Walter White may be a fictional character, but that hasn't stopped New Mexico's Marble Brewery from dedicating a beer to him. The craft brewery's new "Heisenberg's Dark" is an India black ale named as an homage to Breaking Bad's leading man (Heisenberg is White's drug-dealing pseudonym). Right on the heels of Marble's reveal, the delightfully stuffy PBS hit Downton Abbeyannounced a similar plan to create a special "vintage" wine line made with the type of grapes the British aristocracy would have imported from France in the early 1900s. But these boozy beverages are hardly the first to boast pop-culture tie-ins. Here, a look at five other drinks named after beloved films and television shows:
1. Game of Thrones - Iron Throne Ale and Take the Black Stout
When New York's Brewery Ommegang released its Iron Throne Ale earlier this year, fans of HBO's Game of Thrones were unable to quench their "Tyrion-sized" thirst with its limited release. Thankfully, Ommegang will release a second Thrones-themed beer, Take the Black Stout, this fall. According to Ommegang Innovation Manager Mike McManus, Take the Black Stout is brewed with "wintry thoughts and dark tidings" in mind. "I imagined Take the Black Stout as a hearty and robust beer to fortify those heroically standing watch at the Wall," he said.
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Simpsons creator Matt Groenig has refused to license out the Duff trademark. Nonetheless, savvy (or shady?) beverage makers around the world have used the Duff name — and its associations with Homer Simpson's favorite beverage — to peddle suds. The label for the U.K.'s "Legendary Duff Beer," for example, features a font similar to the iconic one used on the television show, and refers to the drink as a "modern day legend" without actually mentioning The Simpsons by name.
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Holy Grail Ale
In honor of the British absurdist comedy's 30th anniversary in 1999, the U.K.'s Black Sheep Brewery released its Holy Grail Ale, a golden ale "with more hops than a killer rabbit." The beer gained popularity stateside after the brewery struck a deal to supply the beer at theaters showing the hit musical "Spamalot" nationwide.
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4. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Dayman Coffee IPA
How do you become Dayman, master of the Nightman? By drinking this curious coffee IPA, which is a collaboration between brewers from Aleman, Stone, and Two Brothers. The beer, which is made with freshly roasted coffee beans, has been garnering outstanding reviews from beer aficionados.
5. Star Wars - Various beer tributes
Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that a franchise with such a fervent fan base would spawn a wide variety of tribute beverages. While a true Jedi Ale may not exist, a few craft breweries are here to help — especially if you like stouts: Sierra Nevada offers its Empire Strikes Black Imperial Stout, New England Brewing Company makes an Imperial Stout Trooper, and Terrapin brews a Dark Side Belgian-Style Imperial Stout.
Samantha Rollins is TheWeek.com's news editor. She has previously worked for The New York Times and TIME and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
