Other Half Gotham Gold Lager with ‘The Batman’

‘The Batman’ offers a new take on a character that’s already been explored in so many ways. Other Half’s Gotham Gold Lager is meanwhile a refreshing interpretation of the old German Dortmunder beer style.

The Movie: Superhero action / 2022 / Warner Bros. Pictures

The Beer: Golden Lager / 5.2% ABV / Other Half Brewing – Brooklyn, New York

I didn’t think I was going to like The Batman.

Sure, I thought it’d at least be fun. It’s Batman! But I was that kid who grew up watching a VHS copy of Batman and Robin on repeat only to have my young adult mind blown in 2008 open by The Dark Knight. Now I’m that surly 32 year old who’s perhaps a little too quick to declare things unwatchable — it takes a lot for something to transcend “fun” and end up in “good” territory.

Surly and crusty as I may be though, The Batman did just that. Is it anywhere near as awesome as The Dark Knight? No sir, but if you like Batman movies at all, you’ll like this latest rendition. Now streaming on HBO, it’s the perfect opportunity to pair the new film up with a beer pairing that captures the same sort of refreshing “reboot” spirit. Golden Lagers (and Lagers in general) have seen a resurgence in recent years and have become increasingly commonplace as a result. Nevertheless, Other Half Brewing manages to keep the style feel renewed with its aptly named Gotham Gold Lager.

If you don’t want movie spoilers though, go ahead and skip down to the beer pairing instead of reading this next section.

The Batman: A Quick Movie Review

In case you skimmed over the sentence above — *SPOILER ALERTS*

To address the elephant in the room upfront — yes, a lot of people (including many of my nearest and dearest) still know Robert Pattinson as the lead in Twilight. And yes, those movies were bad. And if you’re among those who haven’t yet subscribed to Pattinson being a decent actor, The Batman might just be the movie to help you see the light (light that he doesn’t sparkle in!)

See, previous Batman renditions — namely the 1960s TV show, the 1980s-1990s Tim Burton-helmed cinematic franchise, and Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy of the 2000s — keep Batman / Bruce Wayne as a largely unemotional, stoic machine of a man. He’s billionaire playboy Wayne when he needed to be and a shrewd crimefighter whenever the mask came on. Nolan’s series brought some much-needed grit and a tad more exploration of Wayne’s motivations, but the character is still a bit too clean cut on either side.

The Batman does things differently. Robert Pattinson’s superhero doesn’t have the same presence as Christian Bale destroying foes or even George Clooney fighting crime with his bat nipples out, but his Bat feels the most human so far. He’s still an enigma, but he’s more emotional than previous versions, and man, does he get roughed up during the fight scenes! This Batman has some really cool gadgets, but he’s still human with very human limits of fighting and physical abuse.

While he’s getting realistic bruises, this Batman is also shown taking off his mask. That’s no big deal in previous renditions of the caped crusader where Batman was suddenly clean-faced whenever his mask popped off. But here in The Batman, he’s actually shown with smudged dark eye makeup even while the mask is off. Other Batman magically have it disappear whenever the mask departs from face, but here, it stays put. It’s a small detail but a bold choice that I appreciate immensely.

There’s also Catwoman / Selina Kyle (Zoe Kravitz), who’s the closest thing so far to my favorite comics version of her. That would be the hardened prostitute / thief with martial arts training in Frank Miller’s Batman – Year One. She’s not quiiite a prostitute here, but she is very much from the seedy underbelly of Gotham and has a harsher view of the world than Bruce Wayne, and that’s what matters. The rest of the supporting cast was pretty darn good too, with notable callouts being Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Paul Dano as an eerily realistic Riddler, and Colin Farrell as the Penguin.

Are there things I don’t like about The Batman? Of course. This may (or may not) be the surly 30-something-ness inside of me, but I found Bruce Wayne’s fancy Gotham apartment and bat lair just unbelievable. You’re telling me the guy has a massive penthouse that looks like a spooky cathedral? And he has repurposed an abandoned subway station into a superhero lair that the city of Gotham has somehow not noticed? The suspension of disbelief is a bit too much here.

Likewise, some of the stupidity of the “regular” characters irked me to no end. The most grievous example of this is during the climax, when Gotham police usher people down into Madison Square Garden whatever they call it in the movie even though the city is flooding and going below ground is obvious a terrible idea.

Last but not least, Wayne’s relationship with Alfred (Andy Serkis) was a bit too after-school special. It (very predictably) goes from “You’re not my real dad!” to “I’m sorry. You are basically my dad because you raised me, and by the way, I’m a full-grown man with a considerable amount of wealth even though I act like a teenager.” in way too short of a time period.

But hey, maybe I’m just being picky.

The Beer Pairing: How Other Half’s Lager Stands Out

I’ve been really back into Lagers lately. Maybe it’s because IPAs have oversaturated the market, or maybe it’s because I’m in my 30s and surly and am no longer able to keep slamming down intense beers. But I’ve been finding more and more that a well-crafted Lager doesn’t skimp on body or flavor. Other Half’s Gotham Gold is a pristine example.

Other Half based this Lager on the old German Dortmunder beer style. Traditionally, this type of brew has a fuller body than a Helles Lager, but it doesn’t have the bitter, hoppy flavor of a Pilsner. In other words, it’s supremely smooth with just the right crisp finish.

While the style itself may be enticing, it’s not necessarily a standout on the craft beer scene. Light beer styles in general have been thriving in recent years, thanks to breweries wanting to try their hands at styles other than IPAs and Stouts. But Other Half isn’t just any brewery. Gaining worldwide attention thanks to bold, dank hoppy styles, the brewery is frequently ranked among the best of the best. So, when they go for a Golden Lager — an abrupt departure from the norm — you know they’re really looking to innovate.

To make Gotham Gold, the brewers started with a base of German pilsner and Vienna malts. Then they hopped it with German-grown Spalt Spalter and Spalt Select, which added nice herbal and grassy aromas (think sitting outside on a freshly-trimmed lawn with a blooming garden nearby).

As for the taste, it’s refreshing and even — just like other Lagers at first. But just wait, and the finish is not quite as bitter as a traditional German Dortmunder. There are also some very subtle, yet completely stunning, hints of caramel-drizzled bread crust. The words “delicious” and “crushable” totally apply here. Will it surpass other Lagers as the crème de la crème of the style? No, but just like Pattinson’s Batman, it is a pleasant new addition to a beloved group.

Where to Find Other Half Brewing

Other Half is a world-renowned craft brewery based in Brooklyn, New York with two locations in the borough. They now also have a spot by Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, as well as locations in upstate New York (Bloomfield and Buffalo) Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, D.C.

*Bonus Beers*

Not able to get Other Half near you? Just not a big fan of Golden Lagers? No problem! Check out these bonus beer pairings for The Batman:

• Holy Simcoe, Batman! / American IPA / 6% ABV / Bhramari Brewing Co. — Asheville, NC
• Batsquatch / Hazy IPA / 6.7% ABV / Rogue Ales — Newport, OR
• Late Knight / Imperial IPA / 8.1% ABV / Middle Ages Brewing — Syracuse, NY

And an international addition:

• Dark Knight / Porter / 4.5% ABV / Murray’s Brewing Co. — New South Wales, Australia