Gigantic Brewing Magazine Issue #2

GIGANTIC BREWING MAGAZINE ISSUE #2

You’re looking at the results of the Hellion Gallery’s monthly sketchtab drawing events at Gigantic’s taproom.

Artists show up, have a pint or two, and turn Gigantic coasters into mini-art pieces. It’s a good way to lure often solitary artists out of their studios and a great way for Gigantic to support the beer habits of local artists.

For more about the Hellion Gallery, visit http://www.helliongallery.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram @ HellionGallery.

HEy, Look!

It’s issue number two of Gigantic Magazine!

Thanks to everyone who’s let us know how much they enjoyed the first issue - you’ve obviously convinced us that we should continue on in this endeavor. Hopefully you continue to get to know us better through this little fish wrap, and with any luck it will come with a smile and a chuckle.

In this issue, we continue with our mission of trying to introduce all of you wonderful beer nerds out there to the amazing artists with whom we’ve been fortunate enough to work.

You long time Gigantic fans may notice that our most recent bottle offerings look familiar. That’s because in honor of Gigantic’s 5th birthyear,

we will be re-releasing your favorite beers, starting with the first two we ever made, Axes of Evil and The City Never Sleeps.

In what for us is a long awaited development, we’re also excited to introduce you to B.J. and Wu G. Who are they, you may ask? Well, flip this over (or skip to the back for you digital upstarts) and start reading issue #1 of The Beery Adventures of BJ and Wu G. You’ll find out who they are, as well as how they built the mighty robot, Ginormo. You can look forward to many zany adventures in issues to come.

Thanks for reading. And thanks for enjoying the beer.

JAY HOWELL Jay Howell, a California native, is the character designer for Bob’s Burgers, the co-creator and illustrating force behind Nickelodeon’s Sanjay and Craig, and a prolific creator of drawings, cartoons and punk zines.

He frequently illustrates for Vans and other skate companies, collaborates with Eighty Four Films, and his art has been featured in Playboy Magazine. Oh, and did we mention his music and art print project, Mt.St.Mtn.? We feel pretty honored that Jay is one of our first label artists. You can follow Jay on Instagam @punksgitcut or check out his website at jayhowellart.blogspot.com We recently managed to pin Jay down long enough to answer a few questions about art, beer and life: G: What is the most fun thing about working on a TV show?

Jay: I think people think it's going to be fun. It's way too much compromise and confusion. I guess the funnest thing is telling people how

you made it out of a crazy situation and ended up creating something funny.

Everybody likes a crazy story.

G: How does the process of creating characters for animation differ from doing one-off drawings?

Jay: You shouldn't try to make characters for TV if you want to only make what you want. It's a big group decision and you have to be flexible and

inspired by others around you (which I enjoy sometimes ). When I'm at home it's just me, alone drinking beer, jamming music, getting weird- I love it more than anything in the world.

with them and they hated us. I love pushing back against authority. I'm 42 going on 16 at all times!

G: What is in your kegarator rightnow and do you have a favorite beer?

G: What is the weirdest thing about Jay: Right now we have on Three being a successful artist?

Jay: That you think I'm a successful

Weavers Kölsch and a sour beer from Ballast Point called Sea Pony which is left over from my girlfriend’s incredible beer festival, Brewbies.

My favorite beers this year are: Three Weavers Kölsch, Bagby Sweetride, Firestone Pivo, Eagle Rock Umlaut and Yearling, Noble Tank Top and Coors Banquet.

artist.

G: You've done two labels for Gigan tic- Axes of Evil and Finga Lickin' Good.

You probably don't know this, but Finga Lickin' received a very polite "cease and desist" from KFC because of the name. While this was about the name, have you ever caught serious flack for your content, which tends toward the hilarious but gross?

Jay: Yes soooo many times. Especially in TV. We would get busted by lawyers and standards and practices weekly.

We would go out of our way to mess

G: Can you briefly sum up the general importance of dogs in one's life?

Jay: I don't know how to put it into words. The love that I have for [my dog] Street Dog is beyond my understanding and I'm ok with that.

When he wakes up every morning it's like the first time he's ever seen the world and it puts my reality into a better perspective.

KFC- Not a fan.

The Obsessed THE OBSESSED was formed in the late 1970’s in Potomac, Maryland by legendary guitarist Scott “Wino” Wenrich (Saint Vitus/Spirit Caravan). The band spawned in the realm of artists such as Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, The Dictators and The Stooges.

The band went through several personnel and label changes over the following decades, ending with its current incarnation: Wino on guitar, Bruce Falkinburg on bass, Seraphim on guitar, and Wino’s longtime friend and former road crew member, Brian Costantino, on drums. The current line up marks the first time in 35 years the band has recorded as a four piece.

In April 2017, THE OBSESSED will unleash Sacred, produced by Portland’s Relapse Records. It is the band’s first studio album in over 20 years.

THE OBSESSED sounds heavier and more relevant than ever before. On Sacred, the band doubles down on enormous, heaving riffs and pummeling low-end doom.

Rounded out by Wino’s lyrical honesty and iconic throaty vocals, Sacred is an album that further pushes THE OBSESSED into the annals of heavy metal history.

The metal legends will perform live as a three piece featuring Wino, Reid Raley and Brian Costantino and have additional tour dates lined up through the end of the year.

Hear an exclusive preview track, “Haywire,” from THE OBSESSED ‘s new album, Sacred, at www.giganticbrewing.com/ pages/axesofevil Want to know more?: theobsessed.bandcamp.com relapse.com/the-obsessed-sacred

Axes of Evil

was Gigantic’s third beer EVER and first collaboration with 3 Floyds of Munster, Indiana. It is fitting that this beer should be one of our first “Greatest Hits”- fans have been begging for its return since the day it sold out. In acquiescence to popular demand and the special place this beer holds in our dark hearts, we’ve once again released this weapon of mass distraction on the world. Citrus, floral and tropical hoppiness lead to full malt flavour from proper English malt, kilned over Welsh coal. Brewed for those of us that live and die in the Timbers Army and Section 8.

LABEL ARTIST: JAy HOWELL SONG PAIRING: “HAYWIRE”

By The ObSESSED Little known fact: Nick Floyd of 3 Floyds and Gigantic’s Van Havig discussed this recipe at length, opining on the merits of coal-fired maltig and Pacifc Jade hops. Van has been friends with the Floyds crew for years, stretching back to the dark ages when Van worked with Chris Boggess, Todd Haug and Barnaby Struve at Rock Bottom. Who knew?

INGREDIENTS: Local Bull Run Water, Barley, Hops, YEast MALTS: Thomas Faucett Marris Otter, Simpson 30/37 HOPS: Crystal, PacIFIC JADE, NUGGET

AXES OF EVIL PALE ALE

-FOREIGN RELATIONSTwo Oregon Brewers go Dutch

In case you haven’t been paying attention,

American-style craft beer has gone global.

It was a densely foggy January morning in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, when Gigantic’s Van Havig and Cascade Brewing’s Art Larrance took the stage to address around 300 Dutch craft brewers (and one good natured German) at the first Dutch Craft Beer Conference.

The Netherlands- like many northern European countries- is in the midst of a rapid craft beer revolution with small independent breweries on the rise. Working in their favor is a well established, centuries old beer and drinking culture, along with a long standing Dutch tradition of openness to the rest of the world.

However, they face the daunting challenges of global

giant Heineken (along with a handful of other Dutch industrial brewers), and a closed tide house system that locks a particular bar to one beer manufacturer, leaving almost no openings for small upstarts to ob-

tain tap handles in long established pubs. However, if the crowds Gigantic witnessed at Oedipus Brewing in Amsterdam and Oproer and Maximus brewpubs in Utrecht are any indication, younger people in The Netherlands are embracing craft and the convivial pub culture that goes along with it.

Havig, whom the Dutch coverage of

the event accurately described as someone who “has no concern for conventions,” emphasized trying new things and not listening to naysayers. For those of you unfamiliar with Larrance, he is often called the godfather of Oregon craft beer and was instrumental in changing the laws in Oregon to make the current beer bounty possible.

Larrance sees The Netherlands in the same spot Oregon was in in the 1980s with one big advantageDutch brewers can learn from the U.S., and judging by the overall quality of the beer sampled, they are well on their way to blanketing Europe with quality craft beer.

With only a couple of digs directed at the limitations of the German Reinheitsgebot (the sole German brewer really did take it well), Havig

and Larrance both cited strong relationships with initially skeptical distributors, the drink “local” ethos, and the role of friendship as keys to the successful spread of craft beer in Oregon. Larrance concluded, “The Dutch brewers have a great advantage- we know the Germans aren’t going to take a chance... You guys are sitting on a gold mine.”

The US contingent to the conference was invited as a result of Larrance’s recent inclusion of international breweries from Portland “sister cities” at the Oregon Brewers Festival. Oregon brewers are enjoying an ongoing relationship and a flurry of collaboration brews with Dutch craft brewers as well as Japanese and German brewers. We say “proost” to more long and fruitful international friendships.

Facing page: Van and Art take the stage for the keynote address.

Left: Art hobnobs with Dutch writer and beer lover, Roald Giphart ,in front of the cameras.

ing in Oregon City to brew Oproer beer stateside. Mark explains, “We work closely [with Coin Toss]. Before, during and after the brew we are in contact with them over Skype and email... This way [Oproer beer] can be produced locally under our control and with the help of the expertise of Coin Toss.”

Meet Mark from Oproer Brouwerij Mark Strooker, the founder of Rooie Dop Brewing in Utrecht, is one of four people who combined forces to start Oproer (pronounced “uproar” and means roughly the same thing) in early 2015. Mark partnered with Bart-Jan Hoeijmakers of RUIG Bier and a couple of experienced restaurant people to create their brewpub, (which specializes in vegan food) and a new 20 BBL production system.

Mark describes Oproer as a little like Gigantic, which he thinks “is also a brewery with a soul, a bit crazy, fun and mostly making the world a little bit better with crazy ideas.”

Mark and Bart-Jan have collaborated with multiple breweries around the world (including Gigantic), so it seemed natural to sell their beer in the US and Oregon in particular since “Oproer loves Portland and Oregon”. The duo didn’t want to go the traditional export route, however.

According to Mark, it seems “kind of odd to ship [beer] all the way over the ocean with the main difference [in the recipe] being the Dutch water that is used in the beer.” So Oproer decided to do the logical thing: They started working with Coin Toss Brew-

Partnering with Coin Toss also allows Oproer to live another of its core values- environmental sustainability. Mark noted that “we mostly use imported (for us) American hops” and this way our beer can be consumed when it’s fresh instead of four months later” after being shipped across an ocean. “So with this, the environment, the people, and the beer can benefit. And that’s something Oproer cares about the most.”

Oproer was voted “best vegan dining in The Netherlands” in 2016. For now you have to travel to Utrecht to have the total Oproer experience, but that could soon change. Mark says their “goal is to open up an [Oregon] brewpub with a vegan restaurant, the same concept we have now in the Netherlands...Our ingredients used in the restaurant are organic... [we have ] a desire to create a conscious approach to how we eat together. We want to give everybody the feeling they are welcome...We try to work as sustainably as possible... Not because we are hippies, but because we think it’s logical and it is all about making the world a little bit better without compromising on quality, taste or having fun.”

Mark and Business Partner Bart-Jan share a pint

Brouwerij de Molen, one of the first craft breweries in The Netherlands, really is in a Windmill.

FACT: “Holland” is an area on the western coast where Amsterdam is located, not a country. The country is called The Kingdom of the Netherlands, but you can just call it The Netherlands. Though the people that live there are called “Dutch.”

It’s true- Many Dutch ride bikes everywhere. In Fact, 15,000 bikes are fished out of Amsterdam’s Canals annually.

Did you know there is a documentary about the Oregon/Dutch exchange? It is Produced

by Rick Nelson of Oedipus Brewing and Directed by Boris Booij, and you can watch the trailer at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Hm4_GugVWFo

Dutch Brewers at the OBF in 2014.

Photo Courtesy of Timothy Horn Photography.

Dutch Brewers think this Oregon Coffee COmpany is Hilarious. -------->

a real live dutch brewer lives on this canal boat in Amsterdam

Born James Otto Seibold 1960, Oakland, CA Drew Barrymore

1987Officially bcomes freelance illustrator.

1990-1994 Does a stint in NYC

1993- Writes the first Mr. Lunch book. The main character is based on his Jack Russell terrier, Dexter Lunch.

Early influences: Ultraman and Speed Racer

art has been shown at Mass MOCA, Deitch Projects NYC, The Getty LA, Contemporary Jewish Museum SF, Grass Hut Portland, MOCA LA, The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts SF, Gallery Paule Anglim SF, Oakland Museum CA, Juxtapoz Gallery Detroit, and Galerie Impare in Paris.

1999- His book, Olive, the Other Reindeer is made into a television special. Olive is voiced

by Drew Barrymore.

He has done freelance illustration for years including clients such as: Nike, Time Warner, Girl Skateboards, Pixar, Comcast, Giant Robot, Target, TiVo, 826 Detroit, Quaker Oats, Fox Entertainment, Gnu Skateboards, Swatch, Nordstrom Seibold has written and illustrated over 20 books.

See more at jottodotcom.com and garbagecitymercantile.bigcartel.com

James works in the art department for Disney’s 2001 hit, Monsters Inc. This is some of his concept art for the film.

“It might look terrifically simple once it’s done, but then that’s the beauty of it. That it doesn’t look labored. What I’m really trying to do with my children’s books is create stories and images that in ten years’ time will still have meaning, will age gracefully. Everybody is so visually literate these days that it is difficult to stay on top of movements and not end up looking like somebody else by pure accident.”

-J. Otto Seibold

2013: Publishes Lost Sloth.

2012- Does label for Gigantic Brewing, a career highlight, we’re sure.

Present- Sloth shop sells J. Otto tees in Oakland.

Astro Tan Originally formed as a prison/prom band at Charles Bukowski High School, Astro Tan spent years playing soul clubs on the ghost town circuit.

The three-piece Psychedelic R&B band from Portland, Oregon, has also worked as the house act in the lounge of a derelict Japanese cruise ship, playing for forgotten Hollywood stars under a slowly turning disco ball since the late 70’s.

Canary, released in February, is Astro Tan’s debut full-length release after several years of touring the west coast. Canary navigates its listeners through a pensive yet hopeful dystopia daydream.

Listen to the single “Pipedream” at www. giganticbrewing.com/pages/ thecityneversleeps or find out more about the band at https://astrotan.bandcamp.com/album/canary

LABEL ARTIST: J. Otto Seibold SONG PAIRING: “PiPEDREAM”

By ASTRO TAN

The City Never Sleeps

imperial black saison emerges from the dark recesses of our minds. A beer shrouded in mystery and depth of flavor, it could lead to a night you will never forget. Experience flavors of dark chocolate, cherry, blackberry, toffee, floral and peppery spice- all with a surprisingly light finish.

THE CITY NEVER SLEEPS IMPERIAL BLACK SAISON

FACT: This was the second beer Gigantic ever made, and is back by popular demand. The idea was kicking around in Ben Love’s head even before Gigantic was born. Deceptively black in color, it contains unexpected delight.

INgredients: Local Bull Run Water, Barley, Hops, YEast Malts: Pilsner, MELanoidin, simpson 70/80, special B, Smoked Black Prinz, Demerara Sugar.

Hops: Mt Hood, Nugget

IN MEMORY OF BEN FLERCHINGER Ben and I share the same name, which gives us membership in the not so rarified group of brewers named Ben in Portland, and the honor of being honored at the annual Benfest. One of my favorite memories from Benfest was the year it was held at Imperial Bottle shop, which is close to Ben and his wife Margaret’s house. Ben had us all over to their place for some pre-Benfest drinking in his backyard. The theme was “dressed to impress” and while we all changed into our finest suits, Ben and his friend Darin let us know they had re-worked the Kids in the Hall “Dave’s I Know” to be “Ben’s I know”. They proceeded to sing the song, complete with personalized lyrics about the Bens they know.

The lyrics were thoughtful and geekily funny, and that was Ben’s way.

Ben was always sharing. Whether it was a story or a song he thought you should kow, a bad joke he thought you would like, a baked good you had never heard of, or a beer when you were low on cash. If he had something simple that would brighten your day he was genuinely happy to contribute. That is real generosity. - Sam I will remember his kindness, his hat collection, his sense of humor that ranged from wry to zany, and his mad karaoke skills. My last memory of Ben will alwyas be a hug, a “love ya!” and a big smile. I feel lucky to have known and worked with him. -Emily

When thinking about Ben I picture him smiling, with a wry look on his face and an attitude that it’s all going to work out, there’s no reason to sweat it. He exuded a calmness about him all the time. I’ll remember the person that introduced me to the amazing tradition that is a “meat locker”.

I can’t say enough how much I miss him, and how there’s any emptiness that will now forever exist in our brewing and Ben community, a piece that only he filled.

-Ben Love

1976-2017

I remember Ben being a part of the brewing community for as long as I knew there was a brewing community in Portland, though I really got to know him during his time a Gigantic. Ben possessed a work ethic that would impress a midwesterner such as myself. He had a quiet demeanor that housed quite the intellect...and the driest English-style humor.

We would talk about our favorite Star Wars movie. You know, that one where Spock was shot into Tatooine, transforming the planet into Endor. That was the best.

We all lost such a good person when Ben passed. I have the deepest sympathy and warmest wishes to all of Ben’s loved ones and the people whose lives he’s touched. -Scott (AKA, Guckel)

On October 21, 2015 Ben came to work dressed up for Back to the Future Day. He was usually on the quieter side, but then sometimes he would surprise us and out of nowhere he would do somethng like show up to work in a Doc costume. He always made us laugh- sometimes his humor was subtle and sometimes more obvious, but he was constant in his efforts to make us smile. - Ashley I’ll always remember Ben this way - working hard along with us and making the day pass quickly with his constant goofy jokes and good humor.

His contribution to the Portland brewing community can never be understated, not just in terms of his creative brewing, but also in terms of his contributions in organizing events that are part of our lives now, like the Lucky Lab Barleywine fest and Portland’s Cheers to Belgian Beers. He’s a man who left a permanent mark on the city, its breweries and its brewers.

We miss the word play, the constant playing of Men at Work and the collected works of Colin Hay, the good ideas, the jokes, the camaraderie and so much more. He left his hoodie here on his last day of work and said, “Don’t worry, I’m coming back.” We’ll always have it here for you, Ben. It was an absolute joy and privilege to have Ben work with us at Gigantic. We will all miss him greatly -Van There are not enough good things in the world that can be said about Ben, so I’m not going to try. Although I only worked with Ben for a short time, I can’t help but look up to him (literally and figuratively) as a big brother. I want to thank him for his patience in teaching me how to brew, thank him for not picking on me too much, and thank him for all the laughs.

I don’t know how all this afterlife crap works, but if you can read this, I already miss the shit out of you, brother. - Ben 3

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