Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios’ ALIEN: ROMULUS. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 … [+]
Ridley Scott’s seminal sci-fi/horror film Alien (1979) is known for many things: the infamous Chestburster scene, the debut of Sigourney Weaver playing badass Ellen Ripley, and a new breed of cosmic terror known as the Xenomorph.
A can of fermented hops isn’t exactly synonymous with the classic movie…unless, of course, you’re a super-fan who pays attention to the smallest production details.
For close to half a century, eagle-eyed viewers have discussed the topic of Aspen Beer, the Nostromo crew’s alcoholic beverage of choice. Most notably imbibed by Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt) during Kane’s final meal, the drink represents one of the franchise’s first-ever references to Weyland-Yutani, the greed-obsessed “Company” that will do anything to get its hands on a Xenomorph specimen. While the corporation would play a much larger and more visible role in the sequels that followed, it’s very cool to learn the callous conglomerate was always there from the very beginning — albeit spelled without the “d” at the end of “Weyland.”
Captain Dallas (right) holds a can of Aspen Beer in 1979’s “Alien.”
After starting life as an almost-negligible background prop, Aspen Beer has lived on throughout the decades, regularly popping up in other Alien media, and now fans can sip it for themselves thanks to Alien: Romulus. To celebrate the film’s wide theatrical release this weekend, 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox) partnered with Los Angeles-based Angel City Brewing to make the libation a reality.
Fictional Weyland-Yutani Beer Becomes a Reality in Honor of Alien: Romulus
“We looked at how the beer had previously shown up in the franchise and asked ourselves, ‘What would the crew onboard a spaceship want to drink on a regular basis?’” recalls marketing manager Kelsey Damassa. “Our thought was probably nothing with too high of an ABV or with too wacky of a flavor profile. Instead, we looked at beer styles that felt like they could be enjoyed by almost everyone.”
As such, the real-world Aspen Beer (overseen by head brewer Layton Cutler) took the form of a blonde ale, given the fact that “lightly flavored, classic beer styles … never get old or go out of style,” Damassa explains. “This blonde ale is just that — bright, classic, and incredibly delicious. The perfect brew to enjoy while exploring space.”
To be as faithful as possible to the product design featured in the ‘79 feature that set the whole mythos in motion, the Angel City team worked off high-res images of the Aspen Beer logo provided by 20th Century Studios.
“We tried to stay as true as possible to the original label design, but also wanted to add a little Angel City and Los Angeles flair,” Damassa says. “You’ll notice our iconic Angel is featured on the front of the can under the ‘Aspen Beer’ logo. You’ll also notice that we changed the location on the ribbon from Aspen, Colorado to Los Angeles, California to give a subtle nod to where the beer was brewed.”
Aspen Beer as produced by Angel City Brewing
Aspen Beer as produced by Angel City Brewing
Those looking to get taste of an ice-cold Aspen can head over to Angel City Brewery in Los Angeles (216 S Alameda Street), where the beer is available on tap and in a limited number of to-go cans. Facehugger eggs sold separately…
Alien: Romulus is now playing exclusively in theaters.
Directed and co-written by Fede Álvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe), the film takes place between the events of Alien and Aliens. Its story centers around a group of young scavengers who get way more than they bargained for while trying to steal cryo-pods from an abandoned Weyland-Yutani research station. Ridley Scott served as a producer on the project via his Scott Free banner.
