Hey there, Drinkers!
Today is Judgement Day, which means you should get your drinking in early before the world kablodes. But seriously, today’s BAAM is the Judgement Day combo where we watch Terminator 2: Judgement Day and sip on The Lost Abbey’s Belgian quad Judgement Day. Big beer. Big explosions. Great weekday drinking. Let’s get started, shall we?
I’m going to assume that most of you are reasonably socially adjusted and have seen Terminator 2: Judgement Day, aka the seminal action movie of the 1990’s. The far more popular sequel to The Terminator, T2 (as it is affectionately called) is the pinnacle of 90’s action. There are explosions, computers, guns, a badass mom, more explosions and two different kinds of grenade launchers. Literally this movie has everything. And while the award-winning special effects have not aged well, the action is still as visceral and exciting as it was in its original theatrical release. If you leave your modern perspective behind (a perspective that includes knowledge of Arnold’s political career and a basic understanding of computer science), the movie still holds up fairly well. Looking past the ever-cheesy dialogue (let’s face it, James Cameron has never been known for his writing), the film is pretty damn good and pushes some boundaries. Most obviously, Sarah Connor is a complete baller. She never wears a bra and she kicks total ass while still grappling with the realities of less-than-stellar parenting skills. And while the film still requires the presence of a “male” savior (he is a robot….), Sarah Connor still stands atop the list of cinema’s strongest female heroes (along with Ripley from the Alien franchise).
BAMF
I hate to point out flaws in a classic but I’m going to anyway. Deal with it. Deep in my nerdy core, there are certain questions that gnaw at me. Like why the T-1000 defaults to the cop-look when he could easily just keep changing forms. And where the F@$% did John and Sarah got those explosives?! They certainly didn’t come from their random gun stash on the Mexican border. Or, more fundamentally, why don’t the machines just keep trying to kill Sarah Connor earlier in her life? Why wait until John is born? I’m just unclear as to why they wait so long. Robo-logic problem. But that’s more just me being nit-picky and not a fan of time-travel as a plot device. Overall, Terminator 2 is a bit silly mostly because of it’s age but the action still holds up. The practical and special effects are still impressive and the action is still visceral and exciting. Moreover, the story of a mother and son at odds because of their fate still rings truer than most action films we see today. My opinion? T2 is always worth another viewing.
So much ass waiting to be kicked
And The Lost Abbey’s Judgement Day was a perfect fit for our movie. Not only was the name actually appropriate (unlike most BAAM combos), the beer was a long-lasting drinking companion; perfectly suited to last the two hour movie. Pouring from a bomber, Judgement Day is beautifully black in color with a lovely chocolate head. With a stout’s roasted malt aroma, accented with fruity sweetness (from the raisins with which this beer is brewed), this beer was surprisingly complex despite the brute force of the 10.5% ABV. Though the beer is described as a Belgian quad brewed with raisins, I’m not sure I got any particular Belgian-y flavor. Though, to be honest, I’m not even sure if a Quad is supposed to retain that classic Belgian flavor. What I can say is that this Quad is a noticeable step up from a Tripel, which are already strong beers. Briefly stated, this beer is not for the feint of heart and is best enjoyed over a LONG period of time. It warms fairly well and the substantial ABV will definitely hit you. It certainly hit me…
So there you have it, drinkers. Judgement Day! A powerful, action-packed film with a powerful, booze-packed beer. I would definitely recommend either, or both, for repeated viewings and tasting. Moreover, I’d suggest enjoying both of these with a friend or two. Nothing says friendship like beer and explosions! Trust me, you’ll be back…
(sorry, had to)
And as always keep drinking, my friends.
Tonight’s Tasting Notes:
The Lost Abbey’s Judgement Day:
-Rich, black color
-Caramel/chocolate head
-Malty taste with noticeable raisin sweetness
Terminator 2: Judgement Day
-Classic, nearly-non-stop action
-Special effects haven’t aged all that well
-Strong, female lead that still surpasses her contemporaries
beer and a movie 