Photo: Warner Bros.
There’s something special about ’80s movies . Maybe it’s the nostalgia or the simplicity.
It was an era when John Hughes , Bill Murray , and John Candy defined what film could be, and that mostly meant it was going to be funny. Whether we vicariously time-traveled with Marty McFly, road-tripped to Wally World with the Griswolds, or played hooky with Ferris Bueller, some of our favorite memories were those that took place onscreen.
Now that we’re entrenched in adulthood, we can enjoy a nice cold brew (or six) while we climb aboard the nostalgia express and watch our favorite ‘80s movies, but you have to do it with the right beer , which is why we’ve paired them.
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80s Movies Paired With Beer
'Back To The Future'
This is one of our favorite movies for many reasons. Everyone can relate to Marty McFly, we’d all love to time travel, and we’ve all met someone like Biff Tannen. Since the movie is about time travel and Marty travels back to 1955, we’d be remiss if we didn’t choose a beer that existed during every time period he visited. That’s why we chose Miller High Life , a beer that’s been in production since 1903.
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'
There are few ‘80s movies as beloved as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off . Whether you’re a fan of Ferris and his high jinks, or you’re more of a Jeannie fan, you have to enjoy the ride through 1980s Chicago. Since it took place in the Windy City, this movie requires a beer fit for the “Sausage King Of Chicago.” That’s why we picked Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale .
'Caddyshack'
This classic from 1980 might be the most perfect summer comedy. It’s got everything we like from golf, to Bill Murray, to fake poop floating in pools. It deserves to be paired with a low ABV, highly drinkable beer, the kind you can drink all day while you play 18 holes. That’s why we chose Founders All Day IPA .
'Summer Rental'
In the shuffle of John Candy classics, some of you might have missed Summer Rental. If you haven’t seen it, stop reading right now and rent it. It’s John Candy at his finest. From beginning to end, this summer vacation is a complete debacle filled with broken bones, horrible sunburns, and a lot of bad luck. We decided to pair this beach film with our favorite vacation beer Coney Island Beach Beer .
'Ghostbusters'
There are few movies more entrenched in '80s nostalgia than Ghostbusters . The plot seems silly, but it’s hilarious (and even a little scary if you were a little kid when it came out) and the cast is filled with some of our favorite comedic actors. It deserves to be paired with a spooky beer and that’s why we chose Rogue Dead Guy . This 6.8 percent German Maibock is rich and malty and holds up to the comedy on the screen.
'National Lampoon's Vacation'
In a world of road trip comedies, Vacation is one of the first and one of the best ever made. With the bumbling comedy of Chevy Chase and the strange mishaps that happen along the way, this summer movies deserves a fresh, summery beer. That’s why we paired it with Harpoon Camp Wannamango . It’s fruity, refreshing, and feels like a throwback.