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’!

Coronado Bonanza IPA with Mango

 Coronado Bonanza IPA with Mango. 

7.2% ABV, Coronado Brewing, San Diego, California. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory head. 

In the nose: hoppy and juicy in the nose, with a dried fruit, rather than fresh character, not that I mind. Distinctly mango. 

In the mouth: here’s the fresh, with the zesty. Just enough bitterness to qualify it for an IPA. Not too sweet nor juicy, this just works. Lightish bodied, soft and fruity finish. Flush with flavor and quite likable. 

Go big on tropical flavor with Bonanza, an IPA brewed with mango and vibrant hops. This golden, aromatic brew delivers bright citrus notes layered with juicy mango for a smooth, refreshing balance of hop character and fruit forward flavor. Lush, lively, and made for the fresh energy of spring days, Bonanza is an easy ride from the first sip to the last. 

Ol’ George #95: Tragic Dragon

 Ol’ George #95: Tragic Dragon

Notes:

1. When Balonious Funk first appeared in #19, back in March of last year, he was already wearing his Wilting Turnip hat. In #20, he told George about WT and its amazing IPAs. And then his head exploded when George forced him to consider that IPAs may not be the center of everyone’s universe. 75 episodes later, I felt it was time for a second favorite brewery and an expansion in his wardrobe. 

2. The phrase “tragic dragon” came after a long struggle. Once I settled on it,  I had to do my due diligence and found no breweries or beers with that name. Googling revealed nothing but vaqueness. On Spotify, three songs used the phrase, one rock instrumental and two spoofs, playing on the classic folk song “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Get it, magic, tragic, they rhyme. I felt secure that I wasn’t infringing on anyone’s IP.

2. Why does Balonious visit Kelly’s? Does he find enough new beers to satisfy his ticking urges? Or, is it just the comraderie he finds hanging out with George? And what could he have done to get 86’d from Wilting Turnip? A loyal regular such he should deserve some leeway now and then. Must have been particularly egregrious. I have so many questions, and only I can provide the answers. But we may never know, for this is Ol’ George at Kelly’s, not Balonious Funk at Wilting Turnip. 

3. This strip was conceived because I tired of always drawing BF’s Wilting Turnip hat, and came up with a logo that’s incredibly hard to draw so small. Maybe it’ll just say TD next we see him? 

Fair State Sidepull Czech-style Pale Lager

 Fair State Sidepull Czech-style Pale Lager. 

4.1 % ABV, 30 IBU, Fair State Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota. 

Clear, pale yellow, bright ivory head. 

In the nose: floral, hoppy, lively. 

In the mouth: fresh & zesty, highly hoppy. Light bodied and easy drinking. I mean, crushable. Once this pint has been crushed, I will strut around and crow “crushed it!”

I’m confused, though. First the label copy says to “pour real slow”, then to “pour it hard.” Which is it, slow or hard? When you’re crushing it, everything is hard. 

We brewed this soft, crispy crowd pleaser to be poured real slow. Brewed with all Czech-grown ingredients, this Czech-style pale lager is perfect for its namesake side pull faucet. Pour it hard in a glass for plenty of jiggly foam.

Dogfish Head Chicory Stout

 Dogfish Head Chicory Stout. 

5.2 % ABV, 21 IBU, Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, Delaware.

Thorough darkness, utterly black, lush cocoa-tinged head.

In the nose: nutty, creamy, slight roast. Nice. 

In the mouth: full-bodied, rich, smooth. So smooth. Super smooth. Creamy, nutty, slightly spicy. Touch of sweetness. Lightly bitter. This I can dig. 

A dark beer made with a touch of roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John's Wort, and licorice root. Brewed with whole-leaf Cascade and Fuggles hops, the grains include pale, roasted & oatmeal.

Back Channel Jagr Czech Pilsner

 Back Channel Jagr Czech Pilsner.

5.3% ABV, Back Channel Brewing, Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. 

Clear, light golden hue, bright ivory head. 

In the nose: fresh, floral, hoppy. Nicely spicy.

In the mouth: light-bodied, smooth, easy drinking. All those things. There’s some character here and some malty flavor, and I don’t dislike it, but I’m not about to turn into a lager lover any time soon. 

Oh, wait. I just found out that this beer is “crushable.” That changes everything. 

Actually, it’s not too shabby there, and I’d drink another if I had to. 

Ol’ George #94/Fine Art Funnies #4: The Kiss

 Ol’ George #94/Fine Art Funnies #4: The Kiss

Notes: Fine Art Funnies has appeared every six episodes since it began in #76. It will continue as long as I can think of them. The next one will be in OG #100. What will it be? (I know, but I won’t tell.)

2. This is a hell of a painting and incredibly hard to reproduce. Be gentle with me, I did the best I could. 

Barrel Theory Dark Helmet Schwarzbier

 Barrel Theory Dark Helmet Schwarzbier.

5% ABV, Barrel Theory Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Complete darkness, none more black, thorough opacity, slim brown ring. 

In the nose: largely malty, cocoa aplenty with a hit of coffee. Mild hops. 

In the mouth: rich and roasty, clean and malt-forward. Hoppy, but not quite bitter. Smooth and delicious. May the Schwarz bier with you! 

Hammerheart Imperial Longship 2026

 Hammerheart Imperial Longship 2026. Wee Heavy/Scotch Ale.

11.5 % ABV, Hammerheart Brewing, Ely,MN.

Solid darkness, slim brown head. 

In the nose: deep barrel, utter richness, molasses and vanilla, incredible depth. 

In the mouth: malty to the max. Hugeness incarnate. I want to go back in time and buy another 4-pack before they sold out. To last and last. Ah, to dream. Big blackstrap, maximum oak, traces of vanilla, and not quite as much smoke as you’d expect for a Hammerheart beer. Rich and delicious. Approaching a BBA RIS, And yet not, quite. This is the Hammerheart way. I have spoken. 

Bell’s Citrus HopSlam Double IPA

 Bell’s Citrus HopSlam Double IPA. Slammed with citrus hops. 10 % ABV. 

Bell’s Brewery, Comstock, MI. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large and lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: nice and hoppy, citrusy, orange and lemon, twist of grapefruit. Whiff of tangerine.

In the mouth: bold and bitter, bursting with a citrus hop attack, laying long on the palate. Intense blast of pithy, juicy fruit carries through to the finish. Stays just shy of sweetness. Full bodied with increasing alcoholic presence. Right on the money for this DIPA….sorry, I m getting distracted thinking of the first time I ever heard someone say “dippa “ and I had to wonder why they weren’t saying “ippa” for IPA. And now I am writing a new Ol’ George strip. That’s how this works now. 

Anyway, I’m enjoying this. I’m on 4-pack #2. Maybe I’ll even get a third? 

Citrus Hopslam Double IPA from Bell’s Brewery blends Hopslam strength with modern Nectaron and Citra hops, delivering bright citrus, tropical fruit, and classic intensity. A 10% craft beer that celebrates 20 years of hop innovation. Limited time only. Certified B-Corp.

Ol’ George #93

 Ol’ George #93:

Notes on #93: 

1. Yes, I did recently see the latest Tom Holland MCU Spider-Man movie and that inspired me to get Spidey together with George. I was an avid reader of the Spider-Man titles from 1982-1987 and have a special affection for the early years, the issues by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. If I’m trying to produce “relatable” material that everyone can get, why base a joke on one panel from the origin story that no one will remember? I just can’t help myself!

This might be a one-time only reference to “wheat cakes “. The next time they show Aunt May cooking Peter breakfast, they say “pancakes.” I don’t have a ton of references on hand. The only Spider-Man in my library is the Omnibus Volume One, almost 1,100 pages in hardcover! Fifteen or so years, I’m regretting this purchase. Why not 3 or 4 hardcovers in the Marvel Masterworks editions? So, much easier to lift and hold and won’t destroy your shelves!

2. In the Sam Raimi films, Rosemary Harris played the Aunt May part perfectly, looking exactly how Ditko drew her. But, should a teenager really have an aunt who looks 60 years older? It made more sense to switch to Sally Field, then Marisa Tomei. So, here’s to Aunt May, whose breakfasts were just as integral to Peter Parker’s growth as Uncle Ben’s responsibility speech.

3. In comics, no one grows old. Spider-Man has never left his twenties, in 64 years of publication. This strip posits the opposite, that Peter grew up in real time. 2026-1962+15=79! I did the math.