bbl tank. The result is absurdly hoppy and dangerously easy drinking.
Oliphant Snail Pale Pale Ale.
5% ABV, Oliphant Brewing, Somerset, Wisconsin.
Collaboration with Sea Salt Eatery, Minnehaha Falls on the shell limns the connection.
Clear, bright golden / orange hue, fine white froth rests atop.
In the nose: bright citrus zest, bold orange and grapefruit. Perfect.
In the mouth: bitterness greets the palate, kisses the lips and coats the tongue. Fiercely hoppy, fresh and expertly drinkable. Medium to light bodied. Long, bittersweet finish. Infinitely enjoyable.
I’ll tell you this, people: I don’t know how pale ales fell out of favor, but it’s got to stop. There ain’t nothing like a good one, and this one is that.
In Collaboration with those saltwater sweeties over at Sea Salt Eatery in MPLS, this pale ale drinks like it would've over a decade ago. A little malty, a little bitter and hoppy; most of all, delish! Snail on chums!
Notes on #28:
1. I’d just like to point out that this is week 25 of finishing a strip by Monday night, six months running. I’m really proud of that. (The first three don’t count. #1 was done in early October of last year and not deemed finished until a month later. #’s 2 & 3 were both done in a rush and I’m not terribly proud of them. So, I count from #4, 11/11.
2. I put George and Baby at opposite ends of each panel then had to figure what to put between them. Answer: Balonious! But, wouldn’t that alter the flow of their conversation, by having him speak (or think) between them? Yes, but, that’s why I used a different pen point for him, a lighter weight to his lettering, and I liked to play off that awkwardness that happens when two people at a bar are talking and ones in the middle, does he try to join in or start talking to someone else? Or just stare at his beer?
5.6 % ABV, Wooden Ship Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.
Lightly clouded, golden toned, large and lasting ivory head.
In the nose: Smokey, peppery…is this a Hammerheart beer? Everything else is minor.
In the mouth: citrus zest, hops, but low bitterness, and unrelenting, lingering Smokey, peppery sensations, though not as strong as in aromatics. Light and refreshing as a farmhouse ale should be, but loaded with character. Goin’ down nice and easy.
A Norwegian Farmhouse Ale that is slightly funky and smokey with mild citrus notes.
Notes on #27:
1. If this one reads like a non-sequitor, then I have done my job. I first encountered Zippy in a B. Dalton Bookseller in 1985 when I bought a copy of “Are we Having Fun Yet? Zippy the Pinhead’s 29 Day Guide To Random Activities and Arbitrary Donuts.” I’ve spent the past 40 years keeping up and catching up. He’s been around since 1971, and still going!
2. George’s beer, Old Crab is a nod to a barleywine of long ago, Rogue Old Crustacean. And that George is a big Ol’ Crabbypants.
3. I won’t explain Zippy’s dialogue. If you know him, you get it. Laundry is the 5th dimension! Zombies rule Belgium! Frivolity is a stern taskmaster! Legalize Loni Anderson’s hair!
1. I have a long history as a fan of American jazz composer & pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk (1917-1982). I put a lot of back story in my review of North Coast Brother Thelonious in my blog post back in 2012. Go check it out.
2. I once had a Brother Thelonious glass sent to me by the brewery (along with a tap handle, coasters, t-shirts, and an CD of a band they put together, the Brother Thelonious Quintet!) and it did indeed say Straight No Chaser on it. When it broke during a move nine years ago, I paused in sentimental contemplation, whereupon my friend remarking that he heard me say that I have too many glasses as it is. Yeah, but that’s one I wanted to keep. I can’t find a replacement anywhere, but I’ll keep looking.
3. Flatted Fifths aren’t really the main thing to think of when it comes to Monk’s music, but it sounds funnier than dissonance, angularity or atonality.
4. The “you’ll flip” quote appeared in the documentary “Straight No Chaser”, but I haven’t seen it in a while. Can’t find it on YouTube. So, I got it partially wrong, so what. He actually said “I Mean, for real!” I bet he said it a lot of ways.
5. Is George a jazz lover? Of course he is, he’s a hep cat! (My first cat was named Hepzibah so I could call her “hep cat.” Hepzibah is the name of the French skunk who dwells in the Okeefenokee swamp in Walt Kelly’s “Pogo”. And the bar George drinks at is named for him. Full circle!)
7.5 % ABV, Back Channel Brewing, Spring Park, MN.
Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head.
In the nose: bold and booming with citrus notes and stone fruit. Apricot and peach mingle pineapple and orange. Highly aromatic.
In the mouth: hop assault on the palate, but too lean in the bitterness to truly make a mark as a West Coast. Medium bodied, mostly crisp and clean. but needs a bit more in the dry department. Not a truly successful attempt, I’m afraid.
Citrusy // Piney // Resin
West Coast IPA
Pizza Port Endless Shoreline India Pale Ale.
7 % ABV, 65 IBU, Pizza Port Brewing, Carlsbad, CA.
Clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory head.
In the nose: bold citrus with a pinch of pine.
In the mouth: fresh, fruity, and dry. Moderate bitterness, but plentiful hops. Medium bodied, long hop forward finish. Citrus tones meet with stone fruit. Easy drinking as she goes.
I like this one fine, but it won’t replace Swami’s.
Endless Shoreline IPA captures the essence of sun-soaked days with a refreshing burst of earthy tangelo and bright Meyer lemon. Brewed with Riwaka, Waimea, NZ Cascade, Crystal, & Columbus hops - the mid-palate reveals a tropical blend of sweet citrus, lush mango, and juicy papaya, transporting you to a beachside paradise. The finish is dry and crisp, leaving behind subtle hints of peppery lemongrass and a touch of slightly sticky resin. Just like the shoreline that stretches beyond the horizon, this IPA offers an experience that feels endless with every sip.
