Tis the season for Summer Ales!
Everyone has their favorite summer ales- they mostly correlate with the area you grew up. For those Jersey/New York folks it’s probably Brooklyn Summer, the New Hampshirans will grab a Red Hook Sunrye, for us Maniacs it’s that sweet nectar we call Geary’s Summer ale.
I’m not sure if its the long snowy winter, or the fact that we’re deprived from it for 9 months, but once you have that first sip of the sweet nectar in late April instinct kicks in to either lounge on the beach or turn on the grill.
Not only do I get excited for the taste of Geary’s Summer, I also can’t wait to see the new bottle/ box design that is picked from a group of contestants each season. Maine College of Art (MECA) collaborates with Geary’s Brewery to offer a $5000 scholarship to the student who comes up with the best label design. The past four years have been pretty on point with creating a design that captures the delicious summer taste, my favorite being the summer of 2005 (if anyone has their hands on a pic of this design please send to me, it’s a sunset over pretty marsh grass). Here is a little peak at year’s past:
Last year’s winner is the middle picture with the lobster. Lobsters definitely scream Maine but I peaked the MECA website to see what it was competing against and there are about 5 other designs, that in my opinion, totally beat out the Lobster (I really dig #18 and 20).
My immediate reaction was “Chucky Cheese Raunch“. I’m not sure why those words formulated in my head- maybe its the cheeriness of the label and the fact that it looks like its advertising to little children, i really don’t know. The buoys look too much like balloons and there is a total lack of Maine feel to it.
There are some people who disagree with my opinion of the 2009 label and
actually enjoy it, one of them being a fellow kitchen crow (
Vbar). Maybe her wise words will have an impact on me and sway my harsh opinion to a more neutral ground- the important thing here is that the contents of the bottle remain the same and will always be the sweet nectar of summer.
The Story of Holly
Told by Miz Emily
Holly first introduced me to the concept of "caw-ing" almost 3 years ago. My life has never been the same. By day this crow works the office life but by night you will certainly find Holly (Party Pants) Stevens in her Jamaica Plain kitchen cooking and dancing the night away in true crow fashion. Proudly hailing from Maine's Old Orchard Beach, this wild one has figured out how to combine her love for New England- its history, its food, & its boozy dance parties- with her love of classic elegance. Holly's food is fresh, locally produced, healthy, and full of flavor. A self-described salt hound, no taste bud goes untouched by a meal at Holly's nest. By combining simple salads with rich pastas, fish, and soups, no visitor will leave unsatisfied. Moreover, no hangover goes uncured when morning walks with Holly are kicked off with a hidden stash of irish coffee, and finished off by a nice warm plate of oven potatoes and frittata.
Glancing around her kitchen you will find a few staple items including a mini whisk (for perfect salad dressing), the classiest compost bucket I've ever seen, a kick-ass vegetable hutch, and most importantly a tasty beverage ready to meet your hand. Her home is cozy and warm, and her hospitality is outmatched by no one. On the bookshelves you will find recipes given to her by friends, and books like Omnivore's Dilemma and Salt: A World History, the later being one of the best book suggestion I've ever received, and the subject of her college thesis. Never missing the chance to make a dinner party a dance party, Holly is in constant motion, ready to motivate the group with classy tunes like Credence, Al Green, and GirlTalk. Unless, of course, Top Chef is on.
http://crowsinthekitchen.com
