If I told you I was coming over to your place and bringing a hobgoblin, a fiddler and a black witch you’d probably think that I’m taking a second run at Halloween or that I’ve slipped and hit my head on the kegerator.
Of course brewers take great pride in making tempting, unique and interesting beers that will thrill your palate, but another part of the fun is naming the beer. One stroll through the microbrew aisle at any good beer store and you’ll discover a huge variety of entertaining and appealing beer names. Surly Bender is a great beer, but its name comes across as a bit of a warning. Need a little company for fishing? Try Lakemaid from Schell’s Brewery. Need to drown out your troubles with the ex? Look for a sixer of Alimony Ale from Buffalo Bill’s Brewery.
In truth, those are all beers by the Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire, England. Hobgoblin, Black Wych, and Fiddler are just a few of their brews named for legends that have been told in their area for generations.
There is a wide variety of fun, beer names out there but the real question is if you were brewing, how would you name your creations? Personally, I like a theme such as the one Wychwood Brewery uses. Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub out of Idaho Springs, Colo., uses a legend about elf-like creatures that create mischief in the mines as a common theme on the labels of their beers such as Butt Head Doppelbock, Ornery Amber and Jack Whacker Wheat Ale. Is it cheesy? It can be, but there’s nothing wrong with a little goofball humor with your beer.
Now that we live in the age of technology, it’s easy for almost any home brewer to create his or her own cool beer labels. My friend, Dave Maxwell, in Holmen, Wis., has almost as much fun naming his beers as he does brewing them or even sharing them with friends. His most recent creation — a dry, rye roggenbier — was dubbed Rye-noceros. It’s perhaps the mellowest of his beer labels; Remington Hills Key Party Pilsner and Feisty Red Head had more of an innuendo.
They say you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, so I suppose that goes for beer too. Next time you’re in the beer aisle, take note of the cool names and labels that are out there and give one a shot. Maybe it’s time to try a Duck Duck Gooze, a Ridgeway Santa’s Butt or even some Moose Drool. It’s just a name, right?
Do you have a favorite beer name out there? Post a comment and let us know.
Until next time, keep your eye on the ball and your hand on a pint.
Photos by Ty Omoth.
Ty Omoth is a beer scribe for The Post and lives in Sioux Falls. Reach him at tyomoth@inbox.com.
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I'm going to name my beer after a 1980's major league baseball player. Maybe Willie McGee's Ale or Dale Murphy's Draft. Nice post Ty.
I'm going to name my beer after a 1980's major league baseball player. Maybe Willie McGee's Ale or Dale Murphy's Draft. Nice post Ty.
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