Lace-up your dancing shoes and pour a beer, because it’s time for Breakdancing Movies and a Six Pack! This one pushes the envelope just a tad. Instead of pairing the usual songs or albums with six beers, we are enjoying craft beers while watching breakdancing films. (Actually one is just a music video, but it’s a must-see).
Ever since watching my first film in this genre in high school, Fast Forward, I was hooked! The films traditionally have a combination of a hokey storyline, amazing outfits, and wild break dancing. The six films include both Breakin’ films, Fast Forward, Beat Street, You Got Served, and Aish’s “Get Clarity” music video. Time to pump up the volume and grab a beer from the fridge because this post will get you dancing.
Beat Street and Trillium’s Congress Street IPA
Many of these pairings are a bit of a stretch, but at least these two both contain the word “street.” This is definitely the edgiest of the films where the characters do naughty things like spray paint. It was produced by Harry Belafonte and showed the counter urban culture of New York City in the 1980s, with breakdancing, graffiti, and hip hop. From the streets to the street, Congress Street that is. Hard to go wrong with a Trillium IPA, especially Congress Street, one of their mainstays, while you’re watching the film.
Breakin’ and Canned Heat’s Home Slice Pale Ale
Breakin’ stars Turbo and Ozone are the kings of the LA breakdancing streets. To rise to the top they meet a classically trained dancer, Kelly “Special K,” to join their duo. Of course, trouble ensues but you can guess who wins. Look for cameos by John Claude Van Damme and Ice T. Canned Heat’s, out of Fall River, Massachusetts, has a similar flair. The brewery’s interior and some can art include tag-like letters. The Home Slice is a pale ale with a lemon twist. The character on the can could certainly be an extra from the film.
Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo and Zero Gravity’s Oktoberfest
It’s a damn shame a hate group has co-opted the name “boogaloo” because Breakin’ 2 is the king of this genre and should not be tainted with a bad reference. I mean there are so many songs and so much dancing that this film is practically a musical, move over Hamilton! Ozone, Turbo, and Kelly are back, this time to save Miracles Teen Center in downtown Los Angeles. They take on the suits and win. The movie is worth watching if for the opening dance number alone, with a lineman, mail carrier, and mime, all dancing in the same scene!
In one solo dance number Turbo dances on the ceiling. For someone to be able to defy gravity like that, there would have to be “zero gravity,” get it? The Oktoberfest by this Vermont brewery is a fine version of this classic style. It’ll be hard to hold the beer though, since it’s hard not to dance along with this film (especially when you’re on the ceiling). You can tell this film is a classic when the first and second films in this series were released in the same year.
Fast Forward and Long Trail’s Survival IPA Number 4
Perfect for this year and last, Long Trail’s Survival Pack has a more than appropriate name. This IPA is a session beer, so it won’t get you all banged up. It’s important because you’ll need all of your brainpower to catch the Boy George cameo in this film. The plot is pretty straightforward: a group of dancing teens from Sandusky, Ohio, try to survive in New York City. They strive to audition for a highly regarded battle of the bands while refining their chops on the mean streets. Believe it or not, the director of the film is Sidney Poitier, the result being almost as powerful as A Raisin in the Sun. Trying to make it big in New York and with a song called “Survive,” this Surval Pack IPA is a perfect match.
“Get Clarity” and High Limb Cider’s The O.G.
Aish is a website that provides all kinds of information about the Jewish faith. They have a series of fantastic popular song parodies. These include a Rock of Ages Hannukah song, Rosh Hashanah Rock Anthem, and Passover Funk. Not only are they entertaining and educational, they are really well made. My favorite though was the first I watched (and I show my freshman history class each year when we teach world religions) and this is “Get Clarity.”
“Get Clarity” is a Rosh Hashanah parody of “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk. Did I just run out of breakdancing movies so I copped out and threw on a Youtube video? No! The breakdancing in this video is truly awesome, almost as amazing as the fact that the shofar is actually used as an instrument here. At Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a “Sweet New Year” traditional treat is apples dipped in honey. It’s even referenced in the song. What a better way to celebrate than with a cider! To me, so many ciders are way too sweet. The O.G. by High Limb Cider has that perfect balance of crisp with only a tad of sweetness.
You Got Served and Mayflower Brewing’s Disruption
Watching the 80s movies, with the outfits, music and hairstyles, it’s easy to see time has passed. To me, 2004’s You Got Served seems like a new release. Well, watching it, gasp, 17 years later, it is dated. From frosted tips to oversized sports jerseys, it is a bit of a period piece as well. An LA-based dance crew faces glory and hardship as they battle their way to the top. Seems like a similar plot line by now? Although Mayflower is out of Plymouth, Massachusetts, this is a West Coast-style IPA. “Disruption,” originally known as “Eruption,” is a nod to Van Halen. After the bombardment of New England style IPAs over the last few years, this has a crisp, bitter bite to it.
During winter there’s nothing like a breakdancing movie marathon to chase away the cold winter blues. You’ll be locking and popping in no time! Breakdancing movies and a six-pack is a match made in the 80s.
