Beer-Stein
Brass Glass
“Beer, if drunk in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit and promotes health.” – Thomas Jefferson
Beer-Stein by Rocky Chiarro
I’m preparing for a few interesting events coming soon here at Boxes and Booze. In preparation, over the next few weeks I’ll be featuring a mini-series of a few works by everyone’s favorite brass puzzle artist, Rocky Chiarro. Rocky likes to keep his conversations short and sweet (he is a very wise man) and who am I to argue with that wisdom?
Rocky, who is still making puzzles in his garage workshop in Pueblo, Colorado, got his start as a machinist for Colorado Fuel and Iron when he was twenty-two years old, straight from his four year stint in the Navy. He was their youngest machinist ever, and his supervisor tried to hand him a broom on his first day, not realizing. He made his first eight piece interlocking cube puzzle while in the Navy, and was surprised that his buddies had trouble putting it together.
Rocky's signature move
His “Beer-Stein” was part of a set of puzzle “vessels” he invented, which also includes the “Ice-Bucket” and “T-Pot”. Each simply needs to be opened, and has space inside, so can be considered a puzzle box. I wouldn’t recommend putting any beer inside this stein, but I suppose that technically you could. Rocky always starts his design process with the solution, which is amusing in this case. But I’m not talking about beer. He envisions the mechanism and has to see how the puzzle will work entirely in his head, before he sits down to create a prototype.
I’m raising my glass to Rocky to toast his clever puzzle vessel with a beer themed cocktail I created. The impetus for this cocktail came about from an international gathering of puzzle minded folks I joined a few months ago – a virtual puzzle party. Try it at your own gathering, virtual or otherwise. Cheers!
The "Shandoni"
Packing Puzzle Potion
With five pieces, this puzzle has an infinite number solutions (you might think it should be 120, but you would be forgetting the unlimited combination of proportions), yet there are four distinct challenges to attempt depending on your mood and inclination. First, assemble your pieces as best you can. It's fine if you don't have all of these, or can't be bothered. You are also ALLOWED to use external tools (perish the thought). This puzzle is meant for everyone.
The possibilities are endless, but the choice is clear
Pieces:
Gin
Sweet vermouth
Campari
Lemonade
Beer of choice
Challenge 1: "The No Fuss"
Use any of the pieces as is, combine any two, or introduce an external tool. Examples: Have a beer! Try an Americano (Campari and vermouth). A Campari and soda is nice. And of course, a gin and tonic. There's also lemonade if you don't drink or want alcohol.
Challenge 2: "The Brit"
Combine lemonade and beer of choice approximately 50:50 for a "Shandy". The classic British "pub water" from 1850 goes down easy and is typically made with pilsner, although I love it with a hoppy IPA.
Challenge 3: "The Snob"
Here's a classic Negroni, with equal parts gin, sweet vermouth and Campari. Invented in Florence over 100 years ago, it's an acquired taste but once you've acquired it, there's no going back. For the sophisticated palate. OK, let's be honest, the pretentious crowd.
Challenge 4: "The Shandoni"
The ultimate goal is to create a Shandoni, a delicious portmanteau of shandy and negroni. Combine the negroni and the shandy in the following proportions: 1/2 oz (15ml) each gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, then top with 50:50 beer and lemonade.
Beer Cheer
For more from this artist: