What could be better at the end of a long hard week in the lab than a nice refreshing craft beer? And hey, if you’re a zymologist, you can call it research!
Why a goat (aside from those elegant horns that conveniently help form the “Z”, that is)? Goats have a long association with beer– specifically bock beer– thanks to a regional German accent.
Quoth Wikipedia: The style known now as bock was a dark, malty, lightly hopped ale first brewed in the 14th century by German brewers in the Hanseatic town of Einbeck. The style from Einbeck was later adopted by Munich brewers in the 17th century and adapted to the new lager style of brewing. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced “Einbeck” as “ein Bock” (“a billy goat”), and thus the beer became known as “bock”. To this day, as a visual pun, a goat often appears on bock labels.
That’s all the excuse I need. :-)
Meanwhile, back at the lab– Curious Art Lab, that is– I’ve brewed up some prints of this image for you!
My mind leapt not to Bock (about which I was previously ignorant; thanks for the reference) but Bacchus (via Satyrs). But now I see my error: Bacchus is associated with wine, not beer, (though Google tells me “Bacchus Beer” is a thing in Belgium, as well as a craft brewery of the same name in NY).
I found you through your word pictures on A.W.A.D. and have had a thoroughly enjoyable time browsing your site since then with my family members, particularly my teenage daughter, who greatly admires your work. Thanks for engaging our imaginations with your artwork!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Ben– I love it that your whole family is involved!
Funny about the Bacchus connection– as I was painting I was musing about the satyrs due to the goat connection, but somehow didn’t think of the next level wordplay of Bock/Bacchus. I did privately name my zymologist Johann Sebastian Bock, though, so I was only missing three letters! ;-)
Delightful. I understand J.S. was a beer drinker. Also his fictional legacy, P.D.Q., composed “Beer barrel polka” (from “The Short-Tempered Clavier, S. easy as 3.14159265”). So there’s that …
OK. I’m done now with Bock/Bachhus/Bach, I think. ;)
Bacchus* Darn, where’s the edit button.
I love P.D.Q. Bach! Clearly we’re nerds of a feather. ;-)
zymurgy, bock beer, great time to have one , right now! The weather is pretty bad here, wet cold , wet , cold and windy ….did you know the rain was whole day going on? So …now a glass of bock!
I’ll drink to that! Happy 2015, Leah. It’s going to be great! -Ted