When I was growing up in Anchorage, Alaska, my parents were saving every penny so they could help pay for all four of us to go to college. We used to shop at thrift stores, and we played a lot of baseball. My brother found this Phillies fan jacket and he instantly became a fan. I indirectly also became a fan, because he wore it all the time.
During 2014, I worked my little tail off making a beer painting every day. This is when I went from being a beer fan to a straight-up beer nerd. I had heard of Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, but it doesn’t distribute to Alaska. I picked up a following in Pennsylvania during my Year of Beer project, and one of my followers mailed me a can. I was impressed, since the beer was different than the regular pre-prohibition style lager I expected it to be. During 2014 I made over 365 paintings, and some of them were more inspired than others. I wish I had made this Yuengling painting at the Citizens Bank Park back then.
In 2017, I took my second trip to Philly and I spent some time tasting beers there. My great friend Sam Magdowitz (a local Philadelphian) has season tickets to the Phillies, so I got to go to a game! Thanks Sam! He is a huge MLB fan, and has been to every ball park in the country! I was telling him about my history with the Phillies when we parked, and took the train on in. This is Sam’s secret plan to avoid the traffic; park at a train station a ways out, and ride the train 10 minutes to the stadium. Ba-da-boom, ba-da-bing, way less time stuck in traffic. I had been beer tasting all day with Rich Morgan that day, another great beer drinking friend whom I met during my Year of Beer, and I am glad I wasn’t behind the wheel. I did make it until the game went into extra innings and was on my second wind when Sam suggested leaving early since he had to work in the morning. It was after 10pm, so I was on board. I watched the Phillies win back in his kitchen while sharing a bottle of Denali Brewing’s Louisville Slugger sour ale with Sam’s wonderful better half, Tamar. Sam crashed out for the night. Great experience, thanks Sam and Tamar!
Brad Lewis is a local Anchorage Phillies fan, originally from Philadelphia. He brought me this can of Yuengling with the Phillies logo on it! I was stoked to finally get another taste of this iconic brew and finally capture my experience with Sam at the stadium! Cheers to a little help from our friends! Without so many great people in my life I would not have been able to put this painting together! Go Phillies! Drink a Yuengling, if you are lucky enough to get one!
This original oil painting, and signed prints are available at my Etsy shop.
Real Art Is Better! 