Java the Hutt Stout and ‘Return of the Jedi’
I can totally see Jabba the Hutt ordering somebody to make a beer named after him.
The Movie: Interstellar action-fantasy with a giant slug gangster! / 1983 / LucasFilm Ltd.
The Beer: Imperial Rye Coffee Stout / 12.6% ABV / 903 Brewers – Sherman, TX
Texas’ 903 Brewers just released an Imperial Coffee Stout, and it’s rather special. In addition to being aged on Sumatran coffee beans, the beer is made with a base of chocolate rye malt. This gives it a seriously deep backbone of roasty dark chocolate. Combined with the coffee, the whole thing goes down like a mocha from a fancy cafe (the kind where they serve beverages in mugs only; no paper cups with mermaids on them).
And holy moly – the ABV! This one packs some serious strength at 12.6%, but the chocolate and coffee flavors hide it well.
Of course, the real thing that caught my attention right away is the name. It’s called Java the Hutt!
The can’s pretty neat too:
Now, it’s worth noting that 903’s beers are usually pretty tough to find outside of Texas. But if you can get your hands on this one, there’s of course only one movie to pair it with.
I’m talking, of course, about Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi!
Sure, this isn’t the only portion of the Star Wars saga Jabba the Hutt makes an appearance in. But if you’re looking to watch Jabba, are you honestly going to throw on Phantom Menace or the New Hope special edition just for some tiny cameos? Return of the Jedi is where Jabba is on full display, in all his grotesque glory.
According to the trusty nerds over on Wookieepedia, Jabba the Hutt’s real name is Jabba Desilijic Tiure, and he weighs 1,358 kilograms (that’s just under 3,000 lbs for us silly Americans). There’s no info about the crime lord’s beer preferences, naturally, but I can totally see the slug ordering around some poor souls to craft a brew in his honor. Jabba’s seen imbibing on various liquids and even has R2-D2 serving drinks on his floating luxury barge. Plus he lives on one of the hottest desert planets in the galaxy – the guy definitely appreciates a quality beverage.
If anything, Return of the Jedi could have used MORE Jabba the Hutt. Because once Jabba meets his demise, the movie devolves into a re-hashed quest to blow up the Death Star (again!) with the help of a bunch of moon teddy bears. But it’s all in good fun. And like most of the Star Wars movies, it’s something I never get tired of watching.
I just wish I had more Java the Hutt for future viewings. Here’s hoping the brewing Jedis down at 903 will whip up plenty of future batches!
