An Unusual Review and Elysian The Wise ESB

 The Zed Word was kind enough to put up a comment with a couple of very relevant short films with the combined theme of Zombies and Beer.  How perfect!  Elysian ESB just happened to be in my fridge for this impromptu review.

I'll admit I'm not as familiar with ESB's as i would like to be.  I've only drank 4 or 5 different kinds before.  That being said I love "the idea" of an ESB.  A pumped up version of the classic English ale.  The bitter was the beer of the people and i think I've always romanticized the beer a bit.  I open the bomber and pour it into a normal pint glass.  I figure this is probably the most appropriate glass.  It's a fairly dark amber color with a cream colored head that fizzles away after a few minutes leaving moderate lacing.  First sniffs are way more American than i expected.  It's The Ramones instead of the Sex Pistols.....similar, but different.  Instead of earthy and flowery I'm getting passion fruit and tangerine.  Not something i expected.  There is some biscuit malt aroma there but this beer hop leaning.  I believe we call that a pale ale instead of an ESB but i don't want to judge prematurely.  The first sip however is ESB.  Here is where the rubber meets the road.  There is a full earthy hop flavor mixed perfectly with a light husky maltiness.  This beer is well balanced with a medium low mouth feel and a clean finish.  I can see why the English are so damn classy.  This beer is better than the monkey exhibit at the zoo.  Overall this beer is very drinkable and very pleasing.  It's complex enough to satisfy the sophisticated tongue while being easy enough for a warm evening beverage.  If you haven't gotten a chance to try the Elysian beers your missing out.

Now for the short films.  Film #1 Keg of the Dead is an interesting take on zombies and frat houses.  Due to the fact i didn't attend a normal college i cannot attest to the accuracy of the fraternity members herein.  However i can attest to the accuracy of the zombies.  Pretty awesome.  For a low budget youtube video this is pretty sweet.  A pizza delivery guy goes to a frat house and delivers some pizzas but because he was late he doesn't get paid.  Wait wait wait.......oh no......zombies (for no reason!).  Pizza guy tries to fight them off and finds that beer kills them.  Do frat guys listen........noooooooooooooo they become zombie food, the whole time chanting "DELTA MASTER BETA" which strangely enough sounds like masturbator.  he he....masturbator....he he.  Geeky pizza guy packs the keg on his back and goes to town killing zombies.  End of movie.  Short...sweet....awesome....and something that seems achievable.  It was fun and i'm glad i saw it.

Film #2 Zombeer.  WOW.  Holy horshit batman.  I loved it.  I loved every second of it.  It's what short films were meant to be.  Short and to the point.  I'll sum it up in one sentence.

A fat guy falls into a brewing tank and not only becomes a zombie but also infects all of the beer that is shipped out.

How's that?  The effects were actually pretty good and the characters were funny.  I love when people just add a gaggle of Asians to a movie.  It could have been a gaggle of Australians or maybe Africans but instead for some reason Asians seem to be the ultimate tourist.  Just an observation.

The Beer:

Aroma – 7/12

Appearance – 3/3

Taste – 16/20

Palate – 4/5 

   Overall – 7/10

Total = 37/50

The Movie (Keg of the Dead):

Production – 2/5

Plot – 3/5

Gore – 3/5

Zombies – 3/5

  Overall – 3/5

The Movie (Zombeer):

Production – 4/5

Plot – 3/5

Gore – 3/5

Zombies – 4/5

  Overall – 3.5/5