3 Barbarian Brewing Beers with ‘Barbarian’

If you like horror thrillers and missed Barbarian in the theater, it’s time to stream it. Grab these beer pairings from Barbarian Brewing for the extra creepy parts.

The Movie: Horror-Thriller / 2022 / Regency Enterprises – Vertigo Entertainment – 20th Century Studios

The Beers: Three brews packing flavorful surprises from Idaho’s small but mighty Barbarian Brewing.

It’s been many years since I had as much fun watching a horror movie in a theater as I did with Barbarian. The genre is beloved for jump-out scares and surprising twists, but let’s face it — most “scary” flicks today are painfully predictable with well-worn plot lines.

Nothing could be further from the truth with Barbarian. Delightfully creepy with a consistently unpredictable plot, this story’s a breath of fresh air on the horror scene. Written and directed by Zach Cregger (whom millennials in particular may recognize from The Whitest Kids U Know comedy troupe), this is a movie where nothing goes according to the usual tropes of the genre. It’s a jumpy thriller that deftly explores themes of abuse, trauma, and male entitlement.

Since there are so many surprises packed in here, the last thing I want to do is spoil it by revealing too much. So, here’s a short synopsis: Tess is a young woman who rolls into Detroit late one rainy evening for a job interview the next day, only to find that the Airbnb she booked in advance already has an occupant. Despite her own initial misgivings, Tess is eventually convinced to stay along with him. It’s not long before things take a dark turn. But just when you think you know where story’s going and have the characters all figured out, things pivot, then pivot again.

The whole thing is a ton of fun and makes good use of modern cultural influences. Now that it’s streaming, I’m feeling a rewatch. And this time, I’m going to have at least one beer in hand.

3 Barbarian beer pairings

Ready for some fun? Barbarian movie, meet Barbarian Brewing. These guys are based in the Boise, Idaho metro area, with a satellite taproom downtown and their full-scale brewery and tasting room in neighboring Garden City. They’re a relatively small operation with a huge local following, a good sense of humor, and an experimental spirit.

As for the name “Barbarian Brewing,” it’s best to look at the brewers’ philosophy. Here it is, pulled straight from their website:

“Ancient barbarians never bothered with pesky concepts like rules or limits, and neither do we. If we (or our customers) come up with a completely bonkers idea, we’re all in.”

Bonkers ideas and ignoring the rules fits in tremendously well with a movie like Barbarian. Beer pairings coming your way now!

Black Flag (2022)

Aside from some purposeful juxtaposition of bright scenery and humor, Barbarian is one dark feature both in tone and color palette. It’s set in a neighborhood that’s gone to complete hell, so go figure. Of course, this is no ordinary fright fest. Even once you’re used to the darkness, it’s impossible to predict what comes next.

Which is why Barbarian Brewing’s Black Flag makes such a great pairing. Pour this 7% ABV beer into a glass, and it may look like a Brown Ale or dark Amber. But get a taste, and there’s no typical malty smoothness to be found here! This beer is a spontaneously fermented Oud Bruin, which the brewers aged in Rum barrels alongside hefty doses of blackberries. It’s funky while flirting with oak spice and fruity tartness, backed with undertones of jam and molasses.

It’ll take at least a few sips to get a good grasp on all the flavors hiding within this dark brew. Hey, you might end up wanting to rewatch Barbarian too.

Erik the Red

Is it a Red Ale, or is it an IPA? Either way, at 9.2% ABV, Erik the Red packs surprising strength in its depths. Just like the movie’s surprises, it’ll all emerge when you least expect it and in the most unexpected ways.

To make this complex beauty of a beer, the Barbarian team used a big lineup of Mosaic, Citra, Centennial, and Cascade hops. Each taste starts out with fresh notes of berry and tropical fruit, followed by more earthy tones of pine and dewey grass. There’s a subtle roastiness that rolls in on the malty finish.

Tiger Sunset

I have a tank top with the Tiger Sunset can artwork on it. The beer is not my favorite Barbarian brew, but man, is that Rambo-esque tiger badass. He looks like he’s about to crack open a cold one after a fresh kill, which is far more than the movie’s monster can say (whether or not they are the actual “villain” though is up for debate. Just watch it already!)

Don’t get me wrong — the beer itself is a solid sipper, especially if you’re a fan of tangy-tart sours. It’s one of Barbarian’s biggest staples both in the taproom and beyond, with much of the hype coming from the ingredients. The brewers age this 7% ABV golden Sour Ale in barrels, finishing with hefty doses of strawberries, coconut, watermelon, and drumroll… Tiger’s Blood snow cone mix.

The whole thing tastes kind of like SweeTarts candy, backed with lingering pucker. The movie isn’t too bloody as far as horror thrillers go, so the beer’s orange-crimson hue will bring some fun color. Cheers!

*Bonus Barbarian Beer Pairings

Don’t have Barbarian Brewing near you, or just want to try something different while you’re jumping at Barbarian‘s dark twists and turns? Check out these beers that also pair well with the movie’s name and spirit:

• Basement IPA / 7.5% ABV / Scofflaw Brewing – Atlanta, GA
• Barbarian Haze / Hazy IPA / 6.5% ABV / 3 Floyds Brewing – Munster, IN
• Dark Secret / Russian Imperial Stout / 11% ABV / BrickStone Brewery – Bourbonnais, IL
• Prisoners Dilemma / Spiced Mild Ale / 5.4% ABV / Off Color Brewing – Chicago, IL
• If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home By Now / Imperial Hazy IPA / 8.7% ABV / False Idol Brewing – North Richland Hills, TX
• Mother’s Milk / Milk Stout / 5% ABV / Keegan Ales – Kingston, NY (Not sure why the heck this beer pairing is on theme? Oh, you’ll see…)