Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #161. Beer in the Center of the Solar System.

Beer — a fermented grain beverage, brewed on the planet Terra (Earth).  Has a 5,000-year-old history of preserving grain, producing new and unique flavors, and establishing cultural identities across the blue and white planet.  A bold brew that brings flavor to the galaxy. 

Did you know that 10,000 light years from Earth there is a nebula of ethyl alcohol floating out in space?  It is huge!  About 10 gazillion liters of straight up booze.  It brings new meaning to the Universe, and at least makes me realize how insignificant and unimportant it was when I spilled that glass of beer last month.  It brings to mind the Futurama episode #52 called Godfellas, in which Bender is floating through outer space, and a tiny colony of miniature people brew beer on his chest.  It would have been easier to just stick a straw into the alcohol nebula. 

In this painting I put beer in the center of the Solar System, so this really gives new meaning to the phrase “Sip of Sunshine.”  I was looking to put beer as the center of universe, however the universe just doesn’t have a real iconographic center, and the beer would have just been floating like a nebula in the middle of, well, we don’t even really know what, we just have theories.  Even Universal Studios just has planet Earth for its classic logo.  I named this painting Beer is my Universe, because I wanted to show how beer-centric a person could be.  Sometimes I feel that my life is a bit too beer-centered, so this is a comedic painting pointing fun at that fact. Remember, it’s just beer, and if you don’t get a glass, the sun will still come up in the morning.  Beer is a luxury, while sunlight is required for life!   

Cheers to Terra!  As far as we know, it’s the only planet with BEER!

Only one original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #161. “Beer is my Universe”. 20″x16″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #160. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout by North Coast Brewing Co.

I remember the first time I ever drank an Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout on Thanksgiving Day in 2002 at my friend Morgan Brown parents’ house in Corvallis, Oregon.  They have this amazing property just outside of town with several acres, and a creek running right by their big farm house.  We drank a couple of Old Rasputin’s on a walk around the property, and I don’t think I had ever had an imperial stout before — I was only 22 years old.  Needless to say, the decadence of this beer blew my mind!  

Fast forward 16 years (no I am not bringing Old Rasputin to the table today), but last week I drank the 22 oz bottle pictured in this painting with Maria in McCarthy, Alaska.  I had a flashback when I was walking around the ten acres out there that took me right back to Corvallis.  A bit different weather, as I remember blue skies and yellow leaves in Oregon, while in McCarthy we had snow and freezing rain.  I also thought about what to include in the painting to show off the Russian qualities.  Rasputin was in favor with the Czar living in St. Petersburg, but he was victim of a nasty coup and was poisoned, shot and drowned. This reminded me of this iconic cathedral known as the Church of the Savior Built on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg.  Last year I went on a tour of this building, which is spectacular inside and out.  It has a ton of history: the square it is built upon is a historic site where Alexander II was blown up in his carriage in 1881.  His son commissioned this amazing cathedral designed by architect Alfred Alexandrovich Parland, and it was built from 1883-1907.  Completed by Nicholas II.  So when Gregori Rasputin was hanging out with Nicholas II in 1916 when he was murdered, this cathedral was probably an important spot for the religious mystic.  

Russia is a fun, but dangerous place.  Watch yourself when you are hanging out in St. Petersburg.  The same level of safety consciousness we are used to here in America just doesn’t exist in Russia.  For example, the Metro car doors slam shut with no warning, and could easily break your arm. Also when crossing the street use extreme caution as a crazed driver might just be driving on the sidewalk.  You just never know what might happen in Russia!  

Cheers to Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, keeping the memory of Rasputin alive.  As the label on the bottle says in Russian, “A bosom friend is not born suddenly.”

The original oil painting sold.  Limited-edition prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #160. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout by North Coast Brewing Co. 11″x14″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #159. La Potato Restaurant in Spenard.

We’ve been taking a week-long break at our cabin in McCarthy, and this morning I rose before daylight at 7:30 AM here in the Wrangell Mountains.  We have been doing some fat biking around the roads and trails that connect key places in the Kennicott Valley.  On our ride from our cabin south of McCarthy to the town of Kennicott, the glaciers and mountains were spectacular, Mt. Blackburn looming in the evaporating clouds, and the Root and Gates glaciers glistening in the distance like diamond encrusted jewels.  Our route took us past the new and ever popular The Potato Restaurant in McCarthy.  It is slumbering like all the bears out here with a “Closed for the Season” sign and all the picnic tables put away for the winter.  Meanwhile in the big city of (Los) Anchorage, a new hipster hangout has popped up like a mushroom in the sun after a fall rain shower.  La Bodega teamed up with McCarthy’s Potato crew to make a pop-up restaurant called La Potato, located in Mr. Whitekey’s old haunt, the Fly By Night Club.  If you are newer to town you might know this place as the Taproot, or the most recent, and briefest occupant, Route 33. 

Pamela Hatzis, the proprietor of La Bodega, the cool liquor store where you can get boutique wines and by-the-bottle beers, wanted to have a place of her own where she could host tasting events.  She has been doing a righteous job running the ever popular liquor store with two new locations springing up in the last four years, one in Girdwood and a second Anchorage location at the Northern Lights Center Mall.  Rebecca Bard, one of the owners of the McCarthy and Valdez Potato restaurants has been wintering in Anchorage and working for Pamela at La Bodega for a while.  She has endeavored to school the Bodega team on how to run a successful restaurant.  The end result is a spectacular success with the pop up restaurant everyone is raging about, La Potato.  Raging is the word.  Maria and I attempted to go there on Saturday late afternoon, on the second day in business, and the parking lot was overflowing like Moose’s Tooth during a First Tap event.  We came back when we thought it would be less busy Thursday last week.  We easily found parking and came in to find a lovely draft menu, as well as great canned and bottled beer offerings.  I am sure there was some good wine and saké offerings as well, I just neglected to search them out.  I ordered some rosemary garlic fries and the duck egg kimchi plate, and I recommend both.  Watch out though, the garlic fries are a litmus test for how much your date really likes you…  Better if you both consume that much garlic in one sitting.  I ordered My 85th Rodeo IPA from Woodland Empire Ale Craft in Idaho (pictured in this painting in front of the iconic Spenard sign that hangs next to the stage) and a Solid Gold from Founder’s Brewing Co.  I exited right before a secret show began featuring The Lucky Chops, because I didn’t bring hearing protection, and I’m just too old to handle loud music at this point.  The place went from being modestly busy to teeming with people for the music.  It’s like Anchorage has been starved for a hangout that isn’t a bar and people are finally finding their fix.  We have Koot’s and Van’s Dive Bar, and even the newly revamped Carousel Lounge, but La Potato is different because it is a restaurant first. 

As I pack up my bags tonight and make the grueling drive back to the big city tomorrow, I am not sorry to leave, because the fun is in Spenard where the spirit of McCarthy is alive and well.  I will pass the slumbering Roadside Potato as I drive out and will look forward to its glory in the summer months, but this winter is all about Ancho“RAGE,”!

Cheers to Pamela and Rebecca’s brainchild that is rocking the socks off the block in Spenard!

Only one original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #159. My 85th Rodeo by Woodland Empire Ale Craft, pictured at La Potato in Spenard, Anchorage, AK. 6″x12″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

   

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #158. Beer Glass Styles.

How many beer glasses do you need?  As many as you can possibly fit into your cabinet, that is how we do it here at Real Art is Better!  I found that having the right glass for the beverage you are consuming makes the whole experience that much better.  When I was looking for subject matter for this week’s Thirsty Thursday beer painting I thought about a series of different beers with different glasses.  I remembered how fun it was to paint the Kandinsky-inspired Teku glasses painting, and bada bing, bada boom I arrived at this composition.  This one took a lot longer than usual, due to all the details, and the larger size (24″x12″).  Let’s name the glasses and types of beer I would put in them for fun.  Left to right:

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #158. Beer Glass Styles. 24″x12″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

• The classic beer mug.  Good for any style of normal beer, pilsner, lager, stout, amber, or Irish Red.  Mostly a 5% alcohol by volume type of beer.
• Next is a snifter.  I would put a high ABV brew in this type of glass, a Belgian double or triple, an imperial stout, a barleywine, or something barrel aged would be perfect.
• The next one is obviously for hefeweizen, or maybe a Belgian witbier.
• The Teku tulip glass is good for just about anything, but I would put sour, or funky beers at the top of the list.
• The Shaker pint is an all-around crowd pleaser, a jack-of-all-trades-but-master-of-none type of glass.  I would not pour anything over 8% alcohol in this glass as it will just get you too drunk too fast.
• The Spiegelau IPA glass is obviously for India Pale Ales.  Might you wonder why I put a rainbow in this glass?  It is to show the diversity that IPA as a style represents from English, Black, West-Coast, Belgian, NEIPA, DIPA, Imperial, Milkshake, coffee-infused IPA, and on and on.  Really, there are so many styles of IPA.
• The last glass on the right is a Speigelau Stout glass.  I didn’t mention how these glasses are made from really amazing quality of crystal.  My Aunt Barbara in California won’t drink wine from anything but fine crystal.  Maybe you should do the same for your beer?  Anyway put a stout in it.

Whatever your glass and whatever your style, remember to love it, or leave it.  Don’t drink all 7 in one night, it is way better to enjoy beer moderately.  There are diminishing returns when it come to fine ales!

Cheers to your favorite beer!  May you always have the correct glass for your enjoyment!

The original oil painting sold.  Limited-edition prints of this painting are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter. 

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #157. Patterns DIPA by Anchorage Brewing Company.

     NovemBEER is here!  And what would I like to drink this November?  Hazy IPA!  This painting depicts Patterns DIPA at Anchorage Brewing Company, served up in a Teku glass just like you would receive if you were to show up to Gabe Fletcher’s tasting room right there at the brewery.

     My friend Sam is a huge fan of Anchorage Brewing, and when he was here for AK Beer Week in 2015 we went over to the new brewery before it was even open and peeked through the windows.  We weren’t the only ones, because Greg Koch, the owner of Stone Brewing also showed up hoping to get a tour of the new facility.  Somebody called Gabe to see if he would come let us in, but it was his wife’s birthday, so we were out of luck.  Sam was telling me in the parking lot that he was really excited to see what ABC would be doing with IPAs because he heard that there were going to be steel tanks at the new facility.  Sam is from Philadelphia and he had tasted some ABC collaboration IPAs at Tired Hands Brewing, so he knew something I didn’t, because up to that point ABC had only made delicious funky sours, imperial stout, and barleywine.  Well, now the word is out that Gabe makes redankulous IPA.  Averaging $18-$20 for a 4 pack of 16 oz limited edition cans.  I would argue it’s well worth the cost and is right on par with what Tired Hands is putting out in Philly.  I personally love the KUIU, Lines, Crazy Rays, all the Patterns (IPA, DIPA, and TIPA versions), and the Anchorage version of Alien Church is excellent.  So if you love hazy East coast style IPA get over to ABC to get some of the steel tank goodness available in the limited edition cans and on draft.  Of course it is limited quantities and you can pretty much only get it at the source!

     I love that ABC uses the Teku glass.  Your beer lasts longer as you drink it rather than a standard shaker pint which tapers at the bottom.  It looks classy as well, like a special wine glass for beer fans.  And it holds 14 oz to the top.  These glasses enhance the aroma of the beer and funnel the flavor right into your nose, which is especially important for these fresh IPAs!

     Cheers to hazy East coast IPAs, a style that just keeps evolving!  Although I would call Gabe’s version Anchorage style IPA!

Only one original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #157. Patterns DIPA by Anchorage Brewing Co. 6″x12″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #156. Damnation Ale by Russian River Brewing Co.

It’s that time of year when people go nuts, wear strange clothing, dress their dogs as goldfish and hit the streets to beg for candy while threatening to vandalize their neighbor’s property.  Also known as Halloween.  I chose Russian River Brewing’s Damnation Ale for this week’s beer painting release for obvious reasons.  Damnation is a damn good version of a Belgian golden strong ale.  Rocking in at 7.75% ABV, it is aptly named.  I know many barleywines are much stronger, but you can easily taste the booze in them.  This beer will get you when you don’t realize it, good thing it comes in a 375 ml bottle.  This is pretty much a great example of the style.  With esters of fruit and pear and peppery overtones, Damnation is a poster child for Belgian golden strong ale.  Yet it is made right here in the USA.  Sadly, I am completely out of my Russian River stash of bottles that we brought back from our trip to CA two summers ago.  I was just thinking it’s time for another trip there.  I painted a wildfire in the background of this painting as that is the closest thing to hell I can think of.  I give solid respect to all of our forest firefighters,  you are doing one hell of a job.  I can’t think of a more physical and mentally challenging career.

Cheers to the Damnation, one damn good brew!  Great job, Russian River Brewing, you are one of the best breweries out there!

Only one original oil painting, and a limited number of prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #156. Damnation Ale by Russian River Brewing Co. 8″x10″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #155. Sierra Nevada Brewing Celebration Ale.

Today is Thirsty Thursday again and that means it’s time to look at and think about new beer art, not to mention drink beer!  This week’s beer painting is of Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Fresh Hop Ale.  About 15 years ago I used to not like IPA, and my go-to brew was actually porter, if you can believe that.  Way back then I was confused what Celebration Ale actually was, and I started to like what I was drinking and thought the nice floral qualities were simply spicy grains for a spicy holiday beer….right….wrong!  I learned it was a fresh hop IPA and I was like, “Oh yeah, maybe I do like IPA,” and I came around.  I can say I have been enjoying IPA for well over a decade now, and it has actually become my favorite style.  I wish that Sierra Nevada was able to brew Celebration all year long, but sadly the hop harvest season is in October and the first batch of Celebration is being bottled right now.  Two years ago in early November we made a pilgrimage to Chico to check out the facility and drink some Celebration right at the source!  I highly recommend doing this if you happen to be in California.  The guided tour is amazing!  The success story about Ken Grossman and his startup business makes me believe anything is possible.  The sheer size of the production facility is amazing and the copper kettles are so beautiful.  When you finish the tour you get a 2 oz sample of everything they are currently serving, which ends up being over 20 ounces.  I did a painting of the oaked Narwhal onsite after our tour.  One of my favorite things about Sierra Nevada’s facility is the outdoor seating in the beer garden.  Tasty food at super reasonable prices, and huge pints.  If you are there at this time of year you can get Celebration on draft!

Cheers to the Celebration Ale, a seasonal beer release that is worthy celebrating!

Only 1 original oil painting is available, and a limited number of prints at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #155. Celebration Ale at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 12″x14″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

Copper Brew Kettles at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico, CA.

A room full of hops!

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #154. Droid Brew Imperial Stout.

A long time ago, hopped with galaxy hops, far far from reality the story goes.

“Don’t drink this beer, it’s for droids only!  In fact, your chance of survival is 3,720 to 1.”  C3PO will let you know that the metal shavings in this oily alcoholic beverage make it completely unfit for human consumption.  “Brewed by Droids for Droids” should be listed on the can.  I guess the free droids who brew this concoction just don’t care about human health.  Leave it to the Empire not to require ingredients on beer cans.  It sure looks tantalizing in that amazing AstroMechDroid shaped can.  The appearance is right on with the jet black coloration, and the head just won’t dissipate for hours (must be due to the oil content).  If you don’t feel like burping up blood, followed by… you really don’t  want me to describe it, then you probably should not seek out this mechanical beverage.

R2 and Threepio were able to procure a can of this at the final galaxy wide celebration when Darth Vader and the Death Star were destroyed.  Saved for the day after, they enjoyed it right there in the Ewok Forest on the Endor moon.  I don’t know if Threepio celebrated his creator’s death, or mourned his loss.  I know Luke had a somber moment at the funeral pyre.

If you do get your hands on this elusive brew, don’t even think about drinking it.  Remember, it is for droids only!  Use it as a special present for your best droid, however it is well known that even the most loyal droids seek free will.  I would make sure their restraining bolts are present before serving.

Cheers to the behind-the-scenes Droids that make the galaxy an easier place.  Raise your glass high, or at least high enough to toast R2.  Just be sure you don’t actually partake in this beverage, or it will be your last.

This original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #154. Droid Brew Imperial Stout. 11″x14″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #153. Course Clear!

Well, today is day 4 of my semi-Sober October.  Normally I just roll through life drinking as much beer as I feel like without getting horrendously drunk.  I find I am successful at not driving under the influence and also not making a fool of myself most of the time.  My doctor said for my weight and stature I should not be consuming more that 14 regular, 5% ABV, 12oz beers per week, which is 2 per day.  I think I average about 3 per day, just because most of the beer I drink comes in pints, or has a higher ABV and, well, I am Alaska’s Beer Artist.  So I feel a cutback is necessary to allow my liver to regenerate, and I found from past experience that October is a good month for sobriety.  Technically you can still experience Oktoberfest, since it starts at the end of September, and then there are no real beer holidays until Halloween which is on the 31, so by then you are ready to go.  It really isn’t that hard this time around.  I guess I’m not that addicted to alcohol.  As I stated before, I am going semi-sober this October.  The 14 beers are cut to 4.  The intent is not to drink during weekdays, without binging on weekends.  The end goal is to have superb health throughout my life and enjoy beer until I am ancient…right.

So this Thirsty Thursday beer painting brings an important lesson.  Mario and Luigi toasting Oktoberfest beers.  I call this painting Course Clear.  My Mario performance has been enhanced without the beer.  I am playing better, getting farther and beating more bosses when I drink sparkling water instead of IPA, my favorite beverage.  Who would have guessed?  Not surprisingly this makes gameplay more fun.  So if you have to take a break, whether self-imposed as in my case, or for whatever reason, and you find yourself wondering what to do if you have to take an alcohol break, consider playing video games.  I’m sure your gameplay will be enhanced.

So I propose a toast to Mario Brothers (yes, I am raising my cup of green tea)!  The Japanese game about Italian plumbers eating magic mushrooms, and tasting pretty flowers.  Cheers!

The original oil painting sold. Limited-edition prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #153. Course Complete! 8″x10″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #152. 907 Frontier-Style Lager by 49th State Brewing Co.

When you think of Oktoberfest, one of the things that probably comes to mind is a big stein full of beer, and you dream of one day going to Münich to drink one of those (or seven).  When we heard that 49th State Brewing Company was offering free steins with every liter of 907 Frontier-Style Lager ordered, Maria and I headed straight there after work.  Luckily our studio is only a couple blocks away.  We were slightly disappointed when we found out the steins were plastic, but they were still full of a liter of delicious AK-brewed lager for a mere $9.07.  This Continental style lager was not too bitter and had a really nice flavor.  It tasted different from the beers we were drinking in Germany, but I feel that was a good thing.  Not that Germany is producing bad beer,  it’s just so traditional.  After a couple pints it gets a bit boring.  The 907 lager is not too crazy either, not like some of the great NE IPAs that 49th State has been killing it with lately.  I probably wouldn’t order a whole liter of NE IPA though.  One pint at a time seems like a better way to dole out the hoppy stuff.  I  suggest if you like lager beer to give the 907 a try.

Prost to the spirit of Oktoberfest, where beer comes in a giant glass and your pretzel is a whole meal!  Thank you 49th State for remembering the tradition, and serving up beer in German sized portions!

This original oil painting, and limited-edition prints are available at our Etsy shop RealArtIsBetter.

Thirsty Thursday Beer Painting #152. 907 Frontier-Style Lager by 49th State Brewing Co. 14″x11″, oil on panel. By Scott Clendaniel.