Fair State Lobster Stuffed with Tacos BA Imperial Pastry Stout

 Fair State Lobster Stuffed with Tacos BA Imperial Pastry Stout.

15.3 % ABV, Fair State Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 

I like BA Imperial Stouts and I like coconut beers. I also hate any self-described “pastry” beers. That term should have died off ten years ago. We all get dumber every time we hear it, read it, or use it. So, I’m sorry I did that just now.

I also really love beers named after obscure Simpsons references. 

Thick and dark, utterly opaque, rich brown head. 

In the nose: chocolate and coffee, bourbon, charcoal, and coconut lurking below…not too much, just enough. 

In the mouth: delicious. Full. Indulgent. All the character of a BA RIS, and that lovely kiss of coconut. High ABV keeping me warm. The palate is all aglow. I’m getting the vanilla and all the nibs, fullness upon fullness, richness after richness, thick and gorgeous compounded upon thick and gorgeous. 

Hey, I like it. I might have to get more before it goes away. 

First brewed in 2019, this imperial stout returns bigger, richer, and even more indulgent. Aged in bourbon barrels and layered with toasted coconut, vanilla beans, and caramelized cocoa nibs, it’s a decadent collision of flavors that borders on excess and lands squarely on boozy perfection.

Falling Knife Re-animator Black IPA

Falling Knife Re-animator Black IPA.

6.66 % ABV, Falling Knife Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Total darkness, utter opacity, rich, brown head. 

In the nose: roasted, toasted, hoppy. Pine cones dipped in chocolate. Slight citrus, much malt. 

In the mouth: more if that piney malty goodness at play on the palate. Rich, dark, delicious, hoppy. Deep, long malty finish, rewarding. Highly likable. Hints of coffee and cocoa, maybe a little mint. Coated with delectability. 

Steel Toe Festbier

 Steel Toe Festbier. 

6% ABV, Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Clear, golden toned, smallish ivory head. 

In the nose: grainy, malty, slightly sweet. 

In the mouth: low hop bitterness, high malt deliciousness, excellent downability. Lightish bodied, with hearty malt content. Celebratory significance. Cheers to Ludwig and Therese! 

In the 1970's, German brewers reimagined the traditional Marzen to create a beer better suited for celebration &

session drinking. The result was the Festbier – a strong golden lager with a crisp, clean profile that invites another round.

It balances a smooth malty backbone with a subtle spice & floral hop character, offering a moderately full body & a dry

satisfying finish. Easy to drink, hard to put down – Prost! 6% ABV

Southern Tier Maple Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout

 

Southern Tier Maple Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout.

8.6 % ABV, 44 IBU, Southern Tier Brewing, New York.

Full-on blackness, completely opaque, lush, rich, cocoa toned head. 

In the nose: mmmm, much maple! Sweet and syrupy. Mm! And along comes the pumpkin!

In the mouth: a lot richness and deliciousness in this imperiousness. Stuffed with sumptuous. Rolling in rich. Almost too good to be true. 

Do I like beers this sweet? Not really. I had a beer (a double IPA) after this to get the taste out my mouth, but in the morning it was still there. It’s my second pumpkin beer of the season and I have officially hit the limit. 

The Dark Side just got a little sweeter! Maple Warlock lures you in with a magical dose of maple syrup to complement his dark and mysterious Imperial Stout base. Let Maple Warlock’s swirls of maple, pumpkin pie spice, and roasted malts enchant you sip by sip, casting an alluring spell you won’t want to break.

Dangerous Man Deer Stand Lager

 

Dangerous Man Deer Stand Lager.

4.2 % ABV, 12 IBU, Dangerous Man Brewing, Maple Lake, MN. 

Clear, pure yellow, slim white head.

In the nose: grainy, cereal, faintly malty.

In the mouth: crisp, clean, light. That’s about it. That’s all you need. Slightest flavor. Better than Hamm’s. Superior to Grain Belt. Beats out Schell’s. 

Well, maybe it’s even better than that.

A Lager with a sturdy backbone. A dash of citrus and pine. With the crispness of a cool fall day. Best enjoyed after a long day in the woods.

New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Halloween Slasher IPA

 New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Halloween Slasher IPA.

7.5% ABV, New Belgium Brewing, Ft. Collins, CO.

This year, PBR got cozy with the Friday the 13th killer, Jason, so NB got to get sloppy seconds from the Halloween guy. He’ll stab you so dead you’ll turn into a skeleton in a flight helmet.

Clear, bright, golden-toned, large ivory head.

In the nose: big citrus, grapefruit, orange, tangerine.

In the mouth: burst of bitterness, blasting out hops. Just a little juicy, mostly dry and bitter. Twisted mix of delicious hops lays long on the palate. Medium bodied. Not too shabby there. 

Collaboration with Halloween. 

Pine. Citrus. Slays.

Ol’ George #101: Good Words

 Ol’ George #101: Good Words.

1. Well, here we are, the first post-#100 strip. What has changed? For one, Cuddles the Cockroach is no longer 8-feet tall. Now, he’s merely 6’4”, so he can sit at the bar with the others and be part of the gang. 

Also, sometimes hands are disembodied. Don’t worry about it too much. I won’t. After all, there are numerous cartoonists out there who leave off drawing noses as a stylistic matter, like it’s no big deal. Noselessness is okay for monsters like Gossamer, or aliens like Marvin the Martian, but NOT humans. 

(I fixed one disembodied hand after writing the above. It was really bugging me.)

2. This is based on an old idea, where George was the one offering up the “good words” and someone suggests finding his “off switch.” This new twist allows Irma to be frustrated by the entire gang of regulars. 

Of course, I hadn’t originally conceived of this ending, it just popped into my head. This will be it for meta-fiction for a while. Only George and Irma are aware of their status on the comics stage. 

3. Zymurgy is a word, the science of fermentation. Naturally, “zymurgical” is also a word, but is “zymurgicalogical”? A quick Google search showed one result in a statement by Lagunitas, and if a major American brewery like Lagunitas used it, it must be …wait, Lagunitas? Probably not…but, Balonious is everybody’s fool. 

4. Now that I have established Irma as a bartender who closes the bar early in the morning and sleeps in past noon, as I did for so many years, does that mean she can’t also be a single mom of three, a detail I’ve been meaning to introduce? I’m not sure. 

Humble Forager Driftless Drummer

 Humble Forager Driftless Drummer Wet Hop IPA. 

6.5 %ABV, Humble Forager Brewing, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 

My first Humble Forager in a long time. Why? I don’t care for hazy IPAs, fruited sours or pastry stouts. This is none of those. In fact, I bought without checking the price, only discover later that it exceeds my limit at $19.49 a 4-pack. I’m glad I did

Clear, bright golden hue, long lasting layer of ivory fluff. 

In the nose: citrus and pine, plus a dash of the tropical. Lemony, floral and super fresh.

In the mouth: hoptastic! Big, bold and bitter. Juicy, while dry, fruity while brittle. Enjoyable conundrum. Lip-smackingly delicious. Tastes like a proper West Coast IPA blended with a fresh hop. And I’m digging on it.

This is can 4, but as much as I loved it,  I won’t drop another $20 for more. There’s a few more overpriced fresh hops I need to investigate.

Wet Hop IPA coming in at 6.5% ABV with krush and nelson sauvin cold pressed juice hop.  This WET HOP IPA is a charity beer brewed as part of the Driftless Drummer project in collaboration with the Driftless Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society with profits benefiting conservation efforts in the Driftless Region. 

Surly/ Firestone Walker Lake Bait West Coast-style IPA

 Surly/ Firestone Walker Lake Bait West Coast-style IPA. Brewed with Cryo Krush, Anchovy & Mosaic hops. 

7% ABV, Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large layer of ivory froth. 

In the nose: major grapefruit, big time citrus, portions of prickly pine. Bit o’ berries. 

In the mouth: smooth and bitter get it together. Plenty fruity, mucho hoppy, slick and delicious. Ultimately dry, like it oughta be. Medium bodied with a long hoppy finish. Well balanced, well crafted and really, right up my alley. I’ll be back for more. 

Our friends and California legends, Firestone Walker, made the trek to Minnesota to brew this collab beer.

Lake Bait is brewed with Cryo Krush, Anchovy, and Mosaic hops, delivering bright aromas of tangerine, mixed berries, and watermelon hard candy accompanied by tropical notes of guava and fresh mango, finishing with a dry yet balanced, resinous hop character. Expect intense aromas and a smooth bitterness that pairs with any adventure, on or off the lake.

Ol’ George #100 / Fine Art Funnies #5

 Ol’ George #100 / Fine Art Funnies #5

Notes on #100:

1. Ol’ George #1 was begun in the first week of October 2024. The next two were dashed off rather hastily and those first three were released online (this blog, Facebook, instagram) one month later, and I embarked on a weekly schedule. A goal was set of 100 weekly strips by the 2-year anniversary. That was accomplished six days ago when I finished this one in ink. Now that it’s finished in watercolor, time to move on to #101. Or not. I’m releasing myself from the weekly schedule. One every two weeks…or more…Maybe I’ll end up doing four a month anyway. We’ll see. I’ve still got plenty of ideas. 

2. George is Adam,and I his creator, play the role of God. In the original painting,God is surrounded by various angels and cherubs. I am in the company of characters who represent my inspirations.

Cupid Lenny and Carl and Hans Moleman represent The Simpsons, and are the first characters from that show to appear here, although I have swiped some signs from Moe’s Tavern for the walls at Kelly’s. 

Opus D. Penguin shows the importance of Berley Breathed’s Bloom County on my young mind. Go to #15 and Bill the Cat’s appearance to read more. 

Michigan J. Frog (from Chuck Jones’ One Froggy Evening), Daffy Duck, and the Dodo (from Bob Clampett’s Porky in Wackyland) show my love for Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Previously, only Sylvester, Tweety, and one of Marvin’s Instant Martians have been in the strip. 

Mahna Mahna represents the importance of Jim Henson and the Muppets have had on me. Kermit appeared in #68. 

The Lorax stands in for the inspiration that Dr. Seuss had on me. The Cat in the Hat made a cameo in #37. 

Linus represents the impact of Charles M. Schulz. We saw Snoopy in #4, Charlie Brown in #16, and Lucy in #53. 

Porkypine and Miss Mam’zelle Hepzibah are there for my love of Walt Kelly and Pogo. Pogo had a cameo in #63, Churchy and Albert were in #72. Why do I have my arm around the French female skunk? Look at the original, I’m just imitating God here. 

The Mad Hatter speaks to my love of Lewis Carroll, which has not been made explicit, but flows through whatever I do. 

3. Now that I’ve “recreated “ George, are there going to be any changes to the strip? Probably not. Don’t worry about it. 

And here’s to the next 100! Cheers! 

Drekker Hausterhosen Festbier Märzen Style Lager

 

Drekker Hausterhosen Festbier Märzen Style Lager.

5.5 % ABV, 20 IBU, Drekker Brewing, Fargo, North Dakota. 

It says both Märzen and Festbier on it, so which is it? From the looks, the color is more Festbier gold that caramel-y Märzen. Clear, slim white head. 

In the nose: typical malty/grainy aromatics. 

In the mouth: malty, slightly sweet, easy-drinker. Fairly one-dimensional. I’m not finding too much to recommend about this one. Rather lackluster. 

German Munich and Vienna malts give an almost sweet, malty flavor while a pinch of mesquite-smoked malt brings a subtle, smoky note to this "Fall Pants Party Beer".

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!