Movie And A Beer

On this latest episode of Movie And A Beer, we examine one of the greatest sci-fi films of the 1980's with The Terminator. James Cameron's time-travel masterpiece with a cyborg assassin played by Arnold Schwarzenegger as it tries to kill the mother of the future's rebellion leader, Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton. While it's dated with limited special effects, the story holds up and draws you into the past as it follows Sarah's escape from the Terminator with the help of future soldier Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn). It's worth a watch with great sound design, realistic battles, car chases, and explosions.  Along the way we enjoyed a couple of Helles Lagers from Mirage brewing (WA) and 8 Bit Brewing (CA). One was a bit better than the other, but you'll have to listen to the episode to hear why. 

On this episode of Movie And A Beer we explore the world of Ex Machina. Directed by Alex Garland, this 2015 movie presents what would happen if AI or a robot with AI could fool you? The visuals are amazing, the science fiction is believable, the acting incredible, and the environment created brings you along for the ride. There are many questions asked in the film of both humanity and the AI, and we do our best to ask and answer some of these questions ourselves.  Along the way, we had a couple of beers, first up was an old school recipe IPA from Hetty Alice Brewing (OR) and the other was a Hazy IPA from Little Beast Brewing (OR). One was a bit more successful than the average. Give the episode a listen to hear about our take on AI and the success of this film in presenting the questions such as "what happens if I fail your test?" 

We're back in the 80's with this episode of Movie And A Beer, it's Big Trouble in Little China staring Kurt Russel as Jack Burton, a truck driving loud mouth that seems to stumble himself out of danger more times than not. Jack just can't seem to catch a break as he get's mixed up with a magical plot put into motion by Lo Pan, a 2000 year old Chinese wizard that's trying to become mortal again in the depths of the San Francisco China Town. Jack helps his friend rescue the two green eyed ladies before Lo Pan marries and kills them. With plenty of action and groovy special effects, this kung-fu comedy driven spoof is one of the cultural touchstones of those that grew up in the 80's.  We had a couple of great beers along the way, including a rice lager from Wayfinder Beer (OR), and a collaboration double dry hopped double IPA from Widomaker and Other Half Brewing. Give the episode a listen to hear about these beers and a great discussion about acting and how to deliver lines. 

On this fantasy driven episode of Movie And A Beer, we encountered the Princess Bride, a 1987 classic from director Rob Reiner. This is a pretty straight forward fairy tale adventure about a beautiful young woman (Buttercup) and her one true love (Westley) as told by a grandfather to his grandson who's a bit under the weather. There are a lot of homage being paid to older films that relied upon acting and dialogue more than set and special effects. With tons of one-liners that are memorable and part of our cultural lexicon today, this is definitely worth a watch.  Along the way we also had a couple of great beers from two local nano-breweries here in the Portland area. First up was a Dry Rye Helles Lager from Duality Brewing (OR), followed up by a Dry-Hopped Rice Lager w/ flowers from Tiny Giants (OR). Both were delicate and brought a bit of depth while watching the movie. Give the episode a listen to hear about our favorite parts and why these beers went so well with them.

With the recent rise of AI here in present day, we at Movie And A Beer figured it would be a good time to revisit some of the past movies that exemplify what "might" or "could" happen if we don't pay attention. Which brings us to the 1991 James Cameron action blockbuster, Terminator 2: Judgement Day staring Edward Furlong as young John Connor, Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, Robert Patrick as the T-1000 newer model Terminator, with Linda Hamilton reprising her role as Sarah Connor. This epic sequel takes place 11 years after the first Terminator movie and brings a whole bunch of baggage with it. We discuss in a lot of details the visual and sound editing and effects used in the film and how it combined a lot of different film-making techniques that were not so common back in 1991, as well as enjoyed a couple of beers along the way.  First up was a Northern style Pilsner from Urban Chestnut Brewing (MO) via Dutchless Ales (NY) followed by a juicy NE Style IPA from Trap Door Brewing (WA). Both had their high and low points along with the movie. Give the episode a listen to hear about that and an in-depth discussion about explosions and munitions. 

Here we are with another super-hero installment of Movie And A Beer, this time it's The Batman which was released in 2022 from director Matt Reeves. We follow a young Batman, played by Robert Pattinson as he uncovers a long time plot within the city of Gotham that involves his own family. The film is more of a ‘70s crime drama in it's aesthetic and presentation visually and this lends to the realism that is missing from most of the super-hero genre today.  During the lengthy film, we enjoyed a couple of local beers. First up was a Helles Lager from Brujos Brewing (OR) followed by a West coast IPA collab from Grains of Wrath (WA) and Boneyard Brewing (OR). Both provided a good quality of flavor to go along with the action on the screen. Give the episode a listen as we discuss in great length the aspects of this iteration of Batman in film and how it fits into existing cannon.  

With nostalgia in our bones, we at Movie And A Beer appreciate the finer nuances of the craft when it pays homage to the Golden Age of Cinema....this time around, it's Hail, Caesar!, a Cohen brothers production. Set in the 1950's it follows studio boss Eddie Mannix played by Josh Brolin as he sets out to handle the day to day activities and chaos that is taking place on the movie lot. The main plot follows the story of one of their biggest stars getting kidnapped by Communist sympathizers and Eddie's job is to get him back and save the film. Along with some amazing visuals and acting, we enjoyed a couple of beers along with the movie. First up as a pilsner from Silver Falls Brewing (OR), followed by an IPA from Old Town Brewing (OR). Both provided a great and refreshing addition to the film. Listen in to hear more about the history of Old Town Pizza & Brewing and what it means to get "shanghaied". 

For this episode of Movie And A Beer we go back to 1999 and experience the episodic The 13th Warrior. One of the many films to come out around that same time that works both as an historical drama and mythical journey for the protagonist of the film. Antonio Banderas portrays  Ahmad ibn Fadlan, who by no fault of his own, finds himself in the company of Vikings on a quest to vanquish an evil demon. While the story is simplistic, there is a lot of well thought out character development in both cultural and symbolic nature that brings the viewer along with a keen sense of what it takes to build trust and become a part of a close nit group.  We were also lucky to have a couple of really well made beers along for the ride. First up was a Kolsch style ale from VICE BEER (WA), followed by a double decocted Bock from Wayfinder (OR). Both provided a clean and complex pallet to go along with the movie. Listen in to hear about what the decoction method is in brewing and how it helps create a unique profile for you to enjoy. 

With amazing special effects and writing, Movie And A Beer found ourselves in the midst of a challenging yet provocative sci-fi driven and all around good film titled Gentlemen Broncos. Released in 2009, it was written by Jared and Jerusha Hess and directed by Jared Hess of Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre fame. The film stars Michael Angarano, Jemaine Clement, Jennifer Coolidge, and Sam Rockwell and follows a teenage author whose fantasy story is plagiarized by an established author, as well as made into a low-budget film by a local director. It has a lot of interesting humor and the plight of the young author is one that we could all relate to and understand how one's expectations are rarely met when it comes to your dreams and life.  While enjoying the movie, we sipped on a couple of great beers. First up was a rye pale ale from local Leikam Brewing, a local spot out in SE Portland, followed by a 'tavern stout' collab from a couple of Seattle breweries, Human People Beer and Bizarre Brewing. We have a great discussion about stouts and other dark beers, so give the episode a listen to hear about that and what other films we might pair up with astounding movie. 

On this teenage story episode of Movie And A Beer, we discuss with our youth correspondent Otto the recent film Apollo 10 1⁄2: A Space Age Childhood , by Richard Linklater. The film is pseudo-autobiographical in nature and takes you to the moon and back in this story about growing up in the 1960s in Houston, TX. Visually, it's animated but most of the scenes were filmed live-action and then later turned into the rotoscoped style as the director has done on some of his previous films. This feels like an ad for the 1960's with the injection of products and daily life of teen's during that time brought to you in vivid color.  We enjoyed a couple of beers along the way as well, including a West Coast style Pilsner from Roses By The Stairs (AZ), and followed that with an IPA from Binary Brewing Co. (OR). Both lent a nice flavor to the visuals while we watched. Listen in to hear about those, and a lot of other conversations about growing up and how events like this impact our lives.  

On this episode of Movie And A Beer, we discuss the exceptionally well done movie Train Dreams, a 2025 release directed by Clint Bentley and based off of a novella by the same name that follows the life of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly changing America of the early 20th Century. The acting, visuals, music/atmosphere, and directing is some of the best we've all seen in a long while. You should check this amazing piece of art out and while we did such, we also had a couple of beers along the way. The first beer up was a west coast IPA collaboration between Fort George (OR) and Ghost Town (CA) that focused a lot on Moasic hops, and the second was a barrel aged porter from Montavilla Brew Works (OR) that was amazingly smooth and complex like the movie. Give the episode a listen to hear about these beers and our take on the beauty that was America back in the late 1800's. 

On this Holiday episode of Movie And A Beer, we watched and enjoyed Bad Santa, a black comedy about a couple of guys that take advantage of the Christmas spirit and learn a valuable lesson in the end. Staring Billy Bob Thornton as the seasonal mall Santa Willie, Marcus (played by Tony Cox) as his partner in crime who spend each holiday working at a different department store where they rob it on Christmas Eve. Willie befriends a chubby loner boy (played by Brett Kelly), and a local bartender Sue (played by Lauren Graham) who has Santa issues. Their last heist goes wrong when the mall Security Manager Gin (played by Bernie Mac) wants in on the action.  We enjoyed a couple of really great seasonal local(ish) beers along with this movie. A CDA from Pelican Brewing (OR), and a Winter Warmer from Deschutes Brewing (OR). Give the episode a listen to hear some history of the Christmas holiday and our takes on why the movie actually has a good ending. 

On this science vs. humanity episode of Movie And A Beer, we review the 2025 remake of classic horror and monster driven story by Mary Shelly, Frankenstein. This movie adaptation by Guillermo Del Toro is one of the best that's been produced in recent memory due to the character driven performances and beautifully executed visuals. We do a deep dive into how this retelling could be a nod to how AI is being treated today, and what we might learn from fiction such as this.   As this was a 2.5 hr movie, we went with three different beers. The first was a dark ale from Little Beast Brewing (OR), second up was a collaboration from Wayfinder Beer (OR), and last up was a west coast IPA from Grand Fir (OR) and Brujos Brewing (OR) respectively (also a collab). All three had their distinct impacts on us as we watched and we discuss in some detail why that is. Give the episode a listen to hear about this and other great topics!

On this period piece episode of Movie And A Beer, we discuss Hedda, a modern reimagining of 1891 play Hedda Gabler.  This updated early 20th century screen adaptation is by writer/director Nia DaCosta. Staring Tessa Thompson as Hedda, she finds herself struggling with a past lover and now rival while striving to get what she wants for her current life. Over the course of one crazy evening, many long-repressed desires and hidden secrets engulf her and everyone around her into a spiral of manipulation, passion, and betrayal. While enjoying this amazing piece of art on the screen, we enjoyed a couple of beers. A nice Mexican lager from Loowit Brewing (WA) and the second was a Milk Stout from Threshold Brewing and Blending (OR). We discuss how these did and didn't go with the various parts of the film and consider what might actually work for such a complex story. Give the episode a listen to hear about that and much, much more. 

On this AI driven episode of Movie And A Beer we review Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to the original 1982 film Blade Runner. We also sipped three beers along the way and briefly cover which went best. Denis Villeneuve brings to life the futuristic landscape of Replicants and humanity as they struggle to co-exist with "K" played by Ryan Gosling as the current day Blade Runner, hunting down his own kind. The story covers a broad range of questions about "What makes you human?" as the first movie did and even brings back Harrison Ford to reprise his role as the elder and now retired cop. We discuss in great length how AI/robots are portrayed in most Sci-Fi films and if this one provides a different perspective than the films of the past have.  Along with this great adventure, we enjoyed three beers that were selected based on their label design and names. First was a Festbier by Irrelevant Beer (WA), followed by a West Coast Pale Ale from TapRoom Brewing (CA) and we finished up with a West Coast IPA from ISM Brewing (CA). Give the episode a listen to hear about these great beers and hear some great answers from our AI friend that joined in the discussion.   

On this jewel heist family drama of Movie And A Beer, we watched and review Brothers, a 2024 film from Max Barbakow which stars Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin as thieving siblings that are drawn into a plot to recover some stolen emeralds that their mother had hidden years prior on their dead step-father. While some might argue that this is more of a family drama film where the kids have to come to grips with the choices that their parents made, and try to learn from them (be it in good or bad ways), there is some redeeming qualities to the story. The acting is pretty good by the brothers and mother who shows up later on, the plot (while including of some holes here and there) is believable to an extent, and the supporting cast really shine as they figure out how to retrieve their lost inheritance.  Along the way we had a couple of great lagers, one from Recluse Brew Works (WA) and the other was from Montavilla Brew Works. Both had some exceptional qualities to them, and both actually went pretty well. We also spend a few minutes discussing the history of the podcast and why we do what we do. So give this episode a listen and hear all about that and this interesting family/comedy/heist movie. 

Flashing back to 2001, Movie And A Beer brings you Legally Blonde, a wonderful comedy about female empowerment that follows Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) who chases her ex-fiancé Warner (Matthew Davis) from college out in California to Law School, Harvard specifically. Her intent isn't to become a lawyer at first, but she quickly turns the tables on everyone and proves that she can do what she puts her mind to, and not just to get revenge on Warner.  We did enjoy a couple of lighter beers along the way. The first was a Mexican Lager from Vice Beer (WA) and the second was a Golden Ale from Away Days Brewing (OR). One of them did go a bit better than the other, but both were decent sippers for the film. Listen in as we discuss these beers, a bit about fashion, and what makes a great hero's journey, even if it includes a Chihuahua in a pink handbag. 

We're back around to another space based horror film on this episode of Movie And A Beer with the 2025 shudder release, ASH. The film follows Riya as she awakens to find her crew slaughtered. When a man named Brion arrives to rescue her, an ordeal of psychological and physical terror ensues while Riya and Brion must decide if they can trust one another to survive. Ash stars Eiza González, Aaron Paul, Iko Uwais, Kate Elliott, Beulah Koale, and Flying Lotus.  While the film does lack a bit and falls flat, the two beers we enjoyed along the way did not. First up was a Black IPA from Oakshire Brewing (OR), and the second was a Saison-sour from The Ale Apothecary (OR). Both actually went well with the viewing, and we discuss some of the merits of each along with some brief explanation of the brewing process. Give the episode a listen if you want to hear about that and what a can conditioned beer is. 

On this financial thriller episode of Movie And A Beer, we enjoyed the 2015 film The Big Short that was directed by Adam McKay and stars an amazing cast of A-list actors. The movie follows the events leading up to 2008 when the housing market collapsed and a number of large banks went under. Done in a documentary like style, the main characters are portrayed as some of the few smart betting types made a lot of money on the failure (they did a Big Short on it). There are a lot of 4th wall breaks that attempt to explain this challenging subject in simple terms and for the most part it succeed in doing such.  We had a couple of wonderful beers along the way, first was an Italian pilsner from Pfriem (OR) and the second was a hazy IPA from Irrelevant Beer (WA). While both had their merits in what they brought to the experience, one stood out a bit more than the other. Give the episode a listen to hear from one of our co-hosts who actually worked for one of the large banks that failed from this crisis about it and how Wall Street is driven more by greed than not. 

On this most gangster of episode of Movie And A Beer, we discuss Reservoir Dogs from 1992. The first of many films written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It follows a group of criminals as their job goes sideways and the resulting fall out of their demise by the police. While most of the film is all dialogue and not a lot of action, what little bit there is holds your attention while the chips fall and they try to uncover who set them up.  We did have some great old friends stop by and enjoyed some snacks along the way with the beverages. Otto had some good ideas on what snacks go with this film and we also shared some thoughts on the three beers we enjoyed. First was a pilsner from Outer Range Brewing (CO), followed by a fruited Berliner weisse by Roses by the Stairs (Phoenix, AZ) Prickly Pear Fruited Berliner Weisse because things go sour in the film, and finally a nitro cream ale from Mother Earth Brewing Co (ID). While we didn't all like the last one, we did enjoy how them overall. Give the episode a listen to hear about those, the snacks, and a great discussion about film. 

On this KPop (Korean Pop Music) themed episode of Movie And A Beer, we enjoyed the recent Netflix/Sony Studios Animation movie KPop Demon Hunters. This is a traditional animated story that you will find across a lot of the anime that's out there. Good vs. Evil. Pretty simple until you learn that those lines aren't always clear, your past and shame don't own you, and you can overcome even the greatest of evils if you heart desires it. The music and songs performed in the movie are integrated into the story, and support the character development really well.  Along with the movie we had three wonderful sipping beers that went really well with it. The first one was a Korean Golden Ale from White Crow Brewing (Korea) followed by a couple of other lighter beers that also followed the theme song "Golden" based on the beers name. Fremont Brewing Golden Pilsner and Hetty Alice Golden Hour Tropical Ale. Listen in for insights into the approach these beers take and how much this film converted the non-KPop listeners into fans. 

We're back around to a great comedy and buddy film with Role Models on this episode of Movie And A Beer. Released in 2008, it follows salesmen Danny (Paul Rudd) and Wheeler (Seann William Scott) as they are given a choice after trashing a company truck, you can either go to jail  or do community service in a mentoring program. They picked the mentoring and the two youth they get paired up with provide a great opportunity to both teach and learn about responsibility and helping each other.  The beers we had along with this buddy film included a Shandy from Block 15 (OR), and a West Coast Pilsner from Loowit Brewing. Both provided great refreshment and approached their respective flavor profiles with great balance. Give the episode a listen to hear about that and further discussion about fruit and beers. 

Next up on Movie And A Beer, we have the acclaimed and award winning documentary Genghis BLues about the blind blues musician Paul Pena as he discovers the ancient art of Tuvan throat singing and his journey to the country where it originated. First time film maker Roko Belic allows the scenes and story to unfold in a natural and unscripted way (as documentaries should) and this brings you along on the spiritual and inspirational trip with Paul that is genuine and unique. We learned a lot about the culture and people of Upper Mongolia along with Paul as he not only competed in a national throat singing competition, but he wins the audience choice award for his amazing talent and signing.  Along the way we enjoyed three great sipping beers while the events of the film took place. First up we had a Pilsner from Fast Fashion (WA), then a lager from Kings and Daughters (OR), and finally a wild ale from Funky Fauna (OR). All three lent something to the viewing experience. Give the episode a listen to learn more about these and this great documentary.

There's a lot to unpack in this latest episode of Movie And A Beer with a review of Sinners and a couple of great sipping beers along the way. This movie is one of the best blends of horror, fantasy, historical drama, and music that we've ever seen. From start to finish, the story of redemption as presented by the director, Ryan Coogler brings you along for a lesson from our past. Michael B. Jordan plays twin brothers Smoke, and Stack as they return to their roots to create a new life for themselves while dealing with the messes they had left behind many years prior. Their young cousin Sammie Moore (Preachers Son), played by Miles Caton, steals the show with his musical gifts and presence on the screen which brings down the vale between the spirt realm and the living, which of course draws the attention of the head vampire who's looking to expand his flock.  We highly recommend this film to anyone that's interested in horror, music, or great storytelling. We can also recommend either of the great lighter beers we had with this film. We started with a Deschutes Lemonade Shandy and moved along to a Helles Style beer from Holy Mountain. We do cover a bit about what a Shandy is vs. a Radler and what makes a lighter lager so good. Give the episode a listen to learn that and much, much more. 

On this exploration of space and ciders, we enjoyed the 1968 sci-fi classic 2001 A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick. This film is considered one of the most influential sci-fi epics to come out of the 60's and it's influence can be seen in many other films and TV shows. We spend some time with our youth correspondent Otto discussing it's impact and the meaning it was trying to convey to the viewer. There's a lot to unpack and this is a little bit of an extra long episode as we also review some snacks and a number of ciders that the adults enjoyed along the way.  Six different ciders were sampled during the 2+ hour long space adventure including ciders from: Aspall Blush Cyder (UK), Bull Run Cider (OR), Seattle Cider Co (WA), and Bauman's Cider Co (OR). Give the episode a listen to hear us discuss these, what cider is, and how many apple varieties there are. 

Here we are with a new installment of Movie And A Beer and this time around it's the 2025  horror/family drama Death of a Unicorn. Follow the pharma-bro's family as they discover a new and exciting drug that can cure all. Staring Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, and Richard E. Grant, the cast really does an excellent portrayal of the ultra rich vs. nature and common sense. It's a great film that has lots of great humor sprinkled into the story to help you feel sorry for the unicorns and not so much for us humans.  We were lucky and had a couple of winners with this and first up was a British style lager from Machine House (WA) that was decidedly different, and the second was a seasonal hazy IPA from Hopworks Brewery that wasn't too deep or forward in it's flavor profile. Give the episode a listen to hear us discuss these beers and what can make a beer hazy. 

On this most layered episode of Movie And A Beer, we experienced Inception, the 2010 sci-fi dream inspired film by Christopher Nolan that involved going into others dreams, many layers deep, to plant an idea. We were lucky enough to have our old friend Randal and Otto, our youth correspondent along for the ride. During the discussion we cover differences between dreams and reality, movies and film, and what kind of dreams we have in conjunction to the snacks and some beverages we sampled along the way.  For the beers we sipped, both went exceptionally well and added layers of complexity to the already crazy story being told on the screen. The first was a dark lager from Gold Dot Beer (OR) and the second was a Black IPA (actually it was red in color) from Commensal Fermentation (OR). We did select these based on can art and what styles they represented, and in doing so, completed our inception of drinking good beers with a strange and crazy film. Give the episode a listen to hear about these beers, the snacks, and our take on the complexities of dreams. 

On this thought provoking episode of Movie And A Beer, we discuss Mickey 17, the 2025 science fiction black comedy film written, produced, and directed by Bong Joon Ho (Parasite) that was based on the 2022 novel Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey, a down on his luck guy who escapes his problems by becoming an expendable (clone), he's one of a kind over and over and one of the most important parts of the expedition to colonize the ice world Niflheim. The movie follows the journey and the problems that Mickey helps the fellow explorers overcome.  The three beers we enjoyed with this movie were based on both their style (clone beer), name, and can art. We had a Mexican Style Lager from Recluse Brew Works (WA), a hazy IPA from Ruse Brewing (OR), and finally an imperial stout from Block 15 Brewing (OR). Give the episode a listen to hear about these, and the moral and ethical questions raised in this great sci-fi movie. 

On this episode of Movie And A Beer we discuss the recent Wes Anderson movie, Asteroid City. While this movie is about a play, it switches back and forth between the actual play and the production of the play, and the writing of the play and screen testing with poignant dialogue and sparce settings. Primarily character driven with some minor plot points push along the 1950's story about a small town's celebration of science and the inventions of some young scientists. The list of actors in this great movie is long and deep and it shows in their scenes.  We were lucky enough to have three different beers along the way with each of the acts and discuss their relationship to the movie. The first was a lager from Yovu Beer (OR), the second was a hazy IPA from Fair State Brewing Cooperative (MN), and we finished off the third act with a smoothy sour from Great Notion Brewing (OR). Give the episode a listen to hear about these beers and our take on this most interesting approach to story telling. 

On this jungle exploring episode of Movie And A Beer, we discuss the rather farcical action flick Tropic Thunder. With an excellent cast of actors portraying actors portraying stereotypes we expect from Hollywood, this movie achieves what few only hope too, in that it pulls off making fun of itself without taking itself too seriously. Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. are the main protagonist(s) whom exemplify the worst parts of being an "A-Lister" effectively while the supporting cast bring it all together.  Along the way we also sampled three beers which brought different profiles and abilities to our tastebuds. The first two were lagers from Old Town Brewing (OR), and Baerlic Brewing (OR), while the third was a wild ale from Funky Fauna (OR). Listen in on the episode for a deep dive into lager styles and how or why these are successful with this film. 

On this most frightful episode of Movie And A Beer, we review the recently released streaming film The Parenting. Directed by Craig Johnson with the screenplay by Kent Sublette, the movie starts out in 1983 providing a backdrop for the spooky vibes and monsters that show up later on in the film. Starring a number of talented actors, the story is a great blend between the horror and comedy genres. The story, while somewhat believable takes you along the path of discovery and forgiveness in a meaningful way.  The beers we tried and reviewed were also somewhat tasty and went along well with the suspense and horror action on the screen. First up was a Cream Ale by Living Haus (OR) and second up was a West Coast India Pale Ale from Irrelevant Beer (WA). Give the episode a listen to hear more about these beers and this great movie. 

On this most epic spoof of a space comedy episode of Movie And A Beer, we most lovingly enjoyed Spaceballs, the Mel Brooks film from 1987. This is one of the best spoof movies that is out there, it uses all kinds/types of humor to make fun of and laugh along with the audience references to pop culture, sci-fi movies and TV shows, and just about anything else that was relevant at the time. While the film's humor is centered around that, the story and acting were quite simple and straight forward without a lot of confusion.  The two beers we had while watching this movie were both amber beers. An amber lager from Obelisk Brewing (OR) out in Astoria and the other was an amber ale from Commensal Fermentation (OR) here in Portland. They were both similar in some way, but different in others. Just like this film. Give the episode a listen to learn more about the beers and our thoughts on this comedy time capsule. 

On this cold weather survival and hunting expedition of Movie And A Beer, we discuss the wonderful black and white (sort of) silent film Hundreds of Beavers. This comedy was created using a super low budget, amazing physical action, and lots of talented post-production effects. The film’s writer, director, editor, and main visual effects artist Mike Cheslik has provided the viewer with an experience that should be shared with a wide audience. Storytelling without much dialogue is along forgotten skill that he masters with the characters on the screen.  We discuss a couple of great beers along the way with this film, a black lager from Oak Union (OR), and a peanut butter milk stout from Belching Beaver Brewing (OR). Both were excellent choices for this film but we all tended to enjoy one more than the other. Give the episode a listen to hear about this and many other fascinating facts about distilling applejack and other funny facts about mascots. 

As we look back on one of the better stand-alone MCU films on this episode of Movie And A Beer, we celebrate Asgard's destruction with Thor Ragnarok. Directed by Taika Waititi, this film brings in a delicious mix of humor with super-hero non-stop action and great actors supporting a simple, but humble hero's journey to save his people. The character Thor has a long and rough journey to find himself and his true powers while facing new challenges. You don't necessarily have to have watched the other MCU films prior to this one as the story stands alone for the most part, but there are a few parts that might not make much sense if you don't.  We did have a couple of gluten free beers from Evasion Brewing (OR), a fruited ale and blood-orange IPA that went exceptionally well with the movie. We do discuss what makes a gluten free beer and how difficult it is to make one that actually tastes like beer (like these do). Give the episode a listen to hear more about that and the MCU.  

On this historically accurate episode of Movie And A Beer, we explore the 1992 film A League Of Their Own, which is about the woman's baseball league that was formed during WWII. It's directed by Penny Marshall and includes an amazing cast of actors, it follows a team of women who prove that they have what it takes to play ball in America. We also include some discussion about SheBrew, an annual female-identified brewing competition and celebration that's taking place in March. There are parallels between the empowerment portrayed in this incredible film and with the beer industry.  Honoring female brewers is something that should be done year round and we selected a couple of rock-stars to sample beers from. Steeplejack Brewing with a Dusseldorfer Style Alt Bier and Grand Fir Brewing with a great Bohemian Style Pilsner. Both were delicious and we do discuss the origins and styles during the episode. 

We at Movie And A Beer have found ourselves enjoying the 2005 futuristic comedy known as Idiocracy while making a concerted effort to convince each other that this is a reality that could never come about. The film itself is great, the acting and comedy are on point, the realities of big corporate ownership of the government and information that is taken for granted starts to hit a little close to home in the movie for us. We did discuss a bit in our review about society and technology and the 'have vs. have-nots' type of dystopia that's so common with futuristic stories like this one but all agreed that everyone should find and enjoy this film, even if it's really close to what's happening in our own society today.  The beers we sampled were of the 'dark' variety, a black lager from Cerveceria Norte (OR) and a black ale from Holy Mountain Brewing (WA) in Seattle. Both went surprisingly well with the film but provided a slightly different approach to the roasted qualities they included. Give the episode a listen to hear more about this and our take on the future and what it might hold for us.  

As we venture into the past with a new episode of Movie And A Beer featuring The Royal Tenenbaums, there's much discussion on Wes Anderson's approach to filmmaking and the way in which this film provides insight into dysfunctional families and self-centered people whom seem stuck due to their own self destructive behaviors. This film is entertaining with an amazing ensemble cast of talented actors, great sound design and music, great design and visual appeal. However, there are some things that are hard to overlook and we dive into this in some detail in our discussion.  We also had a couple of amazing beers to go along with this film that were purchased at Chill N'FIll. The first was a NW style red ale from Stoup Brewing (WA), and the second was a sour IPA from Evil Twin Brewing (NY). Both tasted great and provided a pleasant backdrop to the sometimes depressing story on the screen.

As we imagine ourselves back in the 80's when creature features and bad puppetry were at their peak, Movie And A Beer discovered a strange secret Xmas film that was made in 2024 that fits the bill in Frankie Freako, Written and directed by Steven Kostanski, it follows Connor, a number crunching square who's been given permission to let lose while his wife is out of town for the weekend. Paying homage to the puppetry horror films of the past, Connor calls a late-night party hotline that promises out-of-this-world fun. Once the mayhem beings, he must battle the pint-sized forces of evil unleashed through his phone line, led by the maniacal rock n’ roll goblin FRANKIE FREAKO. While the film was hard to swallow in it's shallow story, the two beers we had while watching it were not. We enjoyed an English Bitter from Obelisk Beer (OR), and a Fruited Sour Gose from Abomination Brewing (CT). Both had their merits, but one was outstanding above all else. Listen into the episode to hear more about these beers, beer engines, and salt. 

On our third and final installment of "What kind of zombie is this?" we at Movie And A Beer enjoyed the 2016 Korean horror film Train To Busan. While the movie does a great job of portraying the tension and horror of a zombie outbreak, it also includes some parallels with the social standings and class attitudes that exist within Korean society. It follows a well-to-do fund manager who's neglected daughter convinces her father to take her to visit her estranged mother who lives in Busan via train. The outbreak provides the father with the opportunity to discover what really matters as a human, not just money and prestige.  Along for the ride, we sampled a variety of flavored Makgulli (rice wine with lactose) and a couple of Sojus (rice wine). These were both surprising and enjoyable as the film was. Give the episode a listen to hear more about rice wines and other Korean drinks and our take on how these foreign films are successful in using zombies as a story telling backdrop.  

On this second installment of "what kind of Zombie are they", Movie And A Beer explores Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, a Japanese buddy horror film that takes place during a zombie apocalypse in Tokyo. It follows Akira Tendo, a worker drone who's existence is only driven by his sadistic boss. Figuring out he no longer has to go to work, Akira discovers he can actually live his life to the fullest. The action and storytelling are well done, there is some manga style adaptation to the film towards the end, so if you're a fan of that, this movie is for you.  We had a couple of decent beers with this movie as well. A Japanese rice lager from Crux Fermentation Project (OR), and a robust porter from Little Beast Brewing (OR). Both were pleasant but we did find one was a bit more on-point for the action on the screen. Give this episode a listen to hear about what makes a robust porter "robust" and a brief discussion on adjunct lagering. 

On this zombie driven episode of Movie And A Beer, we watched Apocalipsis Z: El principio del fin, a 2024 Spanish zombie action film staring Francisco Ortiz as Manel. He's a regular guy (lawyer and engineer) trying to make his way through grief and the zombie apocalypse with his wife's cat, Lúculo who represents all that he's fighting for. This isn't your typical horror film, it wouldn't even get a R rating here in the states. It's extremely well directed, written, acted, and shot and tells a great story without relying on the tropes usually associated with zombie films. We did have a couple of amazing beers with this film as well. A west coast IPA from Boneyard Brewing (OR) and a CDA or Black IPA from ColdFire Brewing (OR). Both were exceptional in their flavor profiles and we really loved them along with this film. Give the episode a listen to hear more about CDA's and the importance of balance in beers.  

On this late 80's episode of Movie And A Beer we watched Miracle Mile, a film about an unlucky guy who first meets the love of his life at the Labara Tarpits Museum (in LA), plays some jazz music for her at a concert, then oversleeps his date later that night only to discover the world's ending in an hour. What does he do? He of course goes to save the girl just to be caught up in a tangled mess of poor decisions and the world ending.  While that might sound like a huge mess to wade through, the film does hold our interest and we had a couple of amazing beers to sip along the way. First was a collab Fest beer by Gold Dot and Hetty Alice, and the second was an American Brown from now defunct Mt. Tabor Brewing. Listen in for some re-write recommendations and our thoughts on these two exceptional beers. 

We welcome episode 150 of the Movie And A Beer podcast with a delightful thriller movie The Wrath of Becky, which borrows from it's predecessors in the genre with the simple story, excellent acting, and overall appeal to crossover humor, horror, and thriller/revenge films. "You killed my dog..." as a phrase comes to mind. Becky is a distraught teenager trying to find her way through life after a tragic set of events and now is faced with another set of unfortunate circumstances which lead her down a path of revenge and hate.  While the movie proved that it could punch above it's weight, the two seasonal beers we had, first a pumpkin ale from Grains of Wrath (WA), and a stout from Culmination Brewing (OR) both didn't perform as well as expected with the film. Listen in as we discuss pumpkin spice, stouts and how sequels can be better than their first. 

We celebrate a couple of birthdays on Movie And A Beer with Detective K: Secret Of The Living Dead, a wonderful 2018 Korean historical horror drama that provides the audience with a lot of laughs and some great lessons in how to get revenge against those that have wronged you. Examining just how human vampires can be, the story provides some insights into feudal Korea and how injustices often were justified when trying to hold onto power.  We had a couple of great beers with this film, a West Coast style lager from Funky Fauna (OR), and a Czech Dark Lager from Wayfinder. Both went really well and we discuss what the decoction method in brewing is during the episode. Give it a listen to hear more. 

This episode of Movie And A Beer brings us a coming of age story based in the 1960's through the lens of kids playing baseball in the film The Sandlot. Newly moved to a new neighborhood, Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) learns how to play baseball while having the summer of his young life. He makes fast friends with his teammates and goes on a number of amazing journeys and faces the Beast to retrieve his fathers signed baseball.  We were lucky to try a couple of beers that were related to both baseball and things from our childhood. An imperial/double IPA from Chapman Brewing (CA) with some cool-aid like vibes and from Stormbreaker Brewing (OR) the official beer (IPA) of the Portland Pickles baseball team. Listen in on the episode to hear about this great story and these beers. 

On this action packed foreign film episode of Movie And A Beer we watched Kill, a recent movie out of India with 90 minutes of knife wielding mania.  What should be a simple Romeo-and-Juliet style love story between an army commando Amrit and his true love Tulika whom is engaged against her will, they are faced with a gang of knife-wielding thieves led by the ruthless Fani (Raghav Juyal) who terrorize innocent passengers on his train and then the killing begins.  We sampled a couple of excellent pale ales for this movie, one from Olympia WA by Ilk Beer and the second was by Ruse Brewing (OR). Both were tasty, exemplified the style, and had lots to offer, but one really did go better than the other. Give the episode a listen to hear about this often overlooked beer style and our thoughts on this great action film. 

Movie And A Beer celebrate Portland Pride with this excellent 2024 campy horror drag film from Tubi titled Slay. Along with our special guest host James, we discuss the in's and out's of drag performances when faced with the challenges of a Texas roadhouse, an unfriendly crowd, and of course vampires. With excellent production quality and writing, this movie provides great entertainment and a positive message to the audience of acceptance of one-self and others.  We were super lucky to find a couple of local beers from Gigantic Brewing (OR) that featured local drag legends, Darcelle (Blond IPA) and a Beermosa by Poison Waters. We discuss their importance to the local Portland scene and how well the beers provided refreshment for the movie. Give the episode a listen to learn about drag and it's importance when faced with adversity.  

On this July 4th nature documentary adjacent installment of Movie And A Beer, we enjoyed the peaceful serenity of the movie Sasquatch Sunset along with our coastal friend Jason whom once again, provides us with some amazing insight and discourse. This somewhat controversial film follows the life of a sasquatch family over the course of a year in the wilds. With potty humor, beautiful cinematography, and a breathtaking soundtrack, this film is definitely worth your while.  We sought out a couple of beers to sip with this amazing piece of film. First was a Yeti variation from Great Divide Brewing (CO) and the other was a simple and cheap American Lager from 10 Barrel Brewing (OR). Both were exceptional, but one was a clear crowd favorite. Give the episode a listen to hear why and share with us the excitement of this film. 

Here we are, another flashback to the 80's episode of Movie And A Beer! This time around it's Weird Science, a John Hughes coming of age film about a couple of high school misfit nerds who use their computer to create/simulate their perfect woman "Lisa". She's played by Kelly LeBrock who turns their world upside down in just a few days. This movie doesn't hold up well but it is worth watching as it's a time capsule back to 1985 in suburban America.  We were really fortunate to have both Otto and Randal as guests hosts for this episode and there were pretzels to enjoy along the way besides the two beers that some of us enjoyed. The first beer was a Helles from Bizarre Brewing (WA) and the second was an IPA from Von Ebert Brewing (OR). Both went well, the snacks were on point, and the discussion was fun. Listen in to hear more about pretzels and the movie. 

On this episode of Movie And A Beer we bring together an interesting set of plot twists and turn with the all up in your face violent revenge film in Boy Kills World. Starring Bill Skarsgård as the mute (deaf and unable to speak) child who was raised to become a killer and take revenge for his families murder, he slowly and sure comes to realize that not all things from his past are as he remembers and that he may be doing the wrong things for the wrong person.  We enjoyed a couple of beers based on their can art and names as they related to this film, however one went way better than the other. A Mexican lager from Level (OR) and a dry hopped pale ale from Oak Union (OR). Give the episode a listen to hear which was the better and learn a few things about this style of beer.