‘Big’ and Flying Fish Salt and Sea Gose

The late-80s classic about a kid who magically becomes “big” pairs well with a small New Jersey microbrewery that shot up to national recognition.

The Movie: Fantasy Comedy-Drama / 1988 / Gracie Films – 20th Century Fox

The Beer: Gose / 4.3% ABV / Flying Fish Brewing Co. – Somerdale, NJ

Big is one of those movies that works no matter what age you are when you watch it.

As a kid, I marveled at the idea of young Josh Baskin having his wish to be “big” magically granted and then being able to find his way as a sudden adult, landing a kickass job at a toy company and turning a giant apartment into a youthful dream of pinball, bunkbeds and a giant trampoline. But as I grew up, I began to see the beauty beyond the magic. Director Penny Marshall took what could have been just a lighthearted romp and deepened it into a nuanced, and, at times, painfully realistic lesson on enjoying life at every stage.

The giant piano scene is a favorite for many, but it pales in comparison to my personal favorite. This would be the scene near the end where adult Josh (Tom Hanks, for anyone living under a rock) asks his adult love interest, Susan (Elizabeth Perkins) to wish herself young again too so they can still be together. In lesser hands, this prospective plot point would have been run with in full steam through the credits (no doubt with some cheesy polaroid images of child Susan enjoying life as a kid with Josh and his buddy). But not here. Here, Josh and Susan were never actually meant to be. Susan declines to become young again, proceeding to drop some age-honed wisdom in one bittersweet swoop:

“I’ve been there before. It’s hard enough the first time, you know what I mean? You don’t know what I mean… Come on, I’ll take you home.”

It’s heartbreakingly touching. And whether you’re 15, 30, or 100 years old, it gives you an abrupt sense of place in your own life timeline.

Nevertheless, to this day, I still sneak peaks behind Zoltar machines to see whether or not they’re plugged in.

While there are plenty of “Zoltar” beers out there I was tempted to choose as an appropriate pairing for this one, I opted instead for Salt & Sea Gose from Flying Fish. Like young Josh Baskin (who starts off the movie in his hometown of Cliffside Park, NJ), Flying Fish Brewing Co. is just a Garden State kid that got BIG.

For real – not only is Flying Fish easily one of the most recognized craft beer names out of both New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic, but they have 10 medals from the Great American Beer Festival (which is basically the Academy Awards for beer, only even more competitive and somewhat less political).

Plus just like Josh, the brewers have a curious knack for computers. Founded in 1995, they were the world’s first “virtual microbrewery,” as in, they sold their beer completely over the internet (remember that sound the internet made when it was starting up in the 90s? You know the beer has to be good if you’re willingly waiting through that!) Flying Fish operated for a long time out of a small spot in Cherry Hill, but the brewery has since grown up so much that they relocated to a larger location in Somerdale in 2012. Currently, they are the biggest brewery in the entire state. Go Flying Fish!

Of all of Flying Fish’s creations, I can’t think of a better beer to pair with Big than Salt and Sea Gose.

For one thing, it’s got a freakin’ boardwalk carnival setup on the can (no Zoltar machine in sight, but just use your imagination). It comes in a few different flavor combos, but I’m going with Strawberry and Lime because it evokes whispers of saltwater taffy and New Jersey childhood in every lightly tart mouthful. Columbus Hops intensify the experience, adding a surprising Kush-like dankness just for grownups. Finally, the lower 4.3% ABV keeps it crushable throughout the movie’s 130 minutes of runtime (extended edition, baby!)

With each refreshing and nuanced sip, it’s easy to stop and take a moment to just appreciate life in all its flavors and stages, no matter what age you are – 21 and up, of course. The real kiddos can drink juice.

*Bonus Beers*

• Zoltar / Coffee Porter / 6.3% ABV / Harbor Light Brewery – South Haven, MI
• Big Wave / Golden Ale / 4.4% ABV / Kona Brewing Co. – Kailua Kona, HI
• Big Eye / IPA / 7% ABV / Ballast Point Brewing – San Diego, CA
• Carnival Magic / Doppelbock / 6.7% ABV / Blue Line Brewery – Saranac Lake, NY
• Toy Store Grace / New England IPA / 7.6% ABV / Knotted Root Brewing Co. – Nederland, CO