Ol’ George #80

 Ol’ George #80

Notes on #80:

1. I wanted to do something for Star Wars Day, May the Fourth Be With You, which was yesterday. Also, a few weeks ago, #77 paid homage to the year A New Hope was released. What came out in ‘80? Empire Strikes Back, which is where Yoda comes from. The thing wrote itself. This means that you may see a Return of the Jedi guest appearance in a few weeks. 

2. This has nothing to do with the strip. I took this photo after I placed an early Bad Kitty sticker next to a Yoda/beer sticker on top of a feminine hygiene disposal unit in a restroom at Arbeiter Brewing, last spring. Shortly thereafter, I used the same stall, as I often do, and apparently someone liked the Yoda sticker so much that they peeled it off. I put a Devil Made Me Drink It (another of mine) in the open space. I think that they are both still there. 

Look at that “painting “, though. Is that a can of beer next to Yoda? No, it looks all the world like a Bandwagon THC seltzer from Utepils. Look behind Yoda’s right side, those appear to be more Utepils cans. On the left, I can’t tell. None of it makes much sense. I suspect that this is A.I. 

So, don’t tear off stickers when you can just ask Chat GPT to make your image for you. And head over to OddMart and buy some of my stickers made with my real human hands! 

Thomas Hardy’s Golden Edition 50th Anniversary

 Thomas Hardy’s Golden Edition 50th Anniversary 

13% ABV,  Meantime Brewing, London, England. 

Hey, that was my 50th anniversary, too! This bottle was given to me by my boss who knew I would appreciate it more than him about…5 years ago, I think. And I’ve been sitting on it, hoping for the best. I mean, it’s Thomas Hardy’s, am I right?

Clear, burgundy hue, no head at all, unfortunately.

In the nose: plum. Raisin. Dark fruit, leather, smoke, touch of vanilla. Whole lot going on. 

In the mouth: getting a little hot and peppery, alcohol rising, slightly medicinal, while remaining delicious. Low carbonation, but after eight years, big whoop. Not a problem. A most delicious barley-wine ale that keeps getting better. Chocolate rolls in, deep maltiness, rich deliciousness….I’ve run out of words…so very amazing. 

Whatever happened to Thomas Hardy’s? Is it still being made? I have no idea. The glass I am drinking from was given to me by Brad the Beer Guy back when I ordered cases of Thomas Hardy’s for the Blue Nile back in the good Ol’ days. Imagine going into an Ethiopian restaurant and finding this (well, not this), on the bottle list. I can’t imagine it, and I did it! 

I haven’t used this glass since the last time I had a Thomas Hardy’s, which was a long, long time ago, 

On the nose, straight away the bouquet has impact, intensity and complexity with notes of both candied and alcohol-soaked fruit, dried figs, fresh tobacco and chocolate, while a caramel sensation is perceived but remains in the background.

In the mouth, the initial sensation is of incredible density and softness, a silky warmth accompanying memories of bitter orange marmalade, dried fruit and chestnut honey. The finale provides a refreshing, slightly sharp hint that adds harmony and balance. The vintage 2018 Golden Edition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Thomas Hardy’s Ale, first produced in 1968.

My god, this is good! I am treating myself tonight. 

Headflyer Wicked Fastball Minnesota Pale Ale

 

Headflyer Wicked Fastball Minnesota Pale Ale. Mpls Made Gameday Crusher. 

5.4 % ABV, 34 IBU, Headflyer Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, light amber color, slim white head. 

In the nose: citrus and berries. (Surprise: Mosaic hops!)

In the mouth: burst of bitterness up front, laying long on the palate. Hop character comes shining through. Exceptionally smooth, light bodied, and easy drinking. Quite delicious.

Why did it take me so long to get into this one? Just not into baseball that much. 

Wicked Fastball is a refreshing Pale Ale brewed for the love of the game and bold Mosaic hops. This gameday crusher is the perfect balance, so catch a Fastball. And we'll see you tomorrow night.

Ol’ George #79: The Ayes Haven’t It

 Ol’ George #79

Notes on #79: 

1. It’s quite possible Irma never even noticed that George and Chester went vertical (which also happened in #63 and #75). She liked  #78 because Chester revealed George’s many flaws, which she sees through every day. 

2. I find it quite adorable that my characters think they have any agency in their lives. But I’m most surprised by George, who revealed to Balonious way back in the legendary episode 35 (7/1/25), that the puppet master is me. It’s all in service of the gag. 

3. It wasn’t enough to give us Bugs Bunny in the ‘30’s. Fred “Tex” Avery also brought into the world Droopy Dog for MGM in 1943 (original name: Happy Hound.) You have to read Droopy’s line in his voice. If you can’t, find a friend who can. If that doesn’t work, get better friends. 

4. This is the most characters I’ve used in a single strip, 11, one one-off guest star and ten recurring regular cast members. Well, it’s only the second time for Wendell and Charlie, but they’re in the club now! 

5. Will Ol’ George be all vertical, no horizontal from now on? The vote was to be unanimous and Droopy spoiled it. Sorry if I forgot that part. It will shift on the whims of I, the Puppet Master, boo-hoo-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

Fair State Legalize Big Doinks

 Fair State Legalize Big Doinks Special Release West Coast Style IPA.

6.5 % ABV, Fair State Brewing, St. Paul, MN. 

Clear, bright golden hue, ivory head. 

In the nose: big citrus and big phat dankitude. Smells like Otto’s jacket.

In the mouth: sweet lemon and orange, touch of tart, a bucketful of bitterness. Lean, clean, and lemony. I need the dry in a WC IPA, I need the brittle and the bitter. This lacks that. 

This is the description from the original release, years ago: 

In honor of the 20th day of the 4th month of the year, we present to you Legalize Big Doinks, an Extra Extra dank IPA. We've added to the doinkyness of Doinks by procuring some of the finest distilled terpene blends available on the market. What are terpenes? They are highly aromatic compounds in plants. Useful for many things (attracting pollinatos, etc.) they're plentiful in both hops and cannabis, Terpenes are distilled from various fruits and herbs, then carefully blended back into aromatic combinations that are, shall we say highly reminiscent of the less-legal versions.Hops: Columbus Cryo, Malts: Pilsner, Carafoam, Process Notes: Terpenes added before packaging, Visual: Crispy clear

There are new words on the new can, but I will not type them out. Imagine profuse drug references.

Ursa Minor Dubbeldore’s Dilemma

 Ursa Minor Dubbeldore’s Dilemma.

7.2 % ABV, 15 IBU, Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth, Minnesota. 

Clear, burgundy-toned, slim head.

In the nose: caramel tones hit first, toffee next, rich and malty. Deeelightful. 

In the mouth: warm, sweet, rich, full and lovely. Wonderful. Smooth and satisfying. Plums, fig, dark fruits aplenty. Bit o’ raisin. Lots of flavor. A “malt bomb” if you will. Toffee-tacular. 

I love a good dubbel ale and this is surely one. 

Lift Bridge Good Company West Coast IPA

 

Lift Bridge Good Company West Coast IPA .

7.2% ABV, Lift Bridge Brewing, Stillwater, Minnesota. 

Clear, bright golden hue, large ivory head. 

In the nose: piney & citric, just the way we want ‘em. 

In the mouth: a blast of hops on the palate, lasting through a long finish. Just bitter and dry enough, refreshing and delicious. Medium bodied. We have a blend of orange and lemon on top, with grapefruit in the mix, hints of mango at the side. 

Downright enjoyable. I’ll be back for more. 

Good Company is a modern West Coast style IPA. Enjoy it with your flock. 

I’m still trying to figure out what they mean when they say “modern West Coast”. It’s clear and dry-ish with a little sweetness? 

Ol’ George #78

  Ol’ George #78

Notes on #78: 

1. This one feels like a Peanuts strip, and I was originally going to draw the two of them philosophizing on a bridge, a la Charlie Brown and Linus. George would be asking why people don’t like him, just like CB, but that’s not really George. He’s not one to find flaws in his character or seek out self-improvement. 

2. Even though George thinks that webcomics have ratings, his despair over the strip’s lack of popularity leads him to find a solution in others, not himself. 

3. Sometimes, the characters swap positions. This is because in panel one we are observing from behind the bar, though Irma remains hidden. In panel two, the viewpoint has switched, as if we are viewing from outside the bar. Panel three, back to Irma’s eyes! Panel four, too, but the friends have moved, just so Chester can Plop! to the left, even though the right would make more sense, and now I have to admit that I am mostly making this up as I go. 

Arbeiter Rye It Red Rye IPA

 Arbeiter Rye It Red Rye IPA.  

5.9% ABV, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.Hops: Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, El Dorado, Mandarina Bavaria. (All the best ones.)

Dark crimson coloring, clear, lasting layer of creamy froth atop. 

In the nose: smooth malty notes hide bitterness below. Citrus and pine butt up against slight sweetness. 

In the mouth: big, bouncy bitterness, outsized hoppiness blast the palate. Despite that, fairly easy-going and drinkable. Medium bodied, long malty finish. Peppery, just a bit fruity, flush with flavor. 

I’m digging this one. 

Ol’ George #77: Scum & Villainy

 Ol’ George #77: Scum & Villainy.

Notes on 77: 

1. So, I thought, what should I do for #77? What happened in’77? Star Wars did. When I saw it in theaters at the age of nine, that cantina scene blew my  mind. So many aliens. All those cool intergalactic creatures! I had to wait for the trading cards to get to the orange series before I could see them again! Or that viewfinder cartridge that showed a portion. No other movie had that before. It’s why I became a devoted Star Wars fan.

So, the character we now call Ponda Baba was once Walrus Man, when he got an action figure in ‘79. His buddy Dr. Evazan didn’t get one until much later, when I was done with toys, but I had WM, who looked nothing like the film version, plus Greedo, Hammerhead, Snaggletooth. I wish I had done a little better job drawing WM, (his head should be larger) but it’s such a short amount of screen time. Obi Wan made quick work of those two. (Or did he…sigh…in later edits, we can hear them moaning and groaning, still alive, at scene’s end.) 

2. I don’t believe I’ve ever shown George using “growlix”, as Mort Walker dubbed them, before this in a strip. (In a sketch for a sticker, yes. In an actual sticker, kind of. In an upcoming sticker, also kind of.) He prefers to let his words do the work. But in a situation like this, it’s best to leave it to your imagination. I want to say this is a family strip, but George has used profanity before, under extenuating circumstances. (So have I, and Irma, Geni, Chester, and Cuddles the Cockroach.) I like that he used a Jedi mind trick of his own, without resorting to violence. 

3. Is George in the cantina in the Star Wars universe, or are those characters at Kelly’s in George’s universe? In the notes for #3, I suggested that George visits another Kelly’s on Tatooine, just to have Wuher, the bartender, show Trump and Vance the door. And then they won the election. And a hundred million voices cried out in anguish. Sigh…I’ve pretty much disowned that one. 

4. While we’re on the subject, there’s something in that scene I just don’t get. Wuher sees Luke and the droids and shouts at them from across the room to get out of building. Once they’re outside, Luke bellies up to the bar and gains the bartender’s attention by tugging on his shirt….and is promptly, if gruffly, served. In what galaxy does a bartender allow a patron to reach across the bar and grab them? Had George Lucas had so little experience in bars that he found this acceptable? 

Pipeworks Close Encounters Black IPA

 Pipeworks Close Encounter Black IPA,

6.8 % ABV, Pipeworks Brewing, Chicago, Illinois. 

Thoroughly dark, utterly opaque, large, creamy tan head. 

In the nose: bold, bright, grassy, hoppy. Mucho malty. 

In the mouth: who put pine cones in my cocoa? Fairly bitter, mostly malty, semi-sweet. Grassy/citrusy to match the malt. Medium bodied/finish.  Hits the spot for lovers of the Black IPA. (Sorry, “Cascadian Dark Ale”, not sorry.) 

Close encounter is a bold venture into depths unknown.  The best of both worlds co-exist between a rich roasted malt character and an aggressive hop presence that will probe your taste buds like nothing you have experienced before. Don't fear the unknown, embrace it!  You never know who or what you will encounter...

Surly Mango Axe Man IPA

 Surly Mango Axe Man IPA.

7.2 % ABV, 65 IBU, Surly Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Bright orange, mostly clear, lasting ivory head. 

In the nose: bold and vibrant, bright and beautiful. Fresh fruit galore!

In the mouth: Juicy and fruity from the start, with bitterness creeping in. Axe Man is down here, with mango hanging over. Me, I’d like a little Ed’s of the mango and more of the IPA. It’s not too sweet, just getting in the way. 

I think this doesn’t have enough mango, and it would still be too much for me. This bitterness is there, I’d just prefer it without the fruit. 

The already-intense tropical fruit, berry, and citrus profile of Axe Man gets amplified with a mango addition. 

Dogfish Head Raison D’extra Brown Ale

 

Dogfish Head Raison D’extra Brown Ale. Brewed with beet sugar & raisins. 

8 % ABV, 25 IBU, Dogfish Head, Milton, DE. 

I first reviewed this from a bottle many years ago, but I am not digging those notes up, no way. And now, it has returned in cans and a variety pack. Well, I should say it had….I had the first two with no notes in October and saved this one for six months. I swear that one of these I really will stop procrastinating, honest. 

Deep crimson hued, not quite brown, clearish, slim, creamy tanned head. 

In the nose: got the maltiness of a Belgian dubbel ale, is the brown ale to which they refer? It’s got that sweetness and more. Beets haven’t grabbed me yet. 

In the mouth: here’s the vegetables! Bright, shiny & delicious. Have raisins shown up yet? They’re being subtle, which is appreciated. High ABV is rising up in prominence. Altogether, well-formed, highly ingenious, richly satisfying. A nice, sweet little nightcap. 

A deep, mahogany ale brewed with beet sugar, green raisins, and Belgian-style yeast. As complex as a fine, red wine. Voted \American Beer of the Year\" in January 2000 by Malt Advocate Magazine."

Ol’ George #76: The Absinthe Drinker (Fine Art Funnies #1)

 Ol’ George #76: The Absinthe Drinker (Fine Art Funnies #1)

Notes on #76:

1. I’ve been sitting on these ideas for far too long, and it was time to get going on them. What if characters from fine art paintings met George? What would happen then, huh? Well, we’ll see, won’t we? At last count, I had about five of these, and I will sprinkle them in among the others.

2. This one is now the most multi-media strip of all. Pencil, ink (pen), colored pencil, crayon, oil pastel, marker. This one will force me to go out and get better versions of these materials. 

3. George previously said he’s not into inter-species stuff, but don’t misconstrue him. He’s not into her sexually or romantically. They’re just hanging out…as friends….for now. Seeing where it’s going…you can say someone is cute without being into them….

Wandering Leaf Gothic Castle Dry Irish Stout

 Wandering Leaf Gothic Castle Dry Irish Stout.

4.6 % ABV, Wandering Leaf Brewing, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Solid blackness, absolute opacity, slim brown head. 

In the nose: roasty, malty, dry, with hints of cocoa.

In the mouth: right on the money. A personification of Dry Irish Stout. Just right with the roasty/toasty malt, bits of dark fruit,  the chocolate and coffee and the dry mouthfeel. Full bodied, long finish. Top notch. 

Hammerheart Flaming Longship Scotch Ale

 

Hammerheart Flaming Longship Scotch Ale. 8% ABV, Hammerheart Brewing, Ely, Minnesota.

It’s 2026 and I’m writing about this for the first time. I look on Untappd and I checked into it 4 times between 2016 and 2019 at Acadia Cafe, all from kegs that I ordered. I know it’s been in cans since. Why is this the first time I bought a 4-pack? Did I …you know, I’ll never know, so let’s drink it and move on… 

Dark brown color, nearly black, almost opaque, slim creamy tan head. 

In the nose: sweet, creamy malt, whiff of smoke, getting stronger.

In the mouth: super smooth and edging into delicious. More mild smoke riding over caramel malt, with warm alcohol depth giving us a good night’s rest. Sweet and lovely. I need to go back for more. I absolutely adore this beer. 

Originally inspired by the Scottish fire festival Up Helly Aa, Flaming Longship is a deeply malty Scotch ale with a mild hint of three blended smoked malts which are added for depth.

Big Axe Salivator Doppelbock

 Big Axe Salivator Doppelbock. 7.9 %, 24 IBU, Big Axe Brewing, Nisswa, Minnesota. 

Clear, caramel-toned, nice slice of tan head atop.

In the nose: sweet and malty. Toffee and caramel. Delightful.

In the mouth: rich and delicious. Warm, full-bodied, more flavors of toffee, caramel, nougat. Liquid candy bar. I am enjoying this treat and will probably go back for more. Yu-um. 

Traditional German style winter lager with rich flavor.  This brew is defined by intense malt & bread notes, along with mild hints of caramel, chocolate and a slightly sweet finish.

Ol’ George #75: Dreamin’

 

Ol’ George #75:

Notes on #75:

1. I consider every 25 strips as an anniversary. For #25, I offered a tutorial on how to draw George. For the fiftieth, we brought Krazy & Ignatz into the strip. And this one is unusual in several ways. 

2. In began when a friend requested another sticker drop out of me. ( I’ve done seven designs altogether in the past 14 months. Currently, you can get them by seeing me in person or purchasing them at OddMart, 2520 Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis.) I asked them for a suggestion and they gave me “a Bad Kitty beer bottle.” I liked the idea, but changed it to a label with George’s face on it. After sketching it, I decided it should be #75, with panels on the sides, colored with pencils, as usual, but the bottle, would be watercolor. And it would be narrated in rhyme, naturally. 

3. I’m going to give this design another go before I turn it into a sticker. It won’t be too different from this, except that it’ll be better. 

4. Have I done one with four smiling Georges? That’s weird. 

Three Floyds Lord Rear Admiral Extra Special Bitter Ale

 Three Floyds Lord Rear Admiral Extra Special Bitter Ale. 6.5 % ABV, 55 IBU, Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN. 

Clear and copper colored, slim, off-white head.

In the nose: slightly sweet, malty nose, considerably clean. 

In the mouth: crisp and clean, mildly malty. Expertly drinkable, nicely hopped, well balanced. Goes good with darts and bangers & mash. ‘It’s a fine ESB, but I did not detect any “apricot hoppiness.” 

Three Floyds’ version of an ESB, this deep amber ale has a complex malt sweetness and pronounced apricot hoppiness. Named after Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson.

Modist Gravity Lens Oak-aged Pale Lager

 

Modist Gravity Lens Oak-aged Pale Lager.

4.8 % ABV, Modist Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Clear, golden hued, large ivory head. 

In the nose: malty, clean, classic. Am I getting some oak? Oh, yeah. 

In the mouth: more oak, more malty, but moreover crisp, light, delightful. Essentially lager-y. Not too this, not too that. Clean as a bean. Good oak-aged pale lager and you can drink it. 

Pale lager w/ pilsner malt, pale malt, rye malt, hopped w/ Amira, Pacific Jade & Cryo Idaho 7, aged in American oak foders