Mother Road Collaborating with NAU’s Cline Library For Archive Ale

In a community effort of historic proportions, Mother Road Brewing Company has teamed up with Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library and Grand Canyon National Park on a special beer release that honors both art and history.

The end product is Mother Road’s Archive Ale, a heavily dry hopped IPA using Citra and Simcoe hops. The beer is packaged in the brewery’s popular 16-ounce cans with an entirely removable top that feature the art of Mormon cowboy artist William Dean Fausett. Fausett’s colorful works are featured in Cline Library’s  Fred Harvey Collection, an eclectic mix of materials pertaining to the operations of one of America’s largest restaurant and resort companies.

The beer is set for release in a special ceremony slated for 6 p.m. Friday, May 6 at Mother Road’s Tap Room. Prior to the tapping, history buffs and art fans alike are encouraged to visit the library’s archives on NAU’s campus and view the art being honored. The pieces will be on view beginning at 5 p.m.

Faussett’s works, including his “Seven Stages of Drunkenness” series, adorned the walls at El Tovar, the historic hotel situated at the rim of the Grand Canyon. They were also featured on drink and wine menus used by the Fred Harvey Company, which had a large presence in the Southwest.

“This project brings together our love of history and craft beer, and to take part in the Fred Harvey legacy by releasing Archive Ale at the Grand Canyon is an honor,” said Michael Marquess, who co-founded the brewery alongside his wife Alissa. “Alissa and I are NAU grads too, so we love being able to give back to the university and the community with this collaboration.”

The limited release beer will be available at all Grand Canyon National Park lodges, restaurants and bars while supplies last.

On the release day, Archive Ale project participants will speak briefly on their efforts at the Archives starting at 5:30 pm, and then the celebration moves to Mother Road for the first-ever tapping of Archive Ale. The beer will be available in pints and seven-packs, with a portion of every sale donated to Cline Library’s Special Collections and Archives. Guests can expect light refreshments and live music courtesy of Andy See and His Swingin’ Jamboree. Stop by and sip on the collaboration brew while learning a thing or two about Arizona’s colorful past!