‘Younger’ and Beers for Generations Young and Old
‘Younger’ just wrapped up its seven-season tale of love, books and intergenerational connection. Whether you’re a Millennial, Gen X or another age entirely, there’s something here for adults of all ages to enjoy.
The Show: Comedy-Drama centered around a New York publishing house / 2015-2021 / TV Land – Paramount+
The Beer: From Guinness to microbrewery hazies, these are the beers preferred by today’s drinkers across the age spectrum.
*Mild Spoilers*
Younger is the exact kind of show that shouldn’t work.
It premiered on TV Land in 2015, and like so many others I rolled my eyes at the ads and didn’t give it another thought. A 40-year-old woman posing as a 26 year old to get back into a career in publishing? Puh-lease.
Fast forward to this week, and I’m clinging to every moment of the show’s final episode. I caught up a few years ago (courtesy of a former roommate), and I’ve streamed every new season since. Turns out, Younger doesn’t just work — it’s incredibly watchable!
Now, the premise is still silly on the surface, but so are those of most shows and movies when you really think about it. But where Younger particularly succeeds is its charismatic characters and willingness to devote equal attention to “young” and “old” alike. To say the show is about a 40-year-old woman trying to fit in with a group of 20-something women is a gross over-simplification.
This is a show about a group of people of different ages who form genuine relationships — spanning friendly, professional and romantic — with one another because they connect on common interests and personality traits. Yes, there’s the trademark personal drama that’s in all of creator Darren Star’s shows, but there’s also a lot of heart and good vibes. There are also some super weird moments, which actually adds to the charm (that season 2 episode where Liza goes to the sheep farm, anyone?)
Now, the final season isn’t quite as well-rounded as the previous ones. The absence of certain characters (namely Miriam Shor’s huge necklace-wearing marketing ace, Diana Trout) is felt, and the muddled plot lines makes it seem like the writers disagreed on which direction to take things in for a final go around. Where it does shine though is the fact that the younger characters now find themselves in their 30s. Millennials are no longer the hot young crowd (welcome to the stage, Gen Z), and it’s time to start looking at life from a wider lens.
But young-ish or old-ish, everyone still enjoys each other’s company and good drink at the end of the day. Whether you’re just getting into the show (and again, it is worth checking out despite the ludicrous-seeming premise) or recently watched the series finale, here’s some brews worth pairing with Younger:
Guinness Draught – Guinness
According to a YouGov poll, Guinness is the most popular beer among Gen Xers. But I’m a Millennial, and I just had one at dinner. Flipping to the other end of the spectrum, there’s this 100-year-old lady who credited a Guinness a day for her longevity. See? This beer’s dry, smooth flavors are meant to be enjoyed by adults of all ages!
Corona Extra – Grupo Modelo
The same study has Corona as another one of the most preferred beers of choice for Gen X… and Millennials, AND Baby Boomers! Who knew? Gen Z, you’re up next on the Corona train — don’t forget the lime if you want it to taste truly refreshing.
Clausthaler Dry Hopped (N/A Beer) – Clausthaler
When I was newly 21, I almost bought a six-pack of O’Doul’s because I failed to read the ABV. Thankfully, a friend stopped me by explaining his grandpa drank it all the time because he didn’t like “anything too flavorful or too boozy.” Now 10 years later, non-alcoholic beer is on the rise among younger and older crowds alike! Clausthaler Dry Hopped is an excellent option because of its modern citrusy bitterness (from American Cascade hops) and classic German lager yeast cleanliness.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
Founded in 1979, Sierra Nevada Brewing may not seem like the hot choice for younger crowds. But these are the folks who pretty much created the American Pale Ale and paved the way for modern IPAs! It’s also worth noting that Sierra Nevada was launched by home brewers and is now the largest privately-owned brewery in the U.S. They basically launched the modern craft beer movement, so we all owe them a toast or two, or seven.
Hazy IPA – Most Craft Breweries!
New England-style hazies reign supreme on not just the IPA front, but on the entire craft beer scene. With time the trend is likely to fade, but for now, these smooth, ultra-juicy beers run plentiful! And in recognition of their popularity among adults across a wide range of ages, even long-running big name brands have started adding hazies to their repertoire (like Samuel Adams and their Wicked Hazy NEIPA).
But hey, at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter whether you and your cohorts are drinking the same beer. All that matters is that you’re together!
