Ol’ George #31: Canned Corn

 

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? 

Ol’ George #30: It’s a Feature...

 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?!?

Ol’ George #29: Last Orders

 

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

 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

Inbound Fruit of the Double Loop West Coast Double IPA

 Inbound Fruit of the Double Loop West Coast Double IPA.

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

 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!

Ol’ George #28: Baby

 

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? 

Wooden Ship Ofstead Norwegian Farmhouse Ale

 Wooden Ship Ofstead Norwegian Farmhouse Ale.

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.