Crushinator Session IPA and an Unforgettable Episode of ‘Futurama’
An IPA that fine you got to romance first.
The Show: Episode 2 of Matt Groening’s animated science fiction sitcom / 1999 / FOX
The Beer: Session IPA / 4.5% ABV / Maplewood Brewing Co. – Chicago, IL
The series has landed! That’s the title of episode 2 of Futurama, accurately indicating the point where the show went into full swing. Thought the suicide booth and career chips from episode 1 were weird and fun? Strap in — this is where Fry makes his first trip to space. The adventure comes with three major character introductions (Dr. Zoidberg, Amy Wong and Hermes Conrad), a Disneyland-esque moon resort, and a moon farmer with three robot daughters!
One of these robots is, of course, none other than The Crushinator. She doesn’t get that much screen time in the episode, but she leaves a lasting impression.
The Crushinator goes on to make various cameos throughout the series and even goes on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant representing Earth’s Moon. But Season 1, Episode 2 remains her most memorable performance as well as her most vocal (“No, Pa, I love him!”).
For the unfamiliar, here’s how she fits into the show: now working for the Planet Express delivery service in the year 3,000, recently unfrozen 20th Century man (he froze right at midnight on January 1, 2000), Philip J. Fry is excited for his first trip to the moon. Unfortunately for him, the moon is now considered so boring that “the only reason anybody ever comes here is for the tacky little amusement park.”
After various attempts to find excitement, Fry breaks out of the amusement park with his coworker, Turanga Leela, in tow. She prevents him from quickly dying on the open surface, and the two find refuge with a local hydroponic farmer and his “three beautiful robot daughters.”
You can guess who one of those robots is. This is also where we first learn of Bender’s taste for bulky robot women, not to mention his willingness to risk his life for a good hookup however inexplicable to others (mostly humans) it may appear to be. Much like Bender’s hidden desire to become a country singer (also introduced in this episode), this is a recurring theme throughout the series.
With her guttural electronic voice and the ability to turn into a vehicle that transports her family around the moon’s craters as they chase after our heroes, The Crushinator is a delightful oddity. She’s the somehow lovable predecessor to Futurama‘s bright universe of quirky side characters. From robot to human to alien, these characters helped make the show so darn fun during its seven seasons (which, if you were watching during their run, would have felt like eight seasons because the network did that annoying thing where they split the last season in half and aired it a year apart).
But moving on to the beer pairing for this special TV episode! Maplewood Brewing Co.’s Crushinator gets its name not for a big build and the ability to woo robots with shiny metal behinds, but for its status as a “Session IPA.”
This sub-style of IPA is crafted specifically for easy drinkability! It has the hop-forward flavor of an IPA, but a lower ABV like a pale ale. Indeed, Maplewood’s rendition packs plenty of tropical fruit flavors and pine resin notes from a triple hopping of Simcoe, Apollo and Centennial. Some Mt. Hood hops add just hints of earthy spice to add complexity but not overwhelm.
Ehat really keeps it all super drinkable, however, is the base. The Maplewood crew builds this IPA on Vienna malt and flaked corn, creating a ridiculously smooth body with some substance. Paired with the low ABV, this Crushinator is meant to be crushed!
If there’s a beer to lure Bender Bending Rodriguez away from his usual mix of cheap brews and malt liquor, it’s this. At least, it’s a fitting quencher to watch his first encounter with The Crushinator. Heck, an IPA this easily sippable could pair nicely with a whole binge session of back-to-back episodes. Welcome to the world of tomorrow!
