When it comes to beer names, brewers take their inspiration from a number of sources, including birds, notable historical persons, fighter planes, films and popular songs. Television is another realm of influence that has inspired brewers and, over the past several decades, there has been a slew of beers inspired by or named after TV shows, characters and catchphrases. These are often used in droll and creative ways, like VOG’s Barrywatch (4.5% ABV), a wry take on Baywatch, Robinson’s Magnum IPA (4.1% ABV), a tribute to Magnum P.I. (even the pump clip included the character’s iconic moustache) and Mondo Brewing’s The Man from D.U.N.K.E.L. (5% ABV), a traditional Dunkelweizen inspired by The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Coincidentally, its name has become so popular that other breweries like Battersea, Ayr Brewing and Bowland have also made their own versions.
Well-known characters have also been referenced, such as Daleside’s Greengrass Old Rogue Ale (4.5% ABV), based on the character Claude Greengrass, the roguish farmer from Heartbeat or Muswell Hillbilly’s Uncle Jed’s Best Bitter (3.8% ABV), named after the family patriarch in The Beverly Hillbillies. In 2020, Thornbridge were approached by the producers of Peaky Blinders to create an official beer and this unusual commission resulted in Shelby (5% ABV), an English style IPA named after the Shelby brothers who featured predominantly in the show.
Iconic catchphrases are also a common subject, such as Beam Me Up! (4.2% ABV) from Bristol Beer Factory, Best Possible Taste (3.9% ABV) from Vale and Oh! What’s Occurring? (4.1% ABV) from VOG, who incidentally are based in Barry, where Gavin & Stacey was partly based and filmed. Some breweries have even gone to the lengths of producing a series of beers like Falstaff’s catchphrase series or Hydes’ range of monthly releases last year.
Some shows are more frequently used than others. Dad’s Army is a good example, with releases like Firehouse’s Mainwaring’s Mild (4.3% ABV) and Vale’s Don’t Tell Him, Pike (4.2% ABV). Thetford based brewery Drenchfoot have taken advantage of much of the show’s exterior filming happening in the town by producing a range of beers including Don’t Panic! (4% ABV), Stupid Boy (4.4% ABV), Home Guard Bitter (3.7% ABV) and Captain Stout (4.1% ABV). Only Fools and Horses has also frequently attracted the brewer’s attention with many of the show’s catchphrases being used, such as VOG’s This Time Next Year, Rodney (4.1% ABV), You Plonker (4.2% ABV) from Morgan’s Ales and Lovely Jubbly (3.8% ABV) from Bowmans Ales. Even iconic scenes have been referenced such as Trigger’s Broom (4.4% ABV) from Vale and Hyde’s One More Turn (3.9% ABV), a line memorably uttered by Del Boy in the episode A Touch of Glass, prior to dropping the wrong chandelier. While most of these releases have been one offs, Diamond Geezer (4.9% ABV) was regularly brewed by By The Horns, from their launch in 2011 until their sad demise before Christmas.
The roll-sheet of TV themed beers out there is extraordinary, whether it’s based on notable catchphrases, titles or iconic characters; the possibilities are endless.
Mike Goldwater