Drawing a good beer: Local artists put their mark on Illustration Ale
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Nathan Mazur's label for Illustration Ale, which will benefit the ToonSeum. -
Vince Dorse's label for Illustration Ale, which will benefit the ToonSeum. -
Mark Bender's label for Illustration Ale, which will benefit the ToonSeum. -
Jasen Lex's label for Illustration Ale, which will benefit the ToonSeum. -
Dave Wachter's label for Illustration Ale, which will benefit the ToonSeum. -
Ed Piskor's label for Illustration Ale, which will benefit the ToonSeum.
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If you ever were going to choose a beer solely for its label, you might want to choose an Illustration Ale.
The beer's good, too -- a dark Belgian-style ale made by East End Brewing Co. and bottled in 1-liter, swing-top bottles -- just 700 of them total. But the best part of the packaging are the labels, created by local artists. And $2 from the sale of each bottle benefits The ToonSeum, the Downtown cartoon museum.
This is the second year the local brewery, artists and museum have teamed up on a brew. Once again, there are six different labels. This year's were designed by Mark Bender of Mt. Lebanon, Vince Dorse of Green Tree, Jasen Lex of Chartiers City, Nathan Mazur of Holiday Park, Ed Piskor of Munhall, and Dave Wachter of Mt. Lebanon.
ToonSeum manager John Mattie notes in a news release that he's not above trying a craft beer based on what the label looks like, but, "We're proud to say that a product bearing The ToonSeum name is just as notable for what's inside the bottle as for the awesome art on the outside."
The brew will be unveiled at a tasting at the museum at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 4 where, in addition to getting the first sips, attendees can meet this year's and past label artists, even get autographed the bottle that is included in the $30 ($20 for museum members). A portion the ticket price, too, benefits the museum, which attendees can tour. Buy tickets at www.illustrationale.eventbrite.com (there is a service fee) or at the ToonSeum, 945 Liberty Ave. during regular business hours (toonseum.com or 412-232-0199).
For the unveiling, two Downtown restaurants, Nine on Nine and Taste of Dahntahn, will provide little bites, and Nine on Nine will have a case of Illustration to sell later that night, when both places will be pouring other East End brews.
Also Saturday, you'll also be able to buy Illustration Ale for $14 (plus $3 bottle deposit) per big bottle at East End Brewing Co. in Homewood (from noon to 5 p.m.), and growlers of draft at its booth at the Pittsburgh Public Market in the Strip District (from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; eastendbrewing.com)
First Published February 1, 2012 12:00 am
