363: Eddington/Contagion (2011) with Guest Ethan Thompson

Guest Ethan Thompson returns for a pandemic-themed double feature pairing cinematic outbreaks with legendary brews. The films are Eddington, the newest from Ari Aster, and Steven Soderbergh’s eerily prescient Contagion from 2011, a film that’s only grown more chilling since the world lived through its own global pandemic. To match the apocalyptic mood, the beers are just as special. First up is Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing—a white whale for many beer lovers, this West Coast double IPA is as mythic as it is delicious, and the crew dives into why it still holds such a revered place in craft beer circles. Then there’s Jakobus, a crisp and complex pilsner from Schilling Beer Co., offering a grounding contrast to the hop-heavy intensity of Pliny. Together, the films and the beers spark a conversation about fear, misinformation, leadership, and what it takes to hold a community together when the world starts to fall apart. It’s an episode full of sharp insights, great storytelling, and rare brews—don’t miss it.