The Artful Lager

Ah, Gang Aft Agley: the little sly fox scotch ale with the big 'ole name taken from the lips of a poet whom can burn the palate with his words and singe the soul with imagery.

The poem "To a mouse" references the futile attempt at planning and how our schemes gang aft agley [that is often go awry]. The reference, as JoeSixpack pegged it in his review of the brew, is a buzzkill. But in the words of artist Ralph Steadman “Half of art is accident,”. You can’t have success without failures first, and in many cases, a marksman can hit a bulls eye even when he misses his target. I love that this ale has a name with bite (much like its taste).

I love beers where inspiration is splashed on the label. Not only does it give you something to talk about while you drink, but it also gives a glimpse into the mind of the brewer. Paying tribute to heroes that push us on is part of the motivation for all creative types: we want to make something that we and our friends can use and enjoy. Since most of our heroes are long passed the age of enjoyment (not to mention friendship), attributing a beer to one is a good way to share your appreciation with the collective spirit of fans all around the world.

So what are your favorite “inspired” brews? One of my personal favorites is the Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter brew with the wonderful artwork by the aforementioned Ralph Steadman.