MEOW #71: "Hold My Beer"

[benchen71]

Cat is out with a shove from the constructor. Thanks, Rick. This was a cool puzzle. You're getting to be prolific!

[Cap'n Rick]

OK, Day 2 and I'm seeing a lot of improvement. At least the PMs have gone from "What's the @#$%&! mechanism?" to "How many beers had you had when you came up with this mechanism?" That's progress, I guess... Let's see who the cat dragged in since yesterday:

Leaderboard:
Billy
Jonn
Idriss Z
Chris Kochmanski
Gutman
Ergcat
frostyjhammer
Jasonbr
MamaE
benchen71
hbxwords

This brings our solver total to 27. (Looks like the odds of winning the $15 Boston Beer Company gift certificate are going to be pretty good.)

Nudges tomorrow!

[Cap'n Rick]

OK, time for Nudges!

The brewing company's slogan appears in the clues.

You've seen the "big picture" by "connecting the dots" and "drawing a beer" (i.e. pilsner-type glass). Now focus on the five entries that make up that drawing.

More specifically, focus on the clues of the five entries that make up the drawing.

Look at the first letters of the clues of the five entries that make up the drawing.

See, I told you it was a "Calico".

[Dow Jones]

Cat has been nudged (only 4 times) out of the bag. Excellent grid design and meta, Cap'n Rick !

[CromsFury]

That Cat sure does like his alcohol!

[Cinny]

Cat is out, but only after nudges. Clever meta!

[rjy]

Embarrassed to say I needed three of those nudges, but to be fair, there were a number of paths this could have taken, and I took ‘em all. Cheers

[CPJohnson]

Needed the first 2 nudges to get it.

[rjy]

And forgot to mention … really enjoyed the theme, clueing, and clever grid art, @Cap'n Rick!

[Cap'n Rick]

The overnight Nudges slaked the thirsts of a few more Muggles:

Leaderboard
Dow Jones
markhr
Cindy Heisler
CromsFury
Cinny
rjy
CPJohnson

Total number of solvers is now 34.

[MikeyG]

Ah, okay, nice mechanism - just cracked it! Now time for the Brewers...to get defeated by my beloved Chicago Cubbies! (Can we start the season 2 - 0? Let's see!!)

[Abide]

U

[KayW]

Nudged out of the bag. Doh! Very clever.

[Cap'n Rick]

Day 4 and a few more cats are out of the sack:

LuckyGuest
Carolyn
Jimbo
DIS
Abide
MikeyG
KayW
Schmeel
MaineMarge
Laura M
Qmark

This brings our total to 45. Keep 'em comin'!

[MaineMarge]

Good one Captain!
The kitten is headed upward, ready to pounce.

Via the Cloud Appreciation Society

[Cap'n Rick]

Day 5 brought four more "Beer" lovers to the party bringing our total to 49:

Jeremy Smith
LindaPRmaven
Johnny Luau
michaelm

Stop back tomorrow for the big drawing to see who will win the $15 Boston Beer Company gift certificate!

[michaelm]

Last!

(Maybe)

[Cap'n Rick]

The meta answer is "PABST" (including several other PABST- and PBR-related answers).

After completing the grid, solvers needed to "see the big picture" (per 17-Across) and "connect the dots" (i.e. circles) to "draw a beer" (all good beers are "drawn", right?) that resembles a vintage Pabst Blue Ribbon glass.

The elements of the drawing included 5 beer containers or "holders": TANK(ARD), GROW(LER), KEG, MUG, and TALLBOY. Now here's where it got a little tricky for many solvers. They needed to examine the clues for those 5 entries and then select the first letters of the clues (in grid order) to spell the meta answer.

The clues were as follows:

I also provided one additional hint at 64-Across - the old Pabst slogan "What'll You Have?".

I'd like to thank @madhatter5 for giving me this opportunity to guest-construct on MEOW. I had a lot of fun creating this "non-standard" meta puzzle, and I thank everyone for their indulgence. I'd be happy to help Josh again in the future (right after I finish my Sam Adams!).

Oh right, speaking of Sam Adams, the lucky winner of the $15 Boston Beer Company gift certificate is: (drum roll please!)

Congratulations @ImOnToo! Give that Muggle a "Blue Ribbon"!

Cheers!
Cap'n Rick

[ImOnToo]

I’m honored to be the lucky winner, Cap’n!
Thank you!