I’m working on a little collaboration with a wonderful artist pal of mine about boilermakers. You know what a boilermaker is? A shot and a beer combo? A Citywide Special, if you hail from greater/worse Philadelphia? You know what I’m talking about. Anyway, this project calls for all sorts of boilermakers, but I’m coming up a little short on regionally specific boilermakers (exactly like the Citywide Special). I’m looking to round out my list, and I figured who better to ask for help than you sickos. Luckily, we have the technology—a comments section—for me to do that. So! What’s your go-to boilermaker?
Extra points if it has a proper name or local lore that I can read up on. Links appreciated, but not required. And if you know your boilermaker order is some certified pervert shit—Cynar and Yuengling? Three Olives and Four Loko?—then you know I want to hear about it, just for the voyeuristic thrill.
Not a big boilermaker guy/gal/nonbinary pal? Not a problem. There’s SO much other shit to speculate upon from the week that was, includingsuchas:
How soon PBR’s new 180-pack will be referenced by name in a police report;
Who’s driving the Wall Street Journal’s recentrumor-mongering about a Boston Beer Co. sale;
When Cleveland’s infamous 10-cent beer night brawl will finally get the slapdash Netflix schlock-umentary treatment it so richly deserves;
And much, much more. Don’t think, just comment. Well, actually, think first. But you know what I mean. Privileges are ON for both paid and free subscribers alike, get in here Fingers Fam:
Hey, if you’re still free-riding, buy a subscription, wouldja? The boozeletter counts on your support. Alright, that’s enough from me. Give me your belovéd, your naméd, your curséd shot-and-beer combos, yearning to be drank—It’s Fingers Friday Thread time!
I hate to do this, so I'm going to throw it out there and run away. In the fall, when I am crushing the Halloween vibe, I stock up on whatever nice pumpkin ale is available in Des Moines (Dogfish Head Punkin last year). I pour one into a chilled lager glass and carefully drop in a shot glass full of Pinnacle whipped cream vodka. Almost as good as grandma's pumpkin pie! This isn't an Iowa thing, it's a crazy old lady thing.
Malort + Oldstyle, baby. Sometimes tallboy, sometimes not. Best at Archie's Rockwell, imo. Empty Bottle also good.
also as a post-lagunitas survivor, hoping I land some gig that gets me into the paid tiers soon, but I still appreciate getting the writing from you I do.
I should have known someone would beat me to the Chicago Handshake. Best at whatever your local neighborhood dive is. Although as someone who doesn't really like beer, my version is whatever cider is available + Malort.
Lew Bryson and John Holl just gave me a shitball hazy and shot of tequila on Tuesday. But that was in Philadelphia of course. And I resented all of it.
The Passenger in DC would always have some topical name for the same shot/beer combo every week, which was always Old Overholt and a Schlitz Tallboy for $8.
Red Derby, another stable of DC drinking, has an expansive menu of boilermakers. Here's the two I could find at present: You’ve Got Crabs (Natty Boh and Old Bay vodka), Craft Cocktail (Miller High Life and So Co and Lime)
State Park in Cambridge does a few with shots of cocktails. Go to is the Hixson, miller high life with a shot of a Toronto. At home, it’s Gansett and fernet
I don’t remember the name exactly. Some people would ask for the shot of tequila “down the neck” if they wanted it mixed in the can. I’ve also seen it with a shot of gin.
Ordering a "Lunch Box" was a (minor) thing in the 00s in Dallas. We knew what they were asking for but I don't recall it being a special at any particular bar.
Some broke young guy would ask "do you guys have a lunch box or something?" and we would just mentally add the price of a well whisky and a light lager and say "Yeah man, $8."
Thinking back, I wonder if a college town was responsible for this phenomenon. College Station, Lubbock, Norman?
Brews and Dews is pretty great. I'm surprised it was PBR over like... a Hudy, or even Iron City or Yuengling, or something. Were those not very big? (I guess this depends on where in Ohio you live/d, too.)
Primarily Columbus, Ohio. Yuengling was late to the state and not as popular as a result. Hudy would have been a good call - I feel like this was usually in dive bars whose selection wasn't huge.
the one i broke records with in the late '90s (for talking folks into something they regretted about half the time) was a shot of Jim Beam Rye with — well a quick pint of whatever, if there was a keg present, but preferably a Red Hook unfiltered Rye ale. (not sure whether that traveled out of WA at any point.)
now that you made me recall that, i might have to slo-mo test the waters with Bulleit and a Farmhouse Rye our neighborhood brewpub makes...
early college days, my creative juices were untapped. except once i was just babbling about one of my favorite parts of The Blues Brothers, and someone thought I was naming that boilermaker "Three Orange Whips!"
. permission to take this exchange back to my more indestructible self? 'Two Ways' would've blown my mind.
now I might call it a "Ry Cooler", since most if my people have discovered Ry Cooder... but to avoid punishment and stick it in its time and place: the South Sound Plunger.
The Old Pro, a now sadly closed bar in Palo Alto, CA, had a shot-and-a-beer daily special. My favorite was Don Gordo Mexican Lager with a shot of tequila.
At my favorite dive bar in Astoria (Dominie's on 30th Ave) for me it was Bushmills and a Brooklyn Lager. Nothing crazy but that combo got me through many bad days.
During Pabst’s comeback years, PB & J was a popular shot/beer special at a number of bars in Brooklyn, usually for about $5 - shot of Jameson and a can of PBR. Also, in the Netherlands, there’s a drinking tradition called Kopstiotje where they serve you Jenever with a wheat beer - you take the first sip of the Jenever from a tulip glass with your hands behind your back, then alternate sips of Jenever with the beer. Got severely fucked up doing this one night at a place called Arendsnest in Amsterdam, delicious and deadly
The liquor is Jenever, actually, Kopstootje is the nickname for it. I think they served it with Fraziskaner IIRC, definitely something in a Hefe glass. It’s a weird combo for sure
I've also heard the "happy meal" nomenclature thrown around.
Out here, YaYa's Cookbook has a "Short Pump Special" with a menu item that reads "Can of crap beer and a shot of bourbon."
It feels like "crap beer" really is the spirit of the thing. Don't try to premiumize or make fancy the beer or spirit in a boilermaker. They're meant to be cheap.
There may be established classics, but I found the best situation I'd ever seen at Tomaso's Canteen in Portland, ME. They have a SECTION of their menu that is just "boilermaker" pairings. This may be a collection of classics from various parts of the country, but I think they're just making shit up....it isn't in their online menu, but a look at photos attached to their Google listing will give you a look.
I hate to do this, so I'm going to throw it out there and run away. In the fall, when I am crushing the Halloween vibe, I stock up on whatever nice pumpkin ale is available in Des Moines (Dogfish Head Punkin last year). I pour one into a chilled lager glass and carefully drop in a shot glass full of Pinnacle whipped cream vodka. Almost as good as grandma's pumpkin pie! This isn't an Iowa thing, it's a crazy old lady thing.
Alright honestly this... doesn't sound terrible? DON'T RUN, THIS IS A SAFE PLACE!
Wow this sounds like a good thing, I'll have to try it this fall!
YES I get to be the Chicago Handshake guy:
Malort + Oldstyle, baby. Sometimes tallboy, sometimes not. Best at Archie's Rockwell, imo. Empty Bottle also good.
also as a post-lagunitas survivor, hoping I land some gig that gets me into the paid tiers soon, but I still appreciate getting the writing from you I do.
I should have known someone would beat me to the Chicago Handshake. Best at whatever your local neighborhood dive is. Although as someone who doesn't really like beer, my version is whatever cider is available + Malort.
Hell yeah Chicago Handshake!
Tell me more about post-Lagunitas survival, wouldja? I'm all ears: dave@dinfontay.com
Lew Bryson and John Holl just gave me a shitball hazy and shot of tequila on Tuesday. But that was in Philadelphia of course. And I resented all of it.
Did you file a police report?
Of course. But only after being assaulted by Lew’s lovely cackle.
The Passenger in DC would always have some topical name for the same shot/beer combo every week, which was always Old Overholt and a Schlitz Tallboy for $8.
Red Derby, another stable of DC drinking, has an expansive menu of boilermakers. Here's the two I could find at present: You’ve Got Crabs (Natty Boh and Old Bay vodka), Craft Cocktail (Miller High Life and So Co and Lime)
"You've Got Crabs." God Damn. I am no longer young enough to try THAT.
Can't spell "pubic lice" without "pub"
Yeah that's the good shit right there. Blue & Gold in NYC is/was sorta like Red Derby, I think.
Very far away and quite niche, but in Hobart Tasmania the ol’ Blakey is a 7oz of the darkest beer on tap and a healthy 2oz of Lark Single Malt.
Verrrry far away! Who is the "Blakey" in "Ol' Blakey" ?
Late to the party, but at a bar in Cambridge, MA (Cambridge Common) yesterday the menu had a whole section of what they called "Adult Happy Meals"
- "Industry Standard": Jameson & High Life
- "Irish Goodbye": Tullamore Dew & Guinness
- "NE Handshake": Malort & Narragansett [I didn't know we could get Malort around here]
- "Out of this world": Fernet + UFO White
- "Deer + Beer": Jagermeister + Zero Gravity Green State
- "Lite Lunch": Espolon Blanco + Bent Seltzer
https://photos.app.goo.gl/H6Ccw8fYTD2KxM6J9
State Park in Cambridge does a few with shots of cocktails. Go to is the Hixson, miller high life with a shot of a Toronto. At home, it’s Gansett and fernet
Bannock Street Garage in Denver used to (may still, it's been a minute) have the Billy Jack: PBR, well whiskey, and a loosey for $5.
Steigl Radler and a shit of Tequila- Has to be Grapefruit, but most blancos work
Started drinking these when I was working as a bar back in Houston
Yeah that sounds like some good shit right there. Was there a name for it, or did you just call the order?
I don’t remember the name exactly. Some people would ask for the shot of tequila “down the neck” if they wanted it mixed in the can. I’ve also seen it with a shot of gin.
Jackie Lee’s in DC has the “Chicago Charcuterie:” Miller High Life
(no Old Style in DC), Malort, snack-size Slim Jim as well as great high-class (for a dive bar) Taco Bell https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2024/05/14/tacos-crunch-wrap-popup-jackie-lees-dc/
Hell yeah to all of the above
Deer and a Beer (Jager and a Hamms at Lily's Snack Bar in NC)
Fuck! I didn't even know they did this, and I've BEEN THERE! That place rocks: https://www.fingers.email/p/lilys-snack-bar-forever
Ordering a "Lunch Box" was a (minor) thing in the 00s in Dallas. We knew what they were asking for but I don't recall it being a special at any particular bar.
Some broke young guy would ask "do you guys have a lunch box or something?" and we would just mentally add the price of a well whisky and a light lager and say "Yeah man, $8."
Thinking back, I wonder if a college town was responsible for this phenomenon. College Station, Lubbock, Norman?
Interesting. I know a lunchbox as a shot of OJ and amaretto dropped into a half of a coors light, taken like a bomb type shot
From Ohio, we always could order Brews and Dews, which almost always was a PBR and a shot of Tullamore Dew.
Brews and Dews is pretty great. I'm surprised it was PBR over like... a Hudy, or even Iron City or Yuengling, or something. Were those not very big? (I guess this depends on where in Ohio you live/d, too.)
Primarily Columbus, Ohio. Yuengling was late to the state and not as popular as a result. Hudy would have been a good call - I feel like this was usually in dive bars whose selection wasn't huge.
the one i broke records with in the late '90s (for talking folks into something they regretted about half the time) was a shot of Jim Beam Rye with — well a quick pint of whatever, if there was a keg present, but preferably a Red Hook unfiltered Rye ale. (not sure whether that traveled out of WA at any point.)
now that you made me recall that, i might have to slo-mo test the waters with Bulleit and a Farmhouse Rye our neighborhood brewpub makes...
Jim Beam Rye, eesh. What'd you call it? Rye on Rye? Rye Two Ways?
early college days, my creative juices were untapped. except once i was just babbling about one of my favorite parts of The Blues Brothers, and someone thought I was naming that boilermaker "Three Orange Whips!"
. permission to take this exchange back to my more indestructible self? 'Two Ways' would've blown my mind.
now I might call it a "Ry Cooler", since most if my people have discovered Ry Cooder... but to avoid punishment and stick it in its time and place: the South Sound Plunger.
The Old Pro, a now sadly closed bar in Palo Alto, CA, had a shot-and-a-beer daily special. My favorite was Don Gordo Mexican Lager with a shot of tequila.
RIP to the Old Pro 😢
At my favorite dive bar in Astoria (Dominie's on 30th Ave) for me it was Bushmills and a Brooklyn Lager. Nothing crazy but that combo got me through many bad days.
During Pabst’s comeback years, PB & J was a popular shot/beer special at a number of bars in Brooklyn, usually for about $5 - shot of Jameson and a can of PBR. Also, in the Netherlands, there’s a drinking tradition called Kopstiotje where they serve you Jenever with a wheat beer - you take the first sip of the Jenever from a tulip glass with your hands behind your back, then alternate sips of Jenever with the beer. Got severely fucked up doing this one night at a place called Arendsnest in Amsterdam, delicious and deadly
PB & J! C-l-a-s-s-i-c.
Kopstiotje and wheat beer, huh? I do not... want that.
The liquor is Jenever, actually, Kopstootje is the nickname for it. I think they served it with Fraziskaner IIRC, definitely something in a Hefe glass. It’s a weird combo for sure
Oregon: IPA and whiskey
(For me personally, IPA and a hit from the vape pen)
Ah yes, the Elder Millennial Boilermaker
I've also heard the "happy meal" nomenclature thrown around.
Out here, YaYa's Cookbook has a "Short Pump Special" with a menu item that reads "Can of crap beer and a shot of bourbon."
It feels like "crap beer" really is the spirit of the thing. Don't try to premiumize or make fancy the beer or spirit in a boilermaker. They're meant to be cheap.
The Thai place? Go figure!
Yeah, same owners as Sabai. Pretty good cocktail focus, but not as genuinely tiki as Sabai. Great food.
Haven't been to Sabai in YEARS. We should go!
lone star tall boy + a shot of whiskey was a “happy meal” at a variety of Austin shitholes in the 00s
Oh shit that's perfect. What was the whiskey? Anything in particular, or just the well?
for $5 you sure weren’t getting anything above well!
Old One and a Cold One - shot of any of the “olds” - Old Fo, Grandad, etc with a domestic can of beer. Usually for $5
There may be established classics, but I found the best situation I'd ever seen at Tomaso's Canteen in Portland, ME. They have a SECTION of their menu that is just "boilermaker" pairings. This may be a collection of classics from various parts of the country, but I think they're just making shit up....it isn't in their online menu, but a look at photos attached to their Google listing will give you a look.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g60878-d14763092-i381375845-Uncle_Eddie_s_Public_House-Seattle_Washington.html
Not sure the booze - Evan Williams? Or local: 2 Bar, Oola, Woodinville Whisky?