Welcome to Watch TV. Drink BEER.
Week 1 Vibe: Crushable, Classic, Charming
A quick note - my introduction blog last week seemed to REALLY want people to pay for a subscription. I don’t want your money! Sorry it kept prompting that, I’ll try to remove that button in future blogs.
Okay here we go.
The TV.
New Girl. Season 2. Episode 15. “The Cooler”
Stream on: HULU
EPISODIC or Stand Alone
Episode Description
Nick accidentally receives a women’s trench coat in the mail sparking some newfound confidence and encouraging Schmidt, Nick, and Winston to go out and meet some ladies. Jess is left behind because she is deemed Nick’s cooler. AKA the one who always ruins his chances with women. Trench Coat Nick successfully begins flirting with a woman as he fights Schmidt for her attention.
After becoming frightened at home alone, Jess calls all of her friends for help, bringing the whole gang back together in the loft for a game of True American.
Why this Episode
New Girl is by far one of my favorite TV shows of all time, making it a great way to kick off this blog and celebrate my birthday. I chose “The Cooler” because is a quintessential episode of New Girl driving some key plot points and really hitting a stride for our central characters’ development. The improvised and character-driven style of comedy is timeless and gets better with each additional watch. I’ve made all my roommates over the years watch New Girl, as a test of our comedic compatibility-if you like this show, we will probably get along.
The BEER.
Rainer Lager
Brewed by: PABST (since 1999) | 4.6% ABV
Beer Description
Rainier beer is an American Style Lager, and is the Northwest’s version of a crushable cheap beer-great for a drinking game, and my personal favorite of the genre. Rainier tastes best ice cold, and I prefer the tall boy cans for a little extra juice. Key flavors include a golden bready malt, and tingly and crisp finish.
Why this Beer
Rainier is the perfect beer for playing True American. Its light in ABV and flavor, so you can crush a few cans without feeling the burn. Its also cheaper than a fancier craft lager, which makes it great for drinking games. Because its summertime, I also wanted to choose a beer that is great for the warmer weather.
Tasting Notes
While the trench coat gave Nick some much needed mojo: “I liked Trench Coat Nick, he had guts.” Its only when he takes it off that he kisses Jess. The kiss can’t come from a game or afforded to Trench Coat Nick. It has to be authentic. Its bitter-sweet just like our lager. It makes you want more.
Making a beer like Rainier is surprisingly difficult. Lagers are brewed at cooler temperatures for longer periods of time than ales. The technical process takes a skilled brewer, and creating that perfect lager thousands of times, making it exactly the same every time, its an art form. So while Rainier may feel like a basic cheap lager, there is true craft behind it.
“The Cooler,” on its surface, is a formulaic sitcom episode following the will-they-won’t-they troupe of iconic sitcoms before it. It could be seen as basic, like a Rainier. But Liz Meriwether elevates the form, building the tension slowly—in this episode it comes from minor flirtations and sustained eye contact—to creating the perfect, steamy kiss that the audience has been waiting for. But it really delivers.
The Cooler brings character development across the board, moving everyone’s story forward, and doing so through one big game True American. As you sip that tall boy, consider how each element within the beer adds to the overall flavor: the breadiness of the grain, the crispness given by the lager yeast, and the slightly bitter spice of the hops.
Fun Fact: The New Girl gang often drinks Heisler beer. Heisler is a fake beer brand used in dozens of TV shows, allowing productions to have beer on camera without getting brand clearance. Check for the Heisler label in How I Met Your Mother, Stranger Things, Brooklyn Nine Nine, and more!
Thanks for reading. If you have thoughts or feel like I missed something important, leave a comment below.
See you next Tuesday!