Fail Ale

The heartbreak that is a spilled craft beer. I am klutzy and am especially klutzy around beverages. When I get talking I tend to animate with hands and elbows. I knocked a glass of red wine clear across our banquet table at our company holiday gathering in Mountain View, CA this past December, spraying my colleague's fiancee in the process (I am still very sorry and embarrassed, Rachel).

Please note that this klutz-factor is just as readily displayed with non-alcoholic beverages like water, soda, coffee and milkshakes. In fact I even slid a cheesecake off a serving dish just yesterday at a garden party, narrowly missing my friend's mother-in-law's feet.

The cheesecake did land right side up on the cardboard disk it was on so it was shaken but edible. The woman who made the cheesecake was not pleased about the glazed fruit that went flying into the grass or the new form factor of the cheesecake. When I checked the dessert area later, there was only a small sliver left so I hope she's thankful for that.

Founders Centennial IPA Postcard

Was cleaning up the kitchen and cutting up six pack carriers and thought I'd send one directly to Founders Brewing Company themselves thanking them for crafting a fine-tasting brew. My local twitter pals, @kristenry and @jrybandt had recommended the purchase and I was not disappointed. For a long time, I've been heavily oriented toward buying cases from Pennsylvania brewers since we have so many quality ones especially right here down in the lower right-hand corner. So it was nice to go a little further outside the region to Michigan's Founders Brewing Company. They have some good stuff going on.

Victory Hop Devil 6-pack Postcard Creepy Dude

The other day after posting this drawing from a postcard to my friend, Kristen expressed some envy:

I am apparently friends with the wrong people b/c i never get postcards like this in the mail. Creepy.

Since I had some extra Victory six-packs with which to make some postcards, I asked her to send me her address and I'd send her a creep. She did and this is what I worked up for her while I took breaks in the salt dairy mines. Mailed it out yesterday and she got it today.

Bronzed, Burned, Smoking

Not for much longer in Pennsylvania bars/restaurants.

Vacation Gut: The Product of Ice Cream & Beer

The ice cream and beer has come home to roost.

Victory Barkeep Shocker

Reaction of Victory Brewing Co. bartender when  my visiting-from-Texas brother pointed out that she had been included in a snapshot of the Victory Growler Filler on Feed The Ogre soon after Victory reopened in May.

[sincerest apologies to the barkeep for the unflattering and/or lack of likeness of this illustration! that's just how i roll my Pentel e-Sharp mechanical pencil.]

Enjoying a beer

I enjoyed enjoying some fine Victory beers this past weekend at the newly revised and remodeled Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown. Twice.

My only complaint was the inconsistency involved in delivering pints of the un-filtered Braumeister Pils. More often we were given the filtered version or even the Prima Pils. All delicious but the unfiltered was especially delicious and refreshing and we just wanted one more pint.

Our aim is to settle down there on a quiet afternoon and sort this all out. Unless the Braumeister is all gone.

Iron Hill Bar Scene

Amazing how one Pig Iron Porter will make you think you're doing great work. Then you get home and see how out of scale everything and everyone is. I think I'll go have another.

No Control

We were able to make it out to a cookie and beer exchange party this weekend. My cookie intake far outpaced my beer intake. However, I was happy to be introduced to a new area brew (new to me -- apparently they've been brewing since 1996 across the river from New Hope): River Horse Brewing Company's Hop Hazard was a tasty complement to our winter weather this weekend. The cookies we brought home were a tasty complement to the never-ending pot of coffee and insurance paperwork today. Beer rocks. Cookies rock. Eagles don't.

Hoots & Hellmouth

Spent an evening out this weekend with the mrs. and Susan Bankert of Barking Tree Pottery and her husband, Scott, at The Arts Scene in West Chester for the "Mugs, Microbrews, Music & Movies" event at the Down To Earth Exhibit featuring entertainment by local up-and-still-coming-strong movers and shakers Hoots & Hellmouth. Susan had some beer mugs and other pieces in the exhibit along with a bunch of other talented folks.

I took this cell phone shot of the band only to later to find that this turtle dude who had way too many Victory Hop Devil samplers got in my way. I overheard some people plotting to put him on his back if he didn't start behaving.

Despite the turtle dude, the show was a
burn
barn-burner, foot-stomping revival. If you get a chance, grab the Hoots & Hellmouth cd and definitely catch them live.

The good news is...

The good news is my brother is in town from Texas to hit the college hoops circuit in the Northeast.
The good news is my brother has returned to enjoying beers again.
The good news is I've spent a bit of time doing both with my brother.
The good news is we hooked up an electronic drum kit to an amp and "jammed" last night.

The bad news is the drawing, sketching, and other side projects have suffered greatly over the past week or so due to his visit and other distractions.

The good news is I got home early enough tonight to do a quick sticky note doodle.

PostIt Pattern

Fresh from Victory Brewing Company's Fall Fest -- doodled this sticky note yesterday and 'patterned' it tonight. Phils lost but Victory won. Good times. Good beer. Good food. Good friends.

Bloody Hell

There was a guy I used to work with -- a Singaporean via our London office -- who would always say "Bloody Hell" when things went wrong with programs, servers, whatever. But he was such a calm, gentle guy that it always came out a very subtle "bloody hell". That was 11+ years ago but I still like to try and say 'bloody hell' in his serene way.

Too often I say more Americanized things in the way my drawing dude does. And it's usually about important stuff like there not being enough room in my 'beer' refrigerator in the garage for my beer because there's water or 'vitamin water' in there. Bloody Hell!

Still on vaca: BoogieBoard Beer PostCard

On vacation still but posting this postcard drawing from the back of a Karma Ale six pack container from Avery Brewing Co. (Boulder CO). Using camera and Picnik to edit the photos (don't have photoshop or other tools on this laptop).

Not convinced that I dig the Karma. But I dig the waves and water temp. Been real nice.

Me beer's empty!

click for big

working on some tshirt concepts for the annual weekend trip with the Young Arrogant Bastards.

Request-a-doodle: Jaden at the ball game with his groundhog and a beer and hot dog

I think I about covered the gamut of requests for doodles in record time. Apologies to Random California/Jaden's parents. His photos are much better. Also, Rizz -- groundhogs can't wave AND hold a beer. Thanks for the requests and we'll open up the request line again this Friday. Keep 'em coming!

My Precious

After way too long with a head cold and laying off the ales, I'm looking forward to enjoying some fine regional brews at this weekend's sold-out Beats, Brews & BBQ at World Cafe Live in Philly with a couple of me old Half-mates.

A train in from the suburbs and a quick stroll from 30th Street Station and we'll be in a fine way before you know it.