Year of Beer Paintings – Day 304

Hoppy Halloween! The featured painting for the haunting occasion is Maudite Belgian Strong Dark Ale, or “the Damned” by Unibroue. The beer was named after a story about eight lumberjacks slaving away far from their home village during winter months longing to be back at their home village for the winter celebration. Their wish was granted by Beezlebub himself. All eight pledged their souls in order for the Devil to enchant their canoe to make it able to fly. Of course, there were a couple stipulations. One, they must leave the party after one night before dawn and return to their work in the morning. Two, they must not make the sign of the cross, or use the Lord’s name in defiance to the Devil. Legend has it that they made it home and partied all night at a wickedly sinful party, and all became very intoxicated. On the return flight the lead paddler was so drunken they were swaying all over the sky. A woodsman in the back of the boat was so frightened he made the symbol of the cross and the canoe instantly crashed. There were no survivors. At least these rough fellas had one good night of carousing before eternal damnation.

This beer is a Belgian-style strong dark ale with flavors of spicy yeast, coriander, cloves and a nice hop finish. A strong ale, but not too strong at 8%. This one won’t immediately make you find a place to snooze, like barleywine might, however if you were to drink it all night you might crash your flying canoe. My personal favorite thing about this beer is not only the label, but also the pop of the champagne cork. Hopefully, not a signal to bring out the devil, but a signal that the party has begun. I think this is a perfect Halloween treat, a beer that inspires the right kind of mood on this un-holiest of holidays.

Cheers to Unibroue for putting out such special brews! The Maudite is a perfect Halloween warmer for after taking the kids trick-or-treating. Drink it while they are counting their loot and drinking hot chocolate.

You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.31. Maudite Belgian Strong Dark Ale by Unibroue. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 303

Today’s featured beer painting is of Pynk Ale by Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Yards donates $1 from the sale of every case of this seasonal beer to breast cancer research. I know several women who have successfully battled breast cancer, and I would be glad to donate 10% of sales of this painting/prints to the The Tyanna Foundation for breast cancer research.

This beer is very tasty! I was a little worried when I saw it was a fruit-flavored beer, but when I read the label it sounded like it has actual fruit in it, not just flavoring added, which always seems to make the beer taste better. This ale was brewed with 3,300 lbs of sour and sweet cherries and raspberries, making it a nice ale with a sour edge. Knowing that drinking this beer helps breast cancer research makes every sip taste all the sweeter.

I became aware of Yards Brewing Company when I painted a commissioned portrait of the Brawler for my friend Jay’s 1^st wedding anniversary present to his wife. He and Kelly had this beer and a few other Philly specialties served at their wedding. Since I consider these little beer paintings to be portraits, I normally prefer to “meet” the beer, to find out the underlying flavor, so Jay asked his family in Philly to send him some beer. Upon inspection, I executed the painting with landmark images from the setting of their wedding. It was great to be part of the secret present and to be tasting beers I had never heard of before. The Brawler was smooth and the present was gladly received. The couple loves their beers, and I love making beer paintings.

Cheers to Pynk, the beer that is helping the world! Buy a case of this beer, and you will be giving a dollar towards breast cancer research.

The original painting sold. You can purchase a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

*I am donating 10% of sales from this painting/prints to The Tyanna Foundation for breast cancer research.

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Year of Beer 10.30. Pynk Ale by Yards Brewing Co. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 302

The featured beer painting of the day is of HooDoo Kölsch Style Ale from Uinta Brewing Company in Salt Lake City, Utah. This beer is brewed in celebration of Bryce Canyon National Park, and specifically of the tall spires of stone known as HooDoos. I have traveled to Utah a few times and the last time I visited Zion National Park and saw some amazing rock formations. I wanted to make it to Bryce Canyon on that trip, but the snowstorm in early May put a kibosh on our camping plans. So, I still plan on seeing this area of Utah someday, and riding my mountain bike on the Slickrock Trail in Moab.

HooDoo ale tastes like a hybrid between a golden ale and a kölsch. It smelled and tasted like sweet honey, with a slight pepper finish from a light dosing of hops. Overall this beer is great and would be best consumed after a long day out in the hot Utah sun. I think being at 4,000-9,000 ft elevation would also help to make this beer taste a lot like liquid heaven. Hydration is key when you transition from sea level to altitude.

Cheers to HooDoos, the rock spires and the beer! Both from Utah and both amazing!

You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.29. HooDoo Kölsch Style Ale by Uinta Brewing Co. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 301

Today’s featured beer painting is of Delirium Nocturnum brewed in Melle/Ghent, Belgium since 1654. This beer makes me think of Timothy Q. Mouse and Jumbo Jr. (a.k.a. Dumbo) when they first sample the sudsy brew that the circus folk were enjoying. The musical number comes to mind with the big bass drum booming, “Boom, boom, boom, pink elephants on parade, pink elephants on parade!” The pink, or white elephant has had a mystique, dating back several centuries in the country of Siam, now modern day Thailand. The white elephant is considered a sacred animal because it is so rare. Only the King could own them, unless he chose to gift one to someone with gratitude. The gift recipient could not use the white elephant to do traditional work, like putting up circus tents, or as a pack animal. So the elephant would become a huge burden. A white elephant is only to be used on parade, to symbolize wealth, prosperity, and to represent a just, powerful King. Hence, the white elephant gift exchange.

The Huyghe family brewery that has been brewing at the old brew site since 1906 has used the pink (white) elephant as the symbol for the Delirium line of brews. Delirium Nocturnum translates to nighttime madness, and represents what happens when you drink too much alcohol. The hallucinations that ensue from such overindulgence are represented by the elephant on the bottle. You know you have been drinking way too much if you have this type of problem from drinking. But since it has been a tradition, I won’t get into it. The real reason for drinking beer is flavor, not drunkenness. Beer tasting, guys, not chugging. I sampled this one at my buddy’s 34^th birthday dinner last night, and I am happy to say I did not see any pink elephants, except the ones in the painting. I am foremost a beer taster and connoisseur, not a beer glutton. The beer itself is definitely Belgian, with notes of sweet caramel and cloves, and a bit of sour flavor. This beer is overall a perfect example of a Belgian dark strong ale.

Cheers to Delirium Nocturnum! If you buy a bottle of this, you better share it with a few others, or you might be like Jumbo Jr. seeing pink elephants on parade, with the actual delirium accompanying your visions.

The original painting sold. You can purchase a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.28. Delirium Nocturnum by Huyghe Brewery. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 300!

The featured beer painting of the day is of Endless River Kolsch-Style Ale from Mother Earth Brewing of Kinston, North Carolina. I opened this beer for the first time for my dinner guests who own the local homebrew supply shop. Lisa is a beer perfectionist and makes some of the best brews I have ever had, and Kolsch and Pilsners are her favorite styles of beer. She gave this beer a very good review, and kept looking at the bottle so she could remember the name of it, and the brewery. I noticed right away how this version of kolsch is bright and clean tasting. Kolsch or Pils are styles that are a litmus test for a brewery. If a brewery has any off flavors in its brews, they will be obvious in the Kolsch and Pils. Not much to hide behind in this simple style of beer. Not only is this beer super tasty, but the label is really pleasant, and I can imagine being out on the river sipping on Endless River Kolsch.

The Mother Earth brewery has the coolest building in Kinston. They are as green as the name suggests. “Peace, Love and Beer” is their motto. They have a six-kilowatt solar system producing endless energy from the Southern sun. They even have recycled blue jeans as insulation and sound barrier built right into the retrofitted historic building. If you like Kolsch style beer, you will be a fan of this one. I certainly am.

Cheers to peace, love and beer! If you are at peace, and you love beer, you will find happiness, or hoppiness at least. Thanks Charlotte for sending me this delicious beer from the other corner of the country!

You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.27. Endless River Kolsch-Style Ale by Mother Earth Brewing. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 299

The featured beer painting for today is of the Astounding She-Monster Mango IPA from Spring House Brewing Company. Hold on to your hats, gentlemen, the monster from outer space may look beautiful, but she will get you with one touch! As she brings on the wrath of death for any poor unsuspecting fool who dares to cross her path… Oh wait, I’m talking about the budget classic movie, and I should be talking about the beer. I am not a big fan of flavored beers, but Spring House seems to be doing it just fine. I didn’t notice too much mango flavor in this particular beer, which is not a bad thing. This bottle traveled a long way from Pennsylvania, and I’m looking forward to tasting this beer straight at the source when I visit the brewery in a couple weeks. I’m especially excited about my visit, because Spring House gave me permission to paint live at the brew pub!

I think the best part about this beer is its label. I love the graphics the Spring House team uses, and I’m glad to be able to play with them in this small composition. I don’t know if you should be taking the mango from this lady. According to the movie, if she touches you… well, you die. I don’t think the beer is deadly, well, the alcohol might be, but that is the beauty of beer already premixed to a healthy level, and 7% beer is going to take a lot more than one bottle to hurt you. Spring House is a very avant garde brewery, making delicious beers. Great work, and keep it up! Watch out for the monsters lurking this Halloween, trying to blend in with the costume-clad crowd. The Zombie Apocolypse just happened here in downtown Anchorage, although they were all hung up dancing to the Thriller in Town Square.

Cheers to the Astounding She-Monster, I don’t think she knows her own strength, so be careful around her!

You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.26. The Astounding She-Monster Mango IPA by Spring House Brewing Co. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 298

Trickster, or Treat? Both are pumpkin beers, but I went for seasonal T.R.E.A.T. The Royal Eccentric Ale Treatment is the Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter from Midnight Sun Brewing Company of Anchorage, Alaska. This is a big, bold pumpkin Porter at 7.8% ABV! My favorite part is the chocolate nibs, which differentiate this pumpkin beer from most others. Midnight Sun has been making this beer since 2005, so any kinks have been worked out. There are tons of flavors besides pumpkin: chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are all in the mix. This beer pours black, and looks sinister in a glass.

I’m glad Midnight Sun offers 6 oz servings at the Loft tasting room, because I can’t drink a full glass of some of those beers and still drive home safely. Alaska has strange laws about what a brewery can and cannot do. Mainly due to the difference between a full liquor license and a brewery license, a brewery can only serve 36 oz to one person on premise per visit, a person can take home 5 gallons, and the tasting room has to close at 8 PM. There are more restrictions too, such as no games like pool tables, or darts, no bar stools at the main bar, and no live music. You gotta pay for the full liquor license to enjoy stuff like that. So, I’m glad I can buy 6 oz servings, not only because most of the beers are strong, like T.R.E.A.T. and Termination Dust Barley Wine, but then you can have several different flavors without incurring the wrath of a hangover, or worse, a DUI. This Halloween consider drinking T.R.E.A.T., as it really is the grown-up version of a very fine reward for not being too tricky.

Cheers to the T.R.E.A.T! I appreciate what you do MSBC! Bring on Halloween! Hoooooowwwwwl!

You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.25. T.R.E.A.T. Imperial Chocolate Pumpkin Porter by Midnight Sun Brewing Co. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 297

The featured beer painting of the day is of Magic Hat Brewing Company’s Not Quite Pale Ale #9 from South Burlington, Vermont. What is the significance of the number nine? It is shrouded in mystery. The beer’s flavor is unusually interesting; a beer that will leave you asking more questions than it answers. When I first tasted this beer I exclaimed, “It tastes similar to Pyramid Apricot Ale!” I later found out, after much sleuthing, that this brewery is owned by the same investment group that purchased Pyramid Breweries, so there may be a connection between the flavor profile of the two beers. Yet another question to be answered. Here’s one more question, how do they put the flavor of apricot in their beer without calling it an apricot ale? So, you brewers up in Vermont, you secretive group, are you trying to fool fraternity boys into drinking Pyramid Apricot Ale? Is it a love potion? It sure seems like it might be some kind of special beer. I give it my approval, and would happily consume this beer in place of a traditional pale ale. Not quite so pale… but tastes like apricot. Oh, the Year of Beer, so many different beers, so many different flavors, it all starts to swirl together similar to the label on this beer. What a beer…

To the Not Quite Pale Ale from Vermont, a beer worth sampling just to ponder the questions that ensue.

You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.24. Not Quite Pale Ale #9 by Magic Hat Brewing Co. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 296

The featured beer painting of the day is of Pilsner Urquell, the original Pilsner beer established in 1842. This fine golden lager is brewed in Plzen, Czech Republic, and is the source of inspiration for 9 out of 10 beers that are commercially available today. My friend Aaron Rathbone brought this bottle to Anchorage all the way from Prague! More heavily hopped than most Pilsners, the original bottom-fermented brew contains abundant helpings of Saaz and Noble hops. During the summer of 1842, 36 casks of beer were thrown out due to inconsistency and foul flavor in the bohemian town of Plzen. Josef Groll was hired to brew a new batch, and by October 5 the wort was already fermenting. The beer was ready by November 11, and the first Pilsner was tapped and served for the first feast of Saint Martin markets.

If you don’t like pilsner beer, I suggest giving it a second, third and maybe even a fourth try. It really starts to grow on you. The crispness of the malt and the yeast flavors that are created during the slow bottom fermentation produce a bread-like aroma that is unique to this style of brew. The Saaz and Noble hops balance out the sweetness to make a perfect beer. It is not a surprise to me that Pilsner beer took the whole world by surprise, changing the way people looked at beer. Almost every beer you will come into contact with, craft beer aside (although there are many great craft pilsners) will be a pale imitation of the real deal, Pilsner Urquell. Don’t buy the green bottles, though, unless you are in Plzen. It is now available here in the USA in light proof cans and dark brown bottles. Nothing makes this beer worse than light contamination. If you have never had a Pilsner Urquell before, I highly recommend sitting back and savoring one ASAP.

Na Zdravi! Cheers to your health, Pilsner Urquell, the brewery that changed the world’s beer scene! I hope you never quit making this quality product!

The original painting sold. You can purchase a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.23. Pilsner Urquell. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.

Year of Beer Paintings – Day 295

Wow! Only 70 days left in 2014! Only 60 until Solstice, which I am eager for, but don’t want to rush. I want to enjoy every day of the Year of Beer. I know the winter seasonals just hit the shelves, but I will wait to paint them at least until Halloween is over.

The featured beer painting of the day is of Red Racer IPA from Central City Brewing located in Surrey, BC, Canada. I know this beer is called Red Betty here in the States, but the same beer is distributed as Red Racer where it is brewed in Canada, so I went for the Canadian version. I know there are killer single-track mountain bike trails right there in British Columbia, so I put Betty’s bike parked on the trail. She is sipping on this cold one, or so my story goes. I love mountain biking, and I love beer, and I combined my two loves in this painting. This label makes me think of my beautiful red-haired wife who shares my love for biking and beer. That’s the trouble with paintings. I try to tell a story, but the interpretation is completely up to the viewer.

Beer is more concrete, and this one was a solid offering. An English-style IPA for sure, with a strong malt backbone. I am glad the brewers didn’t overdo the bittering hops. The aroma and flavor was piney, and reminded me of riding my bike in the spring right after the mud has dried up, and the new shoots are springing from the trees. This IPA is a very nice offering from BC, and I will make sure to drink more of this one when I roll through Canada, hopefully after a day of cycling, or hitting the slopes at a sweet Canadian ski mountain.

Cheers to the Red Racer IPA! A finely-crafted Canadian brew. I hope you get your hands on this can, because its flavor is uniquely BC.

You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.

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Year of Beer 10.22. Red Racer IPA by Central City Brewing Co. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.