As a beer lover, I often find myself selecting out a brew to fit my mood. And as a movie lover, most of the time the two go hand in hand. So I decided to share some pairings of film and beer that I think go great together. Take a look at my pick of the week and hopefully you will enjoy it. (This is a part of the Quentin Tarantino blogathon from The Smoking Pen.)

Beer Choice:
Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale

Stone originally brewed this ale for their 11th anniversary, but enjoyed it so much they brought it on full time. Self-Righteous is a black IPA with roasted malt flavors and a decisively noticeable hop bitterness. This is a relatively new style and Stone’s version is exemplary.


Movie Pairing:
Reservoir Dogs

Reservoir Dogs is Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut. Its a gritty film about a diamond heist gone wrong and the aftermath that is caused when the plan unravels. It has all of Tarantino’s trademarks. It’s dialogue heavy and well written, with a non-linear story line and more than sufficient violence. On top of this, the cast is remarkable. Actors in Reservoir Dogs have shown up in other Tarantino films, such as Micheal Madsen in Kill Bill and Harvey Keitel in Pulp Fiction.

Reservoir Dogs is a dark movie and Stone’s Self-Righteous Ale is a dark beer. There’s a lot of complexity in both the film and ale. Reservoir Dogs is violent, darkly funny, and rich in story. SSR is roasted, very bitter, and rich in flavor. The beer comes in a 22oz bottle, so there’s enough in one bottle to get you in a good place through the whole movie. The film is no slouch though, and does more than its fair share to put you in a good mood. Combined, these two works of art should amount to a pretty nice evening.

P.S. I originally wanted to choose a blonde ale in honor of my favorite character, Mr. Blonde, but most aren’t available until the summer. If you are reading this after May, pick up some Victory Summer Love and crack one open when you hear Stealers Wheel. Thankfully, the current batch of Sublimely Self-Righteous is fresh until May 12th, so they have you covered. Make sure to check the Enjoy By date so you know the hops are at they’re best.