A. Fisher Brewing Company and Ken Sanders Rare Books have teamed up to produce a limited line of beers based on characters from Edward Abbey’s iconic novel, The Monkey Wrench Gang, illustrated by R. Crumb.
The beers, six in all, will feature the four main characters from the novel: Doc Sarvis, Bonnie Abbzug, George Washington Hayduke and Seldom Seen Smith. The two additional beers, The Whole Gang and The Wrench will round out the six-pack.
Each of the six beers will be a different flavor and will feature R. Crumb’s drawings from Edward Abbey’s comedic novel, which Ken Sanders and his Dream Garden Press published as a tenth-anniversary edition way back in 1985!
Cherished by lovers of nature around the globe, The Monkey Wrench Gang chronicles the exploits of George Washington Hayduke, Bonnie Abbzug, Seldom Seen Smith and Doc Sarvis. The gang, upset by the degradation and invasive development of the American Southwest, attacks the modes of destruction–bulldozers, mining equipment and a railroad line–machines of profit and industrial progress working to harm the earth.
The first beer, featuring Crumb’s depiction of the four members of the ‘Gang,’ will be released Saturday, Nov. 28.
Copies of the Crumb illustrated version of The Monkey Wrench Gang book will be available to purchase at Fisher Brewing Company, as will T-shirts featuring Crumb’s drawings. These items are also available at Ken Sanders Rare Books. The specially crafted limited-edition Abbey/Crumb MWG Beers MAY ONLY BE PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM FISHER BREWING.
Due to the limited nature of these releases, a six-can limit per customer will be enforced. This project is a fundraiser for Ken Sanders Rare Books. A portion of proceeds from beer sales will be donated to the bookshop.
Press availability with Ken Sanders and Fisher Head Brewer Colby Frazier will be available digitally, or by telephone, upon request. Please call 801-518-3147, or email Colby@FisherBeer.com, to schedule an interview.
Crumb’s artwork was adapted to beer label format by Jared Norby, of Renaissance Signs, in Salt Lake City.
Release Schedule:
- Nov. 28 ‘The Gang’ West Coast Pale Ale
- Dec. 5 ‘George Hayduke’ Bitter and Bright Rye Pale Ale
- Dec. 19 ‘Bonnie Abbzug’ East Coast Style Hazy Pale Ale
- Jan. 2 ‘Seldom Seen Smith’ Hoppy Ale utilizing three hops, one for each of Seldom’s wives
- Jan. 16 ‘Doc Sarvis’ Stout
- Jan. 30 ‘Wrench’ Juniper Red Ale
