Movie Tagline: A ghoulish tale with wicked humor & stunning animation
Jack Skellington IS the Pumpkin King, so it is only right to pair his movie with the Southern Tier version, Pumking. Whereas Jack is the king of Halloween Town, Pumking is the king of fall release pumpkin beers. Or so many would have you believe. The truth is, Pumking is about as divisive a beer as Nightmare is a movie. Those who love it do so with admirable fervor, but there are an equal number of people who would rather drink pumpkin-flavored cyanide than the vanilla-scented, sickly sweet Pumking. Similarly, there are people out there with Jack Skellington tattoos, shoes, shirts, mugs, backpacks, hoodies, purses, headphones, picture frames, phone covers, jewelry, flash drives, pajamas, floor mats, plush dolls, and so much more. And there are people who would rather watch those people drink pumpkin-flavored cyanide than watch The Nightmare Before Christmas ever again. But all the hype and all the hate shouldn't color your own enjoyment (or lack thereof) of this pairing. Just watch the movie. Drink the beer. Form your own opinion. The great thing about these two is that, even if you don't enjoy them, hopefully you can appreciate the craft it took to bring them to you. Pumpkin beers are not easy to make, even if they are make with pumpkin puree, as Pumking and most others are. It still takes time and patience to craft a good one. And time and patience are key to Nightmare's distinct visual style. Stop-motion is a painstaking process. To capture Jack's wide emotional range, for instance, the filmmakers created and used over 400 heads for him alone. So, when the leaves start to change and you trade your shorts and sandals for pants and a jacket, it's time for Jack Skellington and Pumking. Even if you're not into sweet pumpkin beers and overly morbid children's entertainment, give these two a chance. Surely you will find something to enjoy in both of them. And, if you don't, you can at the very least rest assured in the knowledge that you are not the only one.
0 Comments
Movie Tagline: An all-new adventure down the yellow brick road
Return to Oz was not well received upon release, most likely because people thought it was going to be more like the MGM musical from 1939. You know the one. People wanted more singing and less Fairuza Balk. But this story is much more akin to the source material than its predecessor. The Oz of 1985 is a dark and twisted place. Walter Murch, the sequel's director, was supposedly forced to tone down the creep-factor, but what does remain is still bleak and sporadically terrifying. Unfortunately, it is also a film that cannot escape the shadow of what came before it. The same could be said for the Golden Pale Ale from the Wychwood Brewing Company known as Scarecrow. While it is a solid offering in its own right, this beer will always draw comparisons to Wychwood's Hobgoblin, a Dark English Ale that is the company's flagship beer and biggest commercial success. And, yes, when pitted against the Hobgoblin in a taste test, it will probably lose nine times out of ten. But judged on its own merits, Scarecrow is a velvety, dry English Ale that is just the right amount of malty and bitter to make it a refreshing and flavorful beer. When judging Return to Oz on its own merits, you can see that there is a lot to like in this movie. Yes, it is bleak (a doctor tries to give Dorothy Gale electroshock therapy!). And, between the Wheelers, and all of Dorothy's old friends being turned to stone, and evil Princess Mombi with her interchangeable stolen heads, it can be seen as a bit traumatizing for young kids. But for consenting adults who like to drink beer and watch twisted 80s kids movies, this one is really something special. So follow the yellow brick road down a winding trail of terror and sadness. Just don't forget to bring the beer.
Movie Tagline: NONE
This pairing comes about because of one particular scene in the German gross-out movie Wetlands. The movie is about a disgusting yet attractive girl who has divorced parents and medical issues with her butt. None of that is important as far as this pairing goes. You see, Brew Cocky is a play on the term bukkake. For those of you who don't know, bukkake is when a number of "gentlemen" encircle a "lady" and proceed to "finish" themselves atop her face and chest. It's not pretty, but there you have it. Sorry, but we had to cover that to get to the Wetlands scene. I know you're excited about it now. So there's a bit in the movie where Helen, the protagonist with the butt problem, relates a story to the male nurse she's got the hots for about an urban legend she once heard involving a local pizza place. Apparently, after dealing with an especially rude customer on the phone, the men who work at the pizza place decided to bukkake the customer's pizza before sending it out for delivery. The scene is beyond explicit, but it's also pretty hilarious, with shots of slow-mo ejaculate and an over-the-top, operatic musical score. There's no other beer in existence to pair with that scene, so Brew Cocky wins the dubious distinction of being the "Best and Only Beer to Drink While Watching Some German Dudes Sexually Defile a Pizza". Congratulations to the guys at 2nd Shift Brewing for that one. Thankfully, I think they will take that as a compliment.
Movie Tagline: Two worlds. One hero.
Sometimes pairings are difficult. It can be hard to find a movie that complements a beer's depth and flavor while still being accessible enough to make it worth finding and watching it. Sometimes there's a pairing that seems perfect, but the beer is 13% ABV and the movie is three hours long. That's never going to work. There are many factors to take into consideration, and it can often be hard to find just the right pairing that brings everything together. This one presented no such difficulty. Thor is about an arrogant god (also named Thor) who is cast out of his home world of Asgard (for being a jerk) and forced to live on Earth amongst the puny humans who inhabit it. Thor makes some friends, but he also makes some enemies. In the end, he becomes one of Earth's finest defenders. And he gets a human girlfriend. Don't get me started on the problems inherent in that doomed relationship. Just as Thor is the only one who can wield his mythical hammer, Mjölnir, not everyone is going to be able to handle this fantastic Imperial IPA from 4 Hands Brewing. With layers of complex flavors, a symphony of sweet and bitter citric hops, and a surprisingly present and biscuity malt backbone, this beer will smack you right in the face like a slap from an arrogant Norse god. Hyperbole? Sure, maybe a little. But if the God of Thunder showed up at your door and demanded a refreshing beverage, this would be the one to give him, and that's not hyperbole, that's a stone-cold fact. It is pungent, but well-balanced. It is big and hoppy and bitter, but shockingly drinkable. Even all-business Agent Coulson would marvel (see what I did there?) at this beer's perfect marriage of full flavor and refreshment. What I'm trying to say is this: if you want to drink beer like a god, you must drink 4 Hands War Hammer. That's all there is to it. |
AboutThis is the page where the pairings live. They are over there, to the left of what you are currently reading. I don't know how you missed them. Archives
August 2016
Categories
All
|