With summer on the doorstep, it's time to kick back, let the sunshine in, and open a cold beer or refreshing cocktail of choice. Going back to the early days of cinema, fictional beer brands have populated movies, potentially as a way of avoiding product placement. Later, the trend carried over to television, where a proliferation of phony beer brands began to increase during the '80s and '90s.
While some of the fictitious beer brands in TV & film adhere to the traditional color, consistency, potency, and packaging depicted in reality, others are comprised of weird concoctions and odd acquired tastes.
Panther Pilsner - The Three Little Beers (1935)
One of the oldest fake beer brands on record belongs to Panther Pilsner, a fictional brand created by the iconic Three Stooges for their 1935 short film, The Three Little Beers.
Moe, Larry, and Curly star as a trio of bumbling brewers who work for the Pilsner Beer company in the film. When the stooges sneak onto a golf course to get some practice rounds in, they're forced to escape in their beer truck after being caught. As they drive away, barrels of Panther Pilsner go streaming down the streets.
Buzz Beer - The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004)
In 233 episodes aired over nearly a decade, the Buzz Beer brand in The Drew Carey Show became a fixture in households everywhere. With a unique recipe, Buzz Beer is comprised of equal parts lager and coffee and brewed inside Drew's garage.
The main characters are seen brewing, mixing, and imbibing the fictional beer brand throughout the long-running series. While homemade, the beer was often portrayed as the chintzy substitute for the fictional rival, Cap-Beer-Cino.
Elsinore Beer - SCTV/Strange Brew (1983)
As the title suggests, Elisnore Beer is a mysterious potent potable around which the entire movie plot functions. Based on the SCTV characters Bob (Rick Moranis) and Dave McKenzie (Dave Thomas), the lovable Canadian hosers gain entry at Elsinore Brewery and uncover a major conspiracy.
After infiltrating and investigating the brewery, the bumbling brothers discover the Brewmeister is planning on conquering the planet by lacing Elsinore with a mind-controlling substance that turns consumers into mindless drones.
Alamo Beer - King Of The Hill (1997-2010)
For thirteen long years on television, the principal cast of King of the Hill hung around the front lawn and pounded gallons of Alamo Beer, perhaps the second-most well-known cartoon beer brand ever conceived.
In Season 6, Episode 16, "Beer and Loathing," Alamo Beer plays a vital role when Peggy gets hired as a customer service rep for the company. When she is told that Alamo is knowingly selling contaminated beer to the public, she struggles with her requirement of keeping quiet.
Schraderbrau - Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Another potent homemade brew on the list includes Shcraderbrau, the intoxicating fake beer brand that Hank Schrader (Dean Norris) concocts in his garage as a form of leisure in Breaking Bad. Beyond Heisenberg's (Bryan Cranston) blue meth, this is New Mexico's strongest substance.
As one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, Schraderbrau became so popular that Norris helped launch a real-life counterpart in 2019. The artisanal craft brew is currently available for consumption by the masses, despite Marie's (Betsy Brandt) constant displeasure with the drink on the show.
Jekyll Island Lager & Red Ale - The Rules Of Attraction, Lost, Dexter (2002-)
As a fictional brand that crosses over multiple titles on the big and small screen, Jekyll Island is one of the most ubiquitous beers created in the last two decades. The prop was created by Independent Studio Services.
Jekyll Island Beer made its first appearance in the 2002 film The Rules of Attraction. It's since appeared on everything from Lost, Dexter, Burn Notice, New Girl, Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and more. The fictional brand produces a lager, red ale, and rootbeer.
Cerveza Chango - Robert Rodriguez Filmography (1992-2005)
Although its description isn't all that flattering, the fictional Cerveza Chango brand first introduced in Robert Rodriguez's film debut El Mariachi has since appeared in several of the director's movies. The flat, warm beverage also comes with an added dose of humor in his films.
Chango has also made various appearances in Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Sin City. The name Chango refers to the Santeria Orisha of thunder, lightning, and gun powder, making it more powerful than initially let on.
Romulan Ale - Star Trek (1988-)
Another fictional brand of suds beloved by fans is the Romulan Ale of Star Trek fame, an extremely intoxicating bluish beer beverage consumed by multiple characters throughout the TV and film series.
According to the Star Trek Cookbook, Romulan ale is comprised of seltzer water mixed with Glacier Freeze Gatorade. The beverage was offered to the Star Trek Experience theme park guests in Las Vegas until it was closed in 2008. In 2009, the company Boston America created a Romulan Ale Energy Drink to tie in with the release of the J.J. Abrams film.
Duff Beer - The Simpsons (1989-)
For more than 30 years, Duff Beer has been prominently displayed every Sunday night in households across the globe. As the most recognizable fake beer brand in TV history, Duff Beer is synonymous with Homer Simpson and Moe's Tavern.
First introduced in May 1990, Duff Beer not only informs several episodic storylines on the show, but the brand also offers varietals such as Duff Lite, Duff Dark, and Duff Dry. The popularity of the brand comes from its inferior rival, Fudd Beer, which is known to cause blindness.
Heisler Beer - Countless Movie & TV Titles
Other than a generic can with the word "beer" stamped on it, Heisler Beer is the most ubiquitous fake beer brand in movies and television. Created by prop-house Independent Studio Services, Heisler beer and Heisler Gold Ale have appeared in countless big and small screen titles.
Created as a way to skirt product placement and legal issues, Heisler beer has appeared in such popular movies as Ghost World, Training Day, The Social Network, and such TV shows as The League, Roseanne, Fear The Walking Dead, and many more. In the fictional realm, Heisler is the king of beers!