True confession: I love movies. The best thing to do in my opinion is to enter a movie theater, with a good glass of something in your hand and loose yourself in another world for two and a half hours. To experience sights and sounds that only exist on the very fringes of your imagination. To embark on an epic journey of high adventure and romance with characters you grow to care about… To be inspired, to be moved—what can be better?
As it happens, brewers are not really different from you or I. They like movies just as much (if not more) then most. Some breweries take their passion for cinema to the next level, and develop a specialty beer to honor those films or TV shows that inspire them. An intriguing and fun way to practice their craft, film-inspired ales have been sweeping the country in recent years and some of the best of these come out of the Pacific Northwest. We’ve got the top picks for you right here! Now quiet down, the movie’s starting!
The Hobbit Beers—Fish Brewing, Olympia, WA and Central City Brewing, Surrey, BC
Last Fall, New Line Cinemas and Warner Bros. Pictures entered into a licensing agreement with two Northwest breweries to develop a line of Hobbit-themed beers to commemorate the final entry to the successful film franchise. Three beers were produced, with Fish Tale Brewing Co. of Olympia tackling distribution for the United States, and Central City Brewing of British Columbia taking the Canadian rights. Ranging in style from the Smaug Stout, the Gollum Precious Pilsner, and The Bolg Belgian Tripel. Each beer comes in a 650ml bottle with a large smacking image of the character right on the bottle. Devotees of Tolkien should not pass this up. || fishbrewing.com || centralcitybeer.com
Dr. Hop IPA—Lompoc Brewing, Portland
Lompoc Brewing has made it a tradition of offering a seasonal “Spy Series” of beers, all with the world’s favorite spy attached to them. Currently in its 8th series, Lompoc has produced three 007-themed beers for sampling throughout the Northwest. The Dr. Hop IPA was done in collaboration with Richard Batchelor, head winemaker for Maryhill Winery, and utilizes Horizon and Cascade hops with a final dose of Hopsteiner Experimental 05256, to add a bit of intrigue to the mix. With a mild, malty sweetness the beer translates into a unique and easy drinking beer perfect for a summer barbecue (or a pre-mission libation). || lompocbrewing.com
The Dogfather—Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay, Idaho
Laughing Dog Brewing is going to make you an offer you can’t refuse. This Imperial Stout was aged in charred bourbon barrels, and utilized seven malt varieties to give off a unique and complex flavor profile. Flavors of toffee, hazelnuts, and licorice finish with notes of earthy anise on the palate. Available on draft, or by the bottle, there’s really no problem in woofing this down! || laughingdogbrewing.com
Saved by the Helles—Old Town Brewing, Portland
Old Town Brewing collaborated with Rock Bottom Portland on this Helles-style lager. The project came about when Old Town Brewing was given the opportunity by the USDA to play around with some experimental Perle hops. The complication came when they realized they weren’t outfitted to utilize these large leaf hops, so they called upon their friends at Rock Bottom Portland (who also brews their own beer) for assistance. The result is a light, crisp German lager, with a subtle malt body and spicy, herbal finish. From the beginning, the two breweries were looking to pay homage to their favorite teenage sitcom Best enjoyed wearing ray bands and singing the Bayside Tigers fight song! || otbrewering.com
Silence of the Lambs Dry Irish Stout (Nitro)—Burnside Brewing, Portland Taking a cue from the 1991 cult classic, brewmaster Jason McAdam adds a little meat to this equation by aging this Irish stout with charred lamb hearts. What follows is an exceeding dry stout with hints of spice and subtle lamb tones. A great pairing with a nice diner roast on a cool, dark winter evening. Give it a try, you won’t regret it. || burnsidebrewco.com
