Magical Moments with Beer
by Jason McLaughlin
T
here are many correlations between the creation of visual art
and craft beer. The artist starts with a blank canvas and only
their imagination as their strongest tool to create images never seen
before. The brewer also starts with a similarly blank canvas and only
their imagination to create unique flavors never tasted before. Craft
brewers have long looked to these visual artists for exciting and bold
packaging that reflect an appreciation for the hard work and “art”
that went into crafting their delicious elixir. Here are a few
of the greats.
“Created with similar ingredients
preserved in 9,000 year-old Chinese
pottery, it is unlike anything created
for centuries.”
Chateau Jiahu Dogfish Head Brewery (Milton, Delaware)
Artist: Tara McPherson
Tara McPherson is a New York City based artist who was referred
to by ELLE Magazine as “the crown princess of poster art”. Tara’s
illustrations have been published in numerous big-time periodicals
and she has also created posters for rock bands, including such
names as Beck, Modest Mouse and the Melvins.
Tara was commissioned to do Dogfish Head’s Chateau Jihau label
art. The creation was a striking image of the back of a beautiful
36
Asian women dressed in nothing but long silk gloves, a floral print
wrap around her waist and a Chinese symbol tattooed on the small
of her back. It is sensual and classy all at the same time. It is a label
that requires much more than just a glance.
The beer itself is the third of Dogfish Head’s ancient recreation
project. It was created with similar ingredients preserved in 9000
year old pottery jars found in Northern China that included rice,
honey and fruit. Dogfish Head’s version includes orange blossom
honey, muscat grape juice, barley malt and hawthorn fruit and is
fermented for about a month with sake yeast. The finished beer is a
complex and unique ale that is unlike anything created
for centuries.
“This big, juicy 9.5% ABV Imperial
version of the India Pale Ale is
world-class.”
Dreadnaught Imperial IPA Three Floyds Brewing (Munster,
Indiana)
Artist: Randy Mosher
Randy Mosher has made a living creating the artwork and
identities for breweries around the country. Beyond his art, Randy
is also an expert on beer and the art of brewing. He wrote ‘Radical