Mmmm Donuts. ‘The Simpsons’ with DUBCO Strawberry Frosted Donut Milkshake IPA

Friday, June 4th is National Donut Day in the U.S.! Let’s celebrate in a way that would do Homer Simpson proud – with beer and donuts, or better yet, both all in one!

The Show: Iconic animated sitcom starring a donut-gobbling everyman / 1989-present / FOX

The Beer: Milkshake IPA with strawberry, vanilla and lactose / 7.2% ABV / Destination Unknown Beer Co. – Bayshore, NY

If you’ve seen even a little of The Simpsons, you know that beer and donuts are two of Homer Simpson’s favorite things in the whole world.

But has he ever had them combined into one? That’s an indulgence we can actually enjoy here in the non-animated world! And since it’s National Donut Day (National Doughnut Day for you fancy folks – I grew up in New Jersey where Dunkin’ Donuts rules, so I stand by the more casual spelling), there’s no better time to try a “donut beer” than now!

What is National Donut Day, you ask? It’s a day to celebrate those fun pastries with holes in ’em! Why is National Donut Day? It started back in 1938, as both a fundraiser for the Salvation Army and a remembrance of the “dough girls” who served the cakey delights to American soldiers on the front lines in WWI. Where is National Donut Day? In the U.S., though anyone the world over can celebrate it. Now, enough with the questions. Let’s move on to the donut beer!

One glance at the can, and it certainly looks like Homer’s hallmark pink-frosted donuts with sprinkles. To make it, Long Island’s Destination Unknown Beer Co. (widely known as DUBCO) actually teamed up with their local donut-slingers at North Fork Donut Company (“NoFoDoCo” – fun, right?). True to the emerging Milkshake IPA style, this beer has lactose and fruit in it for a silky-sweet experience amid the hop flavors.

But does it really taste like a strawberry frosted donut? This is the kind of beer that actually does, though it might be largely because of the psychological suggestion. It’s creamy and thick, each sip reminding almost of decadent pastry filling. The strawberry arrives upfront, starting softly tangy before quickly mellowing into vanilla sweetness. It’s more juicy than cloying, but the hint of donuts is there.

Either way, Homer himself got ahold of this one, there’s little doubt he’d set aside the Duff for a sip. Heck, he might even be willing to trade in his soul for it…

Which brings us to some episode pairings! Strawberry Frosted Milkshake IPA is ideal for sipping alongside some Simpsons episodes; preferably ones where donuts happen to be prominently featured.

One of the most iconic by far is “Treehouse of Horror IV” (Season 5, Episode 5), or the one where Homer sells his soul for a donut. He inevitably winds up in Hell, where his punishment is eating literally mountains of donuts. As the demons eventually find out, Homer is no ordinary man, and the words “too many donuts” do not exist in his vocabulary.

The best part is the ending, where Homer ends up being cursed with a donut for a head.

Other “Treehouse” episodes also make great use of Homer’s love affair with donuts. From Homer messing up donuts’ existence via time machine (Season 6, Episode 6) to hundreds of Homer clones (and, as it turns out, Homer himself) being lured over a cliff with giant donuts (Season 14, Episode 1), there’s a lot of hilarious stuff here.

Then there’s “Guess Who’s Coming to Criticize Dinner?” (Season 11, Episode 3). This is where Homer becomes a local food critic and winds up turning all of Springfield’s chefs against him, resulting in them trying to poison him with a giant chocolate eclair. The treat is visibly throbbing full of poison and Homer knows it, but the only reason he puts it down is because Lisa tells him it’s “low fat!”

Now, some may argue that eclairs are not donuts, but they serve them at Dunkin’, so I say they’re fair game. Happy National Donut Day!

*Bonus Brews*

Not anywhere with access to Destination Unknown Beer Co.? No problem! Turns out, there’s quite a few craft breweries doing donut beers these days:

• C.R.E.A.M. / “Donut Infused Cappuccino Milk Stout” / 5.2% ABV / Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Boone, NC
• Mini Donut Beer / English Brown Ale / 4.7% ABV / Lift Bridge Brewing Co. – Stillwater, MN
• Imperial Doughnut Break / Imperial Porter / 11.5% ABV / Evil Twin Brewing – New York, NY
• Sweet Water Street / Porter brewed with coffee and doughnuts / 7.1% ABV / One Well Brewing – Kalamazoo, MI
• Blueberry Donut Porter / Porter / 7.3% ABV / Rapp Brewing Company – Seminole, FL
• Goin’ Donuts! / Pastry Stout / 7.5% ABV / Sycamore Brewing – Charlotte, NC

And for our international friends with a love for donuts and yellow safety inspectors:

• Mmmmm Doughnuts / Imperial Pastry Stout / 9.9% ABV / Behemoth Brewing Co. – Auckland, New Zealand
• Dessert In A Can – Peanut Butter Caramel Crisp Jam Doughnut / Double Pastry Stout / 10.5% ABV / Amundsen Brewery – Oslo, Norway