Allagash Tripel Belgian-style Ale

 Allagash Tripel Belgian-style Ale. 

9% ABV, 18 IBU, Allagash Brewing, Portland, ME. 

After more than 20 years, Allagash is back in Minnesota. Can those guys hold a grudge! Just because one distributor in a particular state goes out of business and owes you thousands of dollars, it doesn’t mean they all will. 

So, I’m returning to this beer that I first took notes on back in 2003, but forget about those. New notes this time.

Clear, with slight chill haze, bright golden, large ivory froth.

In the nose: citrus and spice, orange and coriander. Slight sweetness.

In the mouth: more spice tingling the palate. High alcohol warms up the insides. Pleasant hopping keeping the mouth happy. Medium bodied, thoroughly enjoyable. 

An altogether excellent take on this Belgian style. Good stateside renditions are rare and I’m overjoyed that we have back. (And in 6-packs!)

This strong golden ale carries herbal notes and passion fruit in the aroma. Suggestions of honey and biscuit are found in the beer's complex, varied palate. Brewed with our 2-row barley blend, hopped with Nugget and Hallertau, then fermented on our house yeast, Tripel offers up a complex, yet dry finish.

Ol’ George#8: He Said No, No, No

 

Ol’ George#8: He Said No, No, No…

Notes on #8: 

1. George does not believe in a higher power. As long as he can reach the barstool, he’s fine.

2. George is not a fool, nor an ignoramus. He’s strictly a smart aleck. Not everyone gets the joke, though, especially when part of the punchline never leaves his brain. 

3. This strip has nothing to do with my disdain for hazy IPAs. I just needed a funny IPA name. Did you know that there isn’t a Golden Fluff beer out there anywhere?Doesn't seem right. 

4. Poor Irma. To have a regular like George can really try your patience. By the way, she is supposed to be an emu, but I don’t think I have nailed that visually just yet, so let’s just say that she’s a sub-tropical flightless avian, with the patience of a saint. 

Castle Danger West Coast IPA

 Castle Danger West Coast IPA.

7% ABV, Castle Danger Brewing, Two Harbors, Minnesota. 

I’m at the last can of the six pack, time for note-taking. Or, my procrastination imp whispers into my ear, just drink it up and buy more tomorrow. Nope, not today, imp!

Clear, bright golden toned, fresh ivory head atop.

In the nose: burst of hop aroma from the start, citrus and pine aplenty. All the things I like. 

In the mouth: brisk, bitter, dank and dry. Perfect West Coast, light bodied, just enough malt, just enough out of balance. Grapefruit, lemon, lime and pine paint the palate. Delicious hop bitterness hangs long on the palate. 

Okay, I will definitely get some more of this, gonna add it to the regular rotation. Need to reward these guys for making it a year-round. 

Meet our West Coast IPA! Immerse yourself in a medley of citrus, pine, and resin, embracing the authentic West Coast hop experience. Picture savoring the bold blend of grapefruit, zesty orange, and a hint of pine resin, creating a taste sensation that’s pure West Coast. With a crisp and bitter finish that hits the mark, our West Coast IPA embodies the classic flavors that make this style iconic. Here’s to bringing the West Coast vibes to the North Shore!

Off Color Beer for Power Plays Baltic Porter

 Off Color Beer for Power Plays Baltic Porter. 

7.5 % ABV, Off Color Brewing, Chicago, Il. 

Dark brown color with ruby highlights, cocoa BBC toned head, utterly opaque. 

In the nose: malty, creamy, nutty. Highly likable.

In the mouth: dark, smooth, rich and surprisingly drinkable. Well, I’m not surprised, but I bet someone is…Slightly sweet, barely bitter, and a joy to quaff. Quite delightful.?

They don’t call this a Baltic Porter anywhere, but they should. “Baltic-style dark lager?” Give me a break! 

At a feisty 7.5% ABV, our Baltic Style Strong Dark Lager hits hard enough to put you in the penalty box for a five minute major.

MALTS: Pils, Munich, Extra Special, Dark Roasted

HOPS: Nugget, Saaz

SECRET INGREDIENTS: Ice Cold Lagering

Dangerous Man New Zealand Pilsner

 Dangerous Man New Zealand Pilsner.

5.4% ABV, 30 IBU, Dangerous Man Brewing, Maple Lake, Minnesota.

Clear, golden hued, large ivory head. 

In the nose: nicely hopped, floral notes, slight fruitiness. 

In the mouth: brief blast of bitterness, then comes the grapes. New Zealand hops always give off a white wine character and this beer has it aplenty. Light bodied, crisp and clean, with unflagging hop flavors. Easy drinking, highly enjoyable. 

This New Zealand Pilsner is a light-medium body and smooth lager brewed featuring unique New Zealand hops.  A crackery malt base provides support for this very drinkable, refreshing and hop-forward pilsner, really letting the New Zealand hops shine with bright notes of citrus, melon, tropical fruits, grass, and white grape.

Ol’ George #7: It’s Tom, Tom, Tom…

 Ol’ George #7: It’s Tom, Tom, Tom…

Notes on #7;

1. I was thinking of another idea for #7, but when I realized that Thomas Alan Waits (born Dec. 7, 1949, Pomona, California) had just celebrated his 75th birthday, I bumped this one up.

2. In this seventh installment, Tom is George’s 5th drinking buddy, the second based on a real human being and the second one drinking root beer and not real beer. I don’t know if Tom actually drinks that beverage, but if his wife Kathleen hadn’t made him quit the sauce all those years ago, he probably wouldn’t have made it to the present anniversary and we’d be without so many great songs. 

3. Tom’s quote is not of his own invention, but he speaks the line to Martin Mull and Fred Willard in a 1977 episode of “Fernwood Tonight” after singing “The Piano Has Been Drinking.” Look it up on YouTube, it’s hilarious. Some say it was first spoken by Tommy Smothers on “The Smothers Brothers” TV show, others say Dorothy Parker originated it, but I can’t nail down the truth. 

4. The punchline is just an excuse for George to make reference to a certain film about a man for his times that I’ve seen probably a hundred times. The cowboy on the label is another clue (hint: it’s not Wilford Brimley.) And if you still don’t get it…obviously, you’re not a golfer. 

5. Tom carries on another tradition of George’s drinking buddies. They all wear hats. (In Snoopy’s case, a flight helmet.) Will they all remain hatted? Who can say? 

Ol’ George #6: He Drinks His Spinach

 Notes on #6:

1. Popeye the Sailor Man entered the scene on January 17, 1929, (almost 96 years ago!)in a episode of Thimble Theater by Elzie Crisler Segar, hired by his future sweetie’s brother, Castor Oyl, to sail a ship carrying he, his stowaway sister, and her then-boyfriend Ham Gravy away from the men trying to capture his African Whiffle hen with lucky powers. That’s why  you come here, for comics trivia, right?

2. I thought “spinach saison” was a good joke, but it surely exists. A brewery in Derbyshire, England called Popeye’s made one called I Eats My Spinach. Although, if you scan the pics on Untappd, it’s an IPA called I Eats Me Spinach. Sometimes the beer appears to be green.

The whole spinach thing was not a part of Segar’s work. It was made up for the animated cartoons. Segar wrote Popeye’s laugh as Arf, Arf, Aff, though the voice actor rendered it as Ack, Ack, Ack! 

Edit: Having just read a 1932 Sunday where Popeye proclaims his love of spinach, I must admit I have it wrong up there. But it definitely exaggerated in the animated films. 

More comics trivia! You’re welcome!

3. The bird, by the way, was a gift to Castor from he and Olive’s uncle, Lubry Kent Oyl. Elzie Segar, cartoon genius!

Schell’s Northland Gold

 Schell’s Northland Gold. 

4.9 % ABV, Schell’s Brewing, Nee Ulm, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, large white head. 

In the nose: fresh, clean, slightly malty, thoroughly noble.

In the mouth: crisp, light-Schell’s Northland Gold bodied, easy drinking. Classic Helles lager. Minor hopping. Exceptionally refreshing. I don’t mind this one at all. 

Introducing Schell's Northland Gold, a delightful Session Lager crafted to perfection for moments of easy enjoyment. This radiant beer pours a deep golden hue, capturing the essence of the Northland's rich landscapes.

Arbeiter Oktoberfest

 Arbeiter Oktoberfest.

5.6% ABV, 24 IBU, Arbeiter Brewing, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Clear, copper colored, fine white head..

In the nose: clean, malty, semi-sweet.

In the mouth: unmistakable Märzen flavors right off the bat, crisp, clean, easy going, malty, quite tasty. Medium bodied and a good drinker. Goes down oh, so nice. 

This moderately strong, rich, and malty yet highly drinkable lager style was traditionally brewed in Bavaria in the month March (März or Märzen in German) and allowed to rest, or lager, in cool caves all summer long to be enjoyed in the fall. Before modern brewing equipment, much less refrigeration, the summer months were simply too warm to properly brew lager biers, so they had to brew a lot of beer through the winter and spring to get them through to the fall when temperatures cooled to allow brewing to commence again. Since they already had this Märzenbier on hand in the fall, they began serving it at very early occurrences of the annual celebration of the royal wedding that eventually became the Oktoberfest many of us are familiar with.

Lupulin Cookie Monstrosity Imperial Stout

 Lupulin Cookie Monstrosity Imperial Stout With cacao nibs, salted caramel, coconut, honey, graham crackers, graham cracker flavor, and double fold vanilla extract. 

11% ABV, Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN.

I very rarely try beers like this, but since it was sold as a $5 single, I thought what the hell. And then there’s my love of Cookie Monster. 

Dark as a November afternoon in Minnesota, deep and impenetrable, large, cocoa toned head. 

In the nose: big sweetness, honey and Graham leading the charge, not too rich and chocolatey, with vanilla coming into the front.

In the mouth: now the coconut is in charge. Very macaroony. Full-bodied, decadent, delicious. Unexpectedly smooth. Remarkably coherent. Just remember, kids: cookie monstrosities are a sometimes beer.

I’m going to finish this slow, before I get googly eyed.

Brace yourself for indulgence with Cookie Monstrosity, an imperial stout that delivers a rich and decadent liquid pastry experience. Brimming with coconut, salted caramel, cacao nibs, graham cracker, honey, and vanilla, each sip offers a symphony of cookie flavors, that will have you yelling, "Me want more!"

Ol’ George #5: Bowl Him Over In The Clover

 

Notes on #5: 

1. I drew this one last night. Now, we’re all caught up. My plan is to do at least one a week. 

2.  Introducing Riblet, beloved pup of my friend Vern, who serves up beers at Arbeiter Brewing. (She does, not he.)He will return, just you wait. 

3. This one refers obliquely to a practice at Back Chanel Brewing (which I have yet to visit) of offering some of their IPAs in bowls. There’s nothing on their website about this unique style of service, I could only glean its origins from an article about this phenomenon in Minnesota Monthly. Therefore, Riblet’s dialogue is my own invention. 

Ol’ George#4: The Poor Blighters

 Notes on #4: 

1. I drew this last Monday, Veteran’s Day, but forgot to post it here. Ooops.

2. Snoopy usually goes to Bill Mauldin’s to quaff root beers on Veteran’s Day, but I liked this idea better. The two Snoopy panels are based on two separate 1967 strips. The first was turned into an Air Force patch in 1969. That makes three wars the beagle has been in. That I know of.

3. Irma’s comment at the end is an inside joke between me, myself and I. My first cartoon was drawn at age seven, second grade, if memory serves. A caveman sees another stumbling around drunk and says something to the effect of “joke’s on him, they haven’t invented beer yet.” Even then, I was destined to write and draw about beer.

Invictus Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll Golden Ale

 Invictus Pearson’s Salted Nut Roll Golden Ale.

5.2 % ABV, Invictus Brewing, Blaine, MN. 

Clear, light amber color, slim white head.

In the nose: sweet and malty, nutty, creamy…vanilla…salty..,caramel.

In the mouth: more sweet malt, but still in balance. Medium bodied, light hops, a malt-driven tasty treat. Vanilla and caramel are big, but never too much. 

There’s been talk from people who liked a previous version as a stout (by now-defunct Tin Whiskers), but this one really does deliver the flavors of the salted nut roll, and I like it. 

We partnered with Pearson’s Candy Company in St. Paul to create a clean and crisp Golden Ale loaded with 200 pounds of Salted Nut Rolls. The Flavors of roasted peanuts, golden caramel and fluffy nougat with a hint of salt. Perfectly paired with a Salted Nut Roll. This brew has the qualities of the quintessential St Paul candy we know and love.

Surly Eighteen

 

Surly Eighteen. Belgian-style Golden Strong Ale Fermented with Brettanomyces.u

11% ABV,  Surly Brewing, Minneapolis / Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. 

Clear, golden, slim white head.

In the nose: funky, sweet, fruity. Stone fruit, citrus, bubblegum. 

In the mouth: sweet and fruity up front, but balanced. Light bodied, easily drinkable, but for the high ABV coming on slowly but surely. Slightly sugary, while never overly sweet. Ending on a drying note. 

I like this, but I want to like it more. That’s just my way. As is, it’s a rarity these days. No one really makes anything like this, at least not around these parts. Wish this was something I could taste more often, rather than a once in a blue moon thing. 

Surly's anniversary beers are all about challenging ourselves, be it with ingredients, processes, styles, or all three at once.

For our 18th anniversary, a sturdy Belgian golden strong ale ferments on two wild yeast strains, allowing a funky/sour process to develop while aging in stainless for months. 

A portion was then removed and aged in virgin oak, before everything was blended back together, dry-hopped, and pasteurized.

The end result is an absolute gem, with notes of white wine, berries, oak, leather, and honey.

The path Eighteen travelled mirrors our 18 years of brewing, instigating, and making something worth seeking out, sharing and savoring. Thank you for taking that journey with us.

Schell’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter

 Schell’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter.

6% ABV, 25 IBU, August Schell Brewing, New Ulm, MN.

Dark brown color, fully opaque, rich, full, creamy head. Looking good. 

In the nose: big aromatics, bold p.b. & chocolate. Sweet, but balanced. 

In the mouth: full bodied, rich, and well-rounded. Smooth (not chunky), slightly toasty and altogether malty. The p.b. / cocoa combo is kept in check, displaying sweetness, but never too much. Ends on a delicious dry note.

Well done! Good work, Schell’s!

This porter is a full-bodied drinking experience with strong notes of peanut butter and chocolate—a delicious dessert beer. The porter’s base malt is Golden Promise, and the other seven malts make up  chocolatey-caramel joy. The peanut butter flavor comes from an extract that was slowly dosed into the fermenter as a secondary addition. Cacao nibs were added to the fermenter as a secondary addition to further enhance the chocolate notes. This porter is all about balance and finding ways to experiment with the boundaries of what beer is and how good drinking beer can be. 

Rush River Oktoberfest Beer

 Rush River Oktoberfest Beer. 

6% ABV, Rush River Brewing, River Falls, WI.

Clear, bright golden hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: delicately sweet and malty, moderately hopped. Very noble.

In the mouth: smooth and supple, light bodied, easy drinking. Maltier and stronger than your average German lager. This tastes like a fairly accurate rendition of festbier, or Weisn, Oktoberfestbier, but I still like Märzens better. Give me that caramel-y goodness! 

Drekker Igor’s Horn Black IPA

 Drekker Igor’s Horn Black IPA. 

5.4 % ABV, 100 IBU, Drekker Brewing, Fargo, ND. 

Solid black, roasty tan head, complete opacity.

In the nose: grassy, minty, hoppy, swaddled in dark malts.

In the mouth: chocolate malt meets piney, grassy, slightly citrusy hop profile. Meaty mouthfeel, with effortless drinkability. Full bodied and continually rewarding. 

A big, bold Black IPA that boasts a strong hop profile and, thanks to a heavy dose of dark roasted malts, an equally impressive malt backbone.  The coffee and chocolate notes are balanced out by a pleasant citrus and pine hop character giving way to a clean finish.

Ol’ George #3: Galactic Principles

Notes on #3:

 Did you know that there’s another Kelly’s bar a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away?

Ol’ George at both the Tatooine  and Earth locations. Wuher runs the bar. He doesn’t serve droids and he doesn’t like MAGA.

Ol’ George at Kelly’s #2: Gourd of the Dance

 Notes on #2: this one is a little late. I should have drawn it weeks ago. No self-respecting bar would tap a pumpkin beer in November. November is when you wonder “when am I going to get rid of this shit?” No one wants a pumpkin beer after Halloween. So, let’s pretend this takes place in late September, a perfectly reasonable time to pour a pumpkin ale or lager or cider or whatever. Why so late? The first one took too long, because I was fussing over the depiction of Chester, I wanted to get a good likeness out of respect for the man—-

Hey. Hi. I have a question.

What? Who is this?

Me. From last time. With the questions.

Okay….go ahead…

So, I just wondered. Did you know there’s another bird bartender in comics?

Okay, so?

Roz from Jeff McNelly’s Shoe.

I remember.

Well, don’t you think that’s unoriginal? Another female bird bartender? 

Okay, no. Roz, a barnyard fowl of undetermined species was(is?) cook, waitress, bartender, proprietor of Roz’ Roost, a treetop diner in a bird centered comic strip.

Irma, on the other hand, is a Southern Hemispheric flightless avian who is employed at Kelly’s bar, by a human, I think (we haven’t gotten there yet) in a cat-led, multi-species strip. So, there’s the difference. Also, there are other elements that I leave it to the reader to discover. Get it?

I guess. But wouldn’t a mouse be better?

No! Whose strip is this, mine or yours? And how did you even get in here?

I’ve been here all the time.

Ol’ George #1:Here Comes Good Ol’ George!

Did you know that this blog began as an art blog back in 2007? It’s true! But, inevitably, I became disappointed with my drawings and sketches and it was briefly abandoned. In 2010, I slapped my noggin and said “why am I posting beer reviews to those other websites when I’ve got my own?” And the rest is history.

And that history is changing, with art, cartooning and comics returning to the Nib and the introduction of my cartoon character and his comic strip, Ol’ George at Kelly’s. Now, due to no demand, here are answers to Frequently Asked Questions: 

Who is Ol’ George and what is Kelly’s?

Hold on, there, son, One at a time.

Okay. Who is this George, anyway?

George, or Ol’ George, is a blue-furred feline who drinks beer at a bar called Kelly’s. He’s named after George Herriman, creator of Krazy Kat, who also was never without his hat. The bar is named after Walt Kelly, creator of Pogo. Those are two of my favorite comic strips and cartoonists.

Okay, then, what is Kelly’s?

I already answered that.

Oh, yeah. So, why is he blue?

Why is the sky blue? Why is grass green? Why does the Sun keep on shining? Why do these eyes of mine cry? Who wrote the book of love? I don’t know, stop asking stupid questions. 

Okay, sorry I asked. Who’s this Chester guy?

Good question, I’m glad you asked that. Chester is based on a man who was an institution on the West Bank/U of M neighborhoods of Minneapolis for many years, busking with his accordion all over town, riding his bike, drawing comics. I first met him at Acadia before I worked there and he gave me some of his comics featuring a character who looked like him and his idiot sidekick, Glimpi Dumbinski. They were silly things, often one panel per page, but it was true outsider art.  I saw him more often when I started working there in 2015, he would tip me in cartoons and doodles. Unfortunately, he died in October of that year, in his mid sixties. I wish I’d kept those comics. When I came up with Ol’ George, I thought of Chester and declared to myself “If he could do comics while living under a bridge, what’s my excuse?” I decided that the first strip must have Chester as George’s drinking buddy in tribute to him. Grain Belt, the friendly beer, was his favorite. 

Great story. Will George have other “drinking buddies”?

Naturally. There will be so many, your head will spin.

Will there be any crossovers with other comics?

There will be so many your head will spin. 

Cool. Is George based on anyone or thing?

No, he’s an entirely original creation, formed from my very own imagination. 

Are you sure?

Yes…say, what are you insinuating? George’s only antecedent is an image I created 17 years ago. It’s original purpose was a mere pipe dream and it hung on my wall in a frame all that time until I decided that I must do something with it. Hence, George was born. 

Will all of the strips be about beer?

No. 

Why not? 

Because. Any more great questions?

Why a cat?

Not a great question. Next?

Can you describe his personality in three words?

Sure. Irascible. Cantankerous. Sarcastic. Crotchety. Whoops, sorry, I thought I could do it. 

Can I get a plush Ol’ George window cling for my Mazda?

Hush, child, all in good time. Any more questions?

Will Ol’ George ever get to kick that football?

No, and he’ll never have lunch with the Little Red-Haired Girl, either. 

One more: Why now? Why not 39 years ago?

What did I say about stupid questions?!?