Falcon Punch! IPA with ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’
The Show: Superhero Action Adventure (and possible drama?) / 2021 / Marvel Studios and Disney+
The Beer: Imperial IPA / 8.5% ABV / Odd Side Ales – Grand Haven, MI
In case you missed last week’s premiere episode (streaming on Disney+), the MCU’s latest limited-run TV series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, is off to a very promising start.
Whereas WandaVision was delightfully bizarre and proved that Marvel still has plenty of innovation up its sleeve, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier feels like we’re back right where the movies left off. Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan feel like a sight for sore eyes – especially after an entire year’s absence of of blockbuster theatrical releases. They’re respectively back in their element as Sam Wilson / Falcon and Bucky Barnes / former Winter Soldier.
Despite reports that the show would be more of a bright, buddy team-up adventure, the first episode, you wouldn’t guess that at all from the first episode.
This show is cinematic quality, and it’s so well paced right from the get-go that it’s easy to forget it isn’t a movie after all. It was actually a bit of a jolt when the story stopped and the credits started rolling after about 45 minutes into the first episode.
I have no idea where exactly the show is going yet, but with the new episode dropping today, I can’t wait to find out. And to lean fully into my anticipation, I’m pairing my viewing with a can of Falcon Punch! IPA from Michigan’s Odd Side Ales.
This beer’s a SMASH IPA (Single Malt, Single Hop), with French Pale Malt and Falconer’s Flight Hops. It starts out clean and almost sweetly fruity, then delivers a surprising punch of dank hop bitterness on the finish. I also would never guess that the brew clocks in at an 8.5% ABV – the buzzing warmth doesn’t start making itself known until almost the bottom of the can.
Like the show I’m watching with it, Falcon Punch! delivers a depth and quality I was not anticipating. In today’s sea of sweet Milkshake IPAs and fruity Hazies, it’s a welcome return to more straightforward and delectably bitter IPAs – the kinds that made me fall in love with craft beer in the first place. And hey! Is that a superhero’s gloved fist punching across the label?
Including today’s new release, there are five episodes left in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. My enthusiasm’s cranked, and my beer is poured – let’s do this!
*Bonus Brews*
- Supa Hero / IPA / 8% ABV / Clown Shoes – Boston, MA
- Winter Soldier / Imperial Stout / 8.7% ABV / Pint Nut Brewing Co. – Papillon, NE
- Blonde Marvel / Blonde Ale / 4.5% ABV / Left Coast Brewing Co. – San Clemente, CA
