From the Beer Writer: Since being diagnosed with lupus late last year, I have learned a great deal about this chronic condition. Yet, Steve Peterson still managed to teach me something through his participation in the Beer to the Rescue campaign benefiting the Lupus Foundation of Southern California. He and head brewer Will Gallaspy (a recent transplant) developed an imperial red ale, a portion of the proceeds of which will be donated to the LFSC. When deciding on a name for the beer, Peterson did some digging to find a fitting handle. Rogerius references Rogerius Frugardi, who is credited with the use of word lupus to describe the source of certain symptoms associated with the disease back in 1230 ad. The word translates to “wolf” in Latin. There are theories that lupus lesions reminded people of injuries from wolf attacks or that facial lesions led people to believe lupus sufferers to be werewolves. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to howl at the moon…and enjoy this complexly malty red.
From the Brewer: “I am thrilled to be in San Diego, but I must confess to a bout of autumnal ennui any time this season finds me too far from the nearest stand of maples or aspens and I’m unable to spend a few cool afternoons marinating in their metachromatism. I have heard that the senses of smell and taste have the strongest links in memory in humans, and while strong ales may have given all a night or two we can’t remember, any beer fan knows that truly appreciating a great beer is about allowing your senses to lead your mind inward, through the network of intersections between the cerebral and the subconscious, to evoke associations with things that are not immediately in front of us. This beer is an attempt to harness the power of beer to bring us to another place. My hope is that as you quaff this American strong ale, you take time to slip away into the shad of its copper color, inhale its warm and woodsy aromas, and forage through its toffee-like malt base long enough to unearth notes of date, candied apple and baked pear before a long cedar finish coaxes you back to reality.”—Will Galaspy, Head Brewer, 32 North Brewing Co.