Rudy Johnson’s Olde English 40-ounce skateboard for Blind. Image source: Sk8Cheddar.

Rudy Johnson’s 1990s Blind Skateboard deck with a 40-ounce of Olde English on it really caught my attention back in the day. It was simple and bold, and immediately recognizable. Perhaps more importantly, it also showed something that was part of skate culture at the time.

Sure, pounding a 40 and hurling yourself off a ledge or trying to grind a rail on a set of stairs is questionable, in hindsight, but let’s put that aside. Beer has long been intertwined with skate culture and that has manifested itself in a variety of ways – including its depiction on skateboards. These are a few of my favorites (I did my best to avoid any bad people.)

Johnson claimed that the idea for the 40-ounce board came from Blind co-founder and legendary skater Mark Gonzalez. Ironically, he says he had never even drank a 40 before the board was made. Regardless, they were a common sight at skate spots in the 90s. Though many boards came later that also featured 40s in some way – often with logo ripoffs – this one was one of the most memorable.

Elissa Steamer Corona bottle deck by Toy Machine. Image source: GFK BAR.

Speaking of logo ripoffs, Elissa Steamer’s Corona-inspired deck was also highly recognizable. Steamer was one of the most notable skaters in the late 90s and early aughts when she rode for Toy Machine and Baker. The era was marked by heavy partying, especially within the infamous Piss Drunx crew, which she was part of. It’s no surprise that the image of a beer made it onto one of her boards. Like many of her peers from that era who partied way too hard, Steamer is now sober.

Toy Machine’s roster has continued to include skaters who like a beer or two, including Collin Provost. His passion for beer was combined with a very Toy Machine aesthetic on the Beer Guzz deck.

Collin Provost Beer Guzz deck by Toy Machine and PBR/Santa Cruz Screaming Hand deck. Image sources: Board Paradise and Skate America.

At the height of Pabst Blue Ribbon’s (PBR) efforts to capture the hipster beer-drinking market, they partnered with Santa Cruz to release a deck that combined the iconic Screaming Hand design with PBR’s branding. The result? A pretty sick board that perfectly blends imagery for both brands.

The cartoon depiction of Milo Aukerman on the cover of the Descendents’ debut album, Milo Goes to College, is also iconic. One of the standout songs on the album is “Suburban Home”. To celebrate their fifth anniversary in 2023, Hermosa Brewing Company teamed up with the band to release Suburban Foam, a beer that was accompanied by a ton of cool merch – including a skateboard.

Suburban Foam deck by Hermosa Brewing Company and Crush it Like Quint deck by Narragansett. Image sources: Hermosa Brewing Company and Narragansett.

Narragansett, a slightly older name in the beer business, has done a great job of retaining its stature as an older brand while making well-calculated efforts to connect with a younger generation. This includes the release of a few skateboards. A particular standout is the Crush it Like Quint deck, which capitalizes on their long-standing association with Jaws.

At one point, Narragansett had a skateboard made for them by a now-defunct New England skate company called Tasty. Also gone is Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project (resurrected as Brewery of St Mars of the Desert in Sheffield, England). Before Tasty and Pretty Things closed shop, the latter had the former make a deck featuring their Jack D’Or character doing a kickflip. For fans of Pretty Things, it’s super cool. I’m one of those fans. I’d be willing to part ways with a non-essential organ to have one.

Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project deck by Tasty Skateboards. Image source: Tasty Skateboards.

That’s what I have for now. Let me know if you have a favorite board featuring beer. I might have to do a part two.   

Image source: Shutterstock

If you can’t find a thistle glass to pour your Scottish Ale into, don’t worry, it’s not really a thing.

While it’s true that the flowering thistle plant is an important part of Scottish heritage and culture, walk into any Scottish pub and you will not find people using this glass for beer. This is as true today as it was in the past. It’s not news, but it’s worth a brief post to help make the case.

(Just a note up front on the differing types of Scottish Ale. Though one might argue the thistle glass is reserved for the stronger Scottish Ales, I’m not getting into a breakdown of sub-styles and corresponding glassware here. Instead, Scottish Ale is used broadly relating to beer, and meant to encompass the varying terms you may hear like Scottish Ale, Scotch Ale, Strong (Scottish) Ale, Wee Heavy, all the shillings, etc. If you are looking for more information on what Scottish beer was and is, I highly recommend Ron Pattinson’s blog, Shut up about Barclay Perkins, as well his his books on Scotland.)

Why A Thistle?

“It is fitting that Scotland should have special glasses for her own mountain dew…” Old English Glasses, 1897

The flowering thistle plant became the national emblem and flower of Scotland due to a 13th century tale about a Norse invader trying to be stealthy while sneaking up on Scottish soldiers and with bare feet accidentally stepping on a prickly thistle. His cry of pain alerted the Scots, which allowed them to fend off the invaders and ultimately protect their homeland. 

In the Glass

Scottish thistle glass decanter and rocks glasses. Image source: Lyoncraft Engraving.

Centuries later, some suspect that thistle-shaped glasses made their way to Scotland from Bohemia. Given its significance to the Scots, the glass shape was warmly embraced. Highlighting its importance, the 1928 book Old Glass and How to Collect It, notes, “the earliest examples of English cut glass are perhaps the thistle-shaped glasses.”

However, it’s likely that the glass shape was used more for whiskey (as the above 1897 quote was referring to), sherry and other strong drinks rather than beer. Even then, its use was probably limited to the upper class.

More commonly, other glassware shapes incorporated the thistle through hand-cut or etched decorations. Additionally, breweries have used thistle imagery in their marketing.

William Younger beer mat featuring a thistle. Image source: Shut up about Barclay Perkins.

Maclay’s Export Ale beer mat featuring at thistle. Note the brewery name. Image source: Shut up about Barclay Perkins.

William Younger Scotch Ale ad from 1922 with a foaming pint of beer in a conical-type glass. “When dinner’s late, or when the meat Is overdone, - unfit to eat, When cook spoils soup and joint and curry, Just drink Scotch Ale and do not worry.” Image source: Invaluable.

McEwan’s Scotch Ale ad featuring a pokal glass. Image source: flickr.

Caledonian Brewing Merman label with a mythical figure holding a pewter tankard. Image source: Beerbible.net.

William Younger’s ad with a figure holding a dimple mug. Image source: Breweryhistory.com.

William Younger’s ad featuring a man holding a conical glass. Image source: Shut up about Barclay Perkins.

A survey of historic brewery marketing materials reveals no depictions of thistle-shaped beer glasses. If the glass is an iconic part of the history and culture, you’d think it would show up somewhere, but it doesn’t.

Instead, what you find are conicals, glass and pewter tankards, pokals, stemmed tulips and dimple mugs. Above are a few examples of older marketing materials from several notable breweries. An ad for William Younger’s notes, “A foaming tankard of this rich brown Ale gives the crowning touch to a hearty meal.”

Looking at the drinkware landscape for Scottish Ale today, it’s not much different. Typically, breweries and pubs use conicals, tulip pints and nonics. You may also see stemmed tulip-type glasses and dimple mugs. Traquair regularly depicts a tankard with their beer. Belhaven makes use of stemmed tulip glasses on occassion, but has recently been featuring a tulip-esque pint glass of their own (that seems similar to the newer pint glass that Guinness has been using. Perhaps it’s a trend. It’s not one that I’m particularly in love with.)

McEwan’s tulip pint glass. Image source: DRAM.

Traquair tankard. Image source: Traquair.

Fyne Ales stemmed tulip glass. Image source: Fyne Ales Instagram.

Belhaven pint glass. Image source: Greene King.

Scottish Beer in Belgium

The relatively flashy nature of the thistle glass design is atypical for a beer glass in Scotland (and most other places), but it’s right at home in Belgium where British beers were popular in the earlier part of the twentieth century.

The popularity led an English importer in Antwerp to create his own brand for the Belgian market. This brand, Gordon’s Highland Scotch Ale, was originally brewed by George Younger & Son in Alloa, Scotland (after changing hands many times, it is now actually brewed in Belgium). Their branded thistle glasses go hand in hand with the beer, now sold as Gordon Scotch Ale. They also often have a special Christmas edition thistle glass for their Xmas beer.

Gordon thistle glass. Trembling Madness.

Gordon Xmas thistle glass. Image source: The Brew Site.

It’s hard to find any history on this glass, but it’s not surprising that the company would embrace it being in a country where most breweries have their own unique glass shape. Many of them, like the thistle, are stemmed glasses with a tulip-esque appearance. The thistle glass was perhaps a way to assimilate with the Belgian beer market, while at the same time using something distinctively Scottish.

However, while there are numerous other Scottish-style ales being brewed in Belgium, Gordon may be alone with the thistle glass shape. Brands like Wielemans Scotch CTS (an historic example as the brewery closed in 1988) and De Glazen Toren have associated chalice-type glasses with their Scottish Ales, while Watney’s and Brasserie de Silly use stemmed tulips for theirs.

Wielemans Scotch C.T.S. beer mat. Image source: LastDodo.

De Glazen Toren Canaster Scotch Ale. Image source: De Glazen Toren.

Watney’s Scotch Ale. Image source: Cafe De Statie.

Silly Scotch. Image source: Brasserie de Silly.

Wrapping up

So where did we get the notion that the thistle glass was somehow an important part of Scottish beer culture? The Gordon glass may have played a role. However, the 1993 book, Scotch Ale, by Greg Noonan likely had a significant impact, at least in the United States. The cover prominently features a beer in a thistle glass. The book’s contents do not get into glassware or indicate an explanation for why the glass was used. Maybe it was influenced by Gordon. The influential book likely conveyed to a generation of brewers, homebrewers and enthusiasts, that the glass had some meaningful connection to Scottish Ale.

Book cover of Scotch Ale by Gregory J. Noonan. Image source: Brewers Publications.

While there are still some unknowns, it seems certain that the thistle glass was never a regularly used vessel for the consumption of beer in Scotland. This does not mean that it never will. Cultures evolve in funny ways and American misunderstandings occasionally have a backwards influence. Though odd for me, in this case, I don’t know if I would hate that.

So, the next time you’re having a Scottish Ale and not sure what glass to use, if that matters to you at all, you’re safe with a tulip pint, nonic, conical, or dimple mug. For strong brews, a snifter, chalice-type glass might be nice. If you have a thistle glass, go for it if it makes you happy.

For further reading on dimple mugs, check out this older post: Not All Dimple Mugs are Created Equal

For further reading on nonics (noniks) , check out these two older posts: An Incomplete History of the Nonik Glass and Revisiting the Nonik Glass History

People who have visited Suarez Family Brewery know it doesn’t provide the stereotypical taproom experience. The selection of beer served is thoughtfully curated and intentionally limited. They have Goldilocks pour sizes that are not too small to ensure you fully understand the beer, and not too big, because it’s a taproom, not a bar. (I’m not sure if this is their intent. Just my assumption). Everything from the snacks, furniture, bathrooms, and artwork is humble yet meticulously done.  Their recent expansion this fall is no exception, and an exciting new feature is a hand pump prominently placed at the bar for cask beer.

Opened in 2016 with a goal to make simple, everyday ales and lagers, as well as country ales, the addition of a hand pump in the new taproom is totally consistent with their ethos that celebrates simplicity and tradition with expert execution.  

While this is welcomed news to cask enthusiasts who are fortunate enough to make it to rural Livingston, New York, the potential repercussions may be the most exciting thing for people living further away. This is because of how influential Suarez has been, especially with their lager production.

The lager landscape back in 2016 was much different than it is now for small brewers and their customers. Many simply didn’t make or drink it. With all the attention Suarez had when they opened, people who had previously overlooked lager suddenly began to take notice. Now that they’re serving cask beer, hopefully the same can happen with the traditional British beer serving method.

Of course, Suarez isn’t the only brewery serving cask beer in their taproom. There are treasured breweries like Machine House in Seattle and Hogshead in Denver that have been doing it for years, and they’ve been doing it well. For those breweries, their focus is on English-style beer.

Beyond these, there’s a growing number that don’t focus primarily on English-styles, but have incorporated hand-pumped beer into their taproom service. Places like Good Word in Duluth, Georgia, Wild East in New York City, Bonn Place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Fox Farm in Salem, Connecticut and perhaps most recently, Marlowe Ales in Mamaroneck, NY. Portland, Oregon is a particular hot spot in the country with Away Days, ForeLand, Steeplejack, and Upright regularly pouring cask beer, among others. These breweries that have more diverse offerings may have greater potential in introducing people to cask beer.

Though the taproom hand pump is new, Suarez planted the seeds for their cask beer service years ago. They’ve been making a few beer styles associated with cask beer that have been well-received. This includes their English-style Dark Mild, Saunter. That’s a style that many were not familiar with here in the US, and, like the influence they’ve had on lager, Suarez’s production of Saunter has likely helped many appreciate the traditional English ale. As a result, it’s not hard to find the style now.

Inspired by Theakston’s Old Ale, a beer that recently began being distributed here in the US again, they also released their take on that style late last year. The beer, Be It Known, is nitrogenated when canned to provide a texture that mimics cask beer.

Suarez has also temporarily installed a hand pump at events outside their brewery, in addition to casks used for bar top gravity dispense. However, having the handpump in the taproom creates a better way to introduce and educate customers to cask beer. This is due to the fact that the simple act of pulling a pint can get the attention of customers as it’s obviously not a standard tap. It usually allows for better temperature control as well. Finally, if you’re a fan of sparklers (which Suarez does use), you can use them to ensure a proper amount of foam.

Somewhat like the production of lager, making and serving cask beer is different than what many brewers and publicans are used to. So, while there is optimism with brewers like Suarez making cask beer, there must be a word of caution. Making good cask beer takes skill, training and experience. This is not news, but it’s worth repeating for a younger generation.  

Those who jump into cask production and service without knowing what they’re doing can really be detrimental if they end up serving lackluster beer to customers unfamiliar with the format. Customers may think a warm, under carbonated, oxidized beer is representative of cask as a whole.

That said, while there has been a ton of bad lager made in the wake of Suarez’s lager production, there have also been lots of good ones. And they keep getting better. This leaves me optimistic about the prospects of cask beer at the moment.

Bonn Place Brewing owner Sam Masotto decked out as Krampus and overlooking Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, ready to visit misbehaving patrons at his brewery. Source: Bonn Place Brewing.

If you’ve ever been to a brewery taproom and stolen glassware, left your obnoxious kids unattended, or asked for countless samples before buying a beer, your day of reckoning may be here. It’s Krampus season, and Krampus is popping up at more and more breweries around the US, ready to unleash ruthless punishment for all naughty patrons.

The Krampus tradition comes from European communities centered around the Alps (notably in Austria) and features a frightening mythical figure that is a counterpart to St. Nicholas. While St. Nicholas gives treats to children, Krampus punishes them for bad behavior. One form of punishment is a brutal beating with a bundle of birch sticks known as Ruten. Worse than that, one might be thrown in a sack and taken away forever. I’m not sure exactly where you will be taken. Probably Hell. Who knows? Maybe Mar-a-Lago.

Krampus’ appearance is characterized by goat-like horns, a long tongue, furry body, and hooves. The creature may also wear chains and bells. It’s not terribly unlike me in my late teens. I bet Krampus smells better though.

St. Nicholas and Krampus visiting a family. Source: the internet.

During the holiday season, Krampus begins to appear in Europe around December 5th, which is the eve of St. Nicholas' Day. This is the official Krampusnacht, or Krampus Night. Each year around this time, there are parades called Krampuslauf, or Krampus run, where people dress up like Krampus, some wearing ornately carved wooden masks, and they march through town beating drums. As it should be, the spectacle is entertaining for some and frightening for others.

Closer to home, more and more breweries are holding their own Krampus events in December. In a shock to no one who knows him, Bonn Place Brewing owner Sam Masotto has donned his very own Krampus costume for the event, which they have been celebrating since 2016.

St. Nicholas serves Krampus a beer in the Bonn Place taproom. Source: Bonn Place Brewing.

Bonn will be celebrating this year on December 5th and 6th with food, music, and beer, of course. And though Sam may dress like Krampus, he’s actually more like St. Nicholas. He uses the event to think of others and includes a clothing and coat drive.

Notch Brewing will be in the charitable spirit as well this year for a Krampus event at their Brighton location on December 14th. In addition to several other forms of revelry, they will be collecting toys and gifts for donation. The festivities will also include a Krampuslauf, a Krampus costume competition, and Krampus-themed holiday card making (Krampuskarten.)

Greetings from Bonn Place. Source: Bonn Place Brewing.

Greetings from Krampus. Left image source. Right image source.

In addition to Bonn and Notch, many other American breweries are making Krampus part of their regular holiday festivities. Sacred Profane in Biddeford, Maine, Live Oak Brewing in Austin, Texas, and Wild East Brewing in Brooklyn, New York, just to name a few.    

These celebrations are a relatively recent tradition in the US, and it’s one that presents lots of opportunity. I have some thoughts.

I firmly believe Krampusnacht could be the kickoff to an extended Starkbierzeit. Starkbierzeit is the strong beer season celebrated in Munich during Lent. To me, the perfect beverage for Krampus festivities is a strong and dark lager like Doppelbock. The strength and flavor are perfect for a cold December night. The fact that there’s goat imagery related to Bock beer and Krampus helps solidify this pairing.

A strong beer getting a hot poke in a stein from a bierstacheln at a Notch Brewing Starkbierzeit (strong beer season festival). Source: Notch Brewing.

Celebrations should include fires not only for ambiance, but also to heat metal rods in the bierstacheln tradition, where they’re used to warm a cold beer and nicely caramelize some residual sugars in the malty brews. And forget birch sticks for punishment. The scalding rods can also be used by Krampus to brand some jerk that uses British-style dimple mugs for lager.

As is the case for Starkbierzeit, a proper stein should be used. And not just for drinking. Pound the beer and smash that thing over the head of someone who calls a glass mug a stein.

Let the punishment begin!!!

After a guest hands you a six-pack on their way into your house, you say, “Oh, cool. Yeah, I’ve heard of this brewery.” Though it’s not their thing, they know you’re “into beer”, so they grabbed you something they thought looked interesting.

You crack one open to be polite, but before even tasting it, you’re fairly certain the remaining five are destined to sit in the back of your fridge, ignored and forgotten. Biding their time until their inevitable fate comes. The drain pour.

But now you have to grab a bottle of wine to bring to someone’s party and as a beer nerd not terribly familiar with wine, you’re a little unsure of what to get. Well, I’ve got Ethan Fixell here for assistance. As a beer and wine nerd, Ethan is the perfect person to ask for help.

I gave Ethan six widely available and affordable beer brands that most beer nerds would warmly welcome. Then I asked him to pair each with a wine that is also widely available and affordable. Since comparing wine and beer is often an apples to oranges situation, the idea of “pairing” is just for fun. Don’t take them too seriously. The real goal is to provide a handful of respectable wines that are easy to find and won’t break the bank.  

Here’s what Ethan said for the beers I selected along with some tips he provided at the end to keep in mind when buying wine.

Guinness

Lots of people think of Guinness -- with its iconic creamy texture and notes of roasted barley, coffee, and dark chocolate – as a heavier "dessert" beer. And while it is, indeed, chock full of complexity, at 4.2% ABV and with fewer calories than an average IPA, it's shockingly light on its feet.

Enter Shiraz: This bold grape variety boasts rich dark fruit flavors, firm tannins, and often a hint of spice, making it a robust match for Guinness and its roasted notes. However, unlike French "Syrah" (the same grape), when grown in Australia, the resulting varietal wine is far juicier and often -- due to oak aging -- tinged with notes of vanilla and wood.

Recommendation: Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz, Australia. This classic "down under" Shiraz delivers concentrated dark fruit flavors, firm tannins, and a hint of spice -- it's full-bodied, but never feels "heavy." Its fruitiness keeps it buoyant and vibrant.

Allagash White

As a Belgian-style witbier, Allagash White is known for its refreshing citrusy flavors, subtle spice notes, and light body. Similarly, Sancerre, in France's Loire Valley, is renowned for its crisp, dry Sauvignon Blanc-based wines that often exhibit vibrant acidity, grassy notes, and a hint of citrus.

Recommendation: Pascal Jolivet Sancerre. This widely available Sancerre is a classic example of the style, with bright acidity and those characteristic grassy, citrusy notes.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale -- to many the OG American craft beer -- is celebrated for its hop-forward character, medium body, and light caramel sweetness. While a white wine might seem like the obvious choice for a grape-based stand-in, I've got a particular red in mind that has a lot to offer.

Let's look to Burgundy, perhaps the highest regarded French wine region thanks to its elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Burgundian Pinot, specifically, is a lighter-bodied red, and is rich with earthy undertones, red fruit flavors, and a hint of spice. It reminds me of mushroomy, wet ground on the forest floor -- much like the woods at the base of the Sierra Nevada range.

Recommendation: Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir. This widely available and affordable Burgundy is a classic representation of the region/style, and Jadot is as ubiquitous and respected as Sierra Nevada is by beer nerds.

Miller High Life

Miller High Life, the "Champagne of Beers," deserves a sparkling companion that matches its easy-drinking nature and subtle fruit flavors. And this adjunct macro lager may be cheap, but it's still the best of a category. Let's give it the respect it deserves by pairing it with real deal Champers. 

Recommendation: Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Réserve, Champagne, France. This non-vintage Champagne offers bubbly effervescence, crisp apple and citrus flavors, and a touch of toastiness (do I detect echoes of the grain used to make Miller High Life?). For Champagne, it's super cheap ($35ish) and you can find it throughout the US.

Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell, the original Pilsner, is celebrated for its crisp, clean flavor, subtle bitterness, and refreshing finish. To complement these characteristics, we head to the sunny island of Sardinia, Italy, home to the Vermentino grape.

Sardinian Vermentino is known for its saline minerality, herbaceous and floral notes, and refreshing acidity, making it a perfect match for the Pilsner's hoppy bitterness and crisp finish.

Recommendation: Sella & Mosca La Cala, Vermentino di Sardegna, is the entry-level wine from one of the oldest and most renowned wineries in Sardinia. Its subtle saline note echoes the mineral character that comes from the soft water used in brewing Pilsner Urquell, while a subtle bitterness and hints of white flowers and rosemary mirror the beer's noble Saaz hops.

Leffe

Leffe Blonde, a Belgian abbey ale, offers notes of banana, clove, and pear, with a touch of honeyed sweetness and a slightly spicy finish. To complement its yeast-driven complexity, we turn to Bordeaux, the renowned French region known for its elegant red blends.

Bordeaux wines, typically dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, offer dark fruit flavors, subtle spice notes, and moderate tannins. The dark fruit in the wine complements the dried fruit notes in the beer, while the wine's subtle spice reflects the clove-like spiciness in Leffe.

Recommendation: Légende Bordeaux. This widely available Bordeaux, produced by the prestigious Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), offers a crowd-pleasing blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other Bordeaux varietals that harmonize beautifully, much like the complex flavor components of the Belgian ale.

Wine Shopping Tips

Check the storage conditions: Avoid buying wine from stores that keep their bottles in direct sunlight or excessively warm temperatures. These conditions can damage the wine and lead to off-flavors.

Look for signs of damage: Inspect the bottle for any cracks, chips, or leakage. Also, check the fill level of the wine. A low fill level can indicate that the wine has been exposed to too much oxygen, which can spoil it.

Ask for recommendations: If you're unsure of what to buy, don't hesitate to ask a knowledgeable salesperson for recommendations. They can help you find a wine that suits your taste and budget.

Drink!: At least 90% of all wines are meant to be enjoyed right away. Don't chase older vintages -- which can be more complex but are also more prone to spoilage -- unless you know what you're buying.