Award-winning homebrewer and certified beer judge, J. Wilson will be on hand releasing, reading from and signing his new book, “Diary of a Part-Time Monk, this Saturday, December 10 from 1-5 p.m. at the Corning Center for Fine Arts.
Working to nourish their bodies through lengthy Lenten fasts, the monks of Neudeck ob der Au outside of Munich are credited with developing the rich-and-malty doppelbock style of beer. Packed with carbohydrates, calories and vitamins, this unfiltered “liquid bread” is said to have sustained the monks from Ash Wednesday to Easter, and more than 300 years later, the monastic history and quality of this beer style is well-known throughout the world.
A writer and semi-professional beer drinker, Wilson embarked on a 46-day beer-and-water fast to test the legend of doppelbock’s origins, church connections and nutritional value, as well as his own will power—and live to tell the tale. Wilson teamed up with Eric Sorensen, head brewer at Rock Bottom—Des Moines to collaborate on a commercial-scale batch of Wilson’s bock recipe. The result, Illuminator Doppelbock, brewed with Weyermann Munich, Vienna and CaraMunich malts and hopped with Zeus and Liberty hops, was “a bold, unfiltered monk’s Lenten session beer,” weighing in at 6.67 % alcohol by volume and 288 calories per 12-ounce serving.
Come hungry and thirsty. A Soup ‘n Bowl event is also taking place at the Art Center where you can purchase a bowl and have it filled with your choice of soup. Also local brewer, Monte Hensley, will be on hand with a “mock” sample of the beer used during J. Wilson’s fast.
Hope to see you there!
You won’t want to miss this month’s Second Satruday at the Corning Center for the Fine Arts! Artist Kathleen Coy will be on hand to discuss techniques, subjects, and style with her mix of landscapes, animals, and other works. It all starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, August 13 with refreshments sponsored by the Corning Winery. Her show will continue until September 9th. Also, if you missed this year’s En Plein Air, there are still many fine works on display and for sale at the Center.
Have you met the current artist-in-resident at the Corning Center for the Fine Arts? If not, here’s your opportunity to meet Zack Jones during a wonderful event. At the “Art and Historic Preservation” opening reception October 9th from 3-9 p.m., you can enjoy the creative atmosphere at the gallery while meeting Zack and enjoying his latest series of paintings. The Corning Winery will be on hand, Tim from the “Swamp Boy Blues” will be performing and Dede Johnson from the Omaha Clayworks will be sharing her passion for art. Also enjoy some hors d’oeuvres and home brew. If you miss the reception make sure you stop by during October to meet Zack and hear his story. Zack Jones is an Iowa native that moved back from Phoenix four years ago. Zack’s a full time oil painter developing a name for himself while bringing the arts to rural Iowa and now bringing rural Iowa into art. He joined Corning Center for Arts Residency program in June 2010. Jones entered the program to work on commission projects but was captivated by Corning’s Opera House renovation. Hope to see you October 9th. I plan to be there. It’s awesome! To learn more about the Corning Center for the Fine Arts check out their website at