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 month and hopefully you will enjoy it.
Maine Beer Company has been really blowing up along the Northeast over the past year. Hailing from Portland, Maine Beer Company is known for their exceptionally well-crafted ales, unusual sized bottles, and clean and simple labels. Peeper Ale is their take on the American Pale Ale. At 5.5%, the beer has a decent level of malt that adds some sweetness and bready flavors to the brew. This is balanced out by the traditional citrus notes that Pacific Northwest hops add to American styled brews. This beer is a top notch example of the style.
Peeping Tom was very controversial upon its release. Even though it is now generally considered to be a classic in its genre, when it was first released it almost ruined the director, Michael Powell’s, career. It was poorly received by critics of the time, but it gained cult classic status and has since been valued for its contributions. It’s very tame by today’s standards, but the story still holds up. Mark Lewis is a loner type. He works on a film set and also part time as a soft-core pornographer. He lives in a portion of a house that he owns and also sublets to others, but generally keeps to himself despite being the landlord. One day he starts to befriend a woman who gets close to him because she feels like he needs a friend. Her plan doesn’t develop the way she intends, as Lewis begins to reveal his true nature.
Obviously, the products are similarly named. But the similarities go deeper than that. Peeping Tom is truly an original in the horror/suspense drama. While you are watching it, you feel as though you are watching a bit of cinematic history. Peeper Ale, while not the first to brew a beer in the pale ale style, have gone through the effort to make this as uniquely theirs as they could. They brew their beers in low numbers to maintain quality control and attempt to give the drinker an experience reminiscent of simpler times.
