The first release in Iron Horse Brewery’s new Artist Series is a local favorite, 509 NW Mild Ale, a beer that the brewery describes as being almost a pale ale. The Artist Series will be an ongoing series of beer labels designed by local artists. The new, limited release 16-ounce cans feature label artwork by local artist Justin Gibbens.
The official release is Friday, February 1st at the company’s pub in downtown Ellensburg. The artist will be there to discuss his work and autograph limited edition prints.
Gibbens, an artist from the nearby town of Thorp, was inspired by American regionalism, specifically Grant Wood’s American Gothic, the famous painting depicting two farmers, a man and woman, standing in front of their farmhouse.
The artist says, “When I found out it was a reboot of the 509, we started thinking, Okay, how could we make an image that would speak to that? …kind of thinking something bucolic, something rural, something rustic, but maybe also something that would bring my own personal aesthetic and influence, which would be a lot of naturalism and wildlife.”
The 509 is a beer that Iron Horse Brewery designed to be an easy-drinking beer for working people, like the many people who work the farms in Kittitas County and other parts of the 509 area code.
This limited release of 509 will be distributed in both a 4-packs and in single 16-ounce cans and will be available throughout Washington. It will also be available for purchase at the Iron Horse pub in Ellensburg.
The release party on February 1st is scheduled from 5:00 – 7:00, coinciding with the town’s First Friday Art Walk.
A portion of the sales from the prints will help fund arts education classes chosen by the artist. To view more work by Justin Gibbens, visit www.justingibbens.com .