Fargo – 1996. Ethan and Joel Coen.

My first thought was to mirror the dark aggressiveness of the film with an almost too hoppy black ale. A beer that underscores the cinematic style because it stings a bit and makes you wonder if you should close your eyes or look away. It should probably be a bigger beer 7% and up, so that you feel it for a while afterwards, just like the film.

My choice: Haywire from Indeed Brewing Company.

On the other hand, you might think about balancing the noir film with a sweeter brew. Lighter with a complex malt profile that can rival both the nuance and the boldness of the movie. Fargo is a movie with a lot of sharp edges and points, so the contrasting beer should be soft like a comfortable chair. Maybe a field of sun-warned grass not yet gone to seed.

My choice: An older bottle of Auroch’s Horn from Olvalde Farm & Brewery.

What beer do you suggest for Fargo?