In the TV show Supernatural, Dean Winchester, played by Jensen Ackles, is known for his drinking. Dean is a functional alcoholic, with his drinking increasing to a level of obvious dependence. While Dean rarely appears drunk, his drinking has increased markedly, especially after his resurrection, as he struggles to cope with his memories of Hell. Dean's drink of choice is beer, and he has been shown drinking a variety of different beers throughout the show, including El Sol, PBR, and Margiekugel's lager. In one episode, Dean even drinks approximately 3/4 of a 750ml bottle of 40% Maraska Sljivovica, which is a significant amount of alcohol.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Dean's preferred beer | El Sol, PBR |
Other drinks | Mixed drinks, whiskey, wine |
Reason for drinking | To ease worry, to celebrate, or to drink |
Where Dean drinks | By the Impala, in bars, motels, Gas-n-Sips, the Men of Letters bunker |
What You'll Learn
Dean drinks El Sol, a Mexican beer
In the TV show Supernatural, Dean drinks El Sol, a Mexican beer. It's a light and refreshing brew, perfect for pairing with salty foods or for cooling off after a long, hot day. Typically, it's served with a slice of lime in the neck of the bottle.
El Sol plays a notable role in the show, appearing in a total of 37 episodes. It's often seen in the hands of Dean and his brother, Sam, who are known for their love of beer. In one memorable scene, Sam and Dean take a moment to relax and drink El Sol by their beloved car, the Impala. It's during this moment of downtime that the brothers open up to each other, sharing their thoughts, fears, and revelations about their past.
Dean's drinking habits are a recurring theme in the show, with his dependence on alcohol increasing at certain points in the series. While Dean's drinking is sometimes a source of concern for Sam, it also serves as a way for the brothers to bond and work through their problems.
The prop master, Chris Cooper, is responsible for creating fake beer labels for the show, often using local beer brands from the places where they are filming. For example, in Texas, the bottles feature a Lone Star Lager label, while in Minnesota, it's Timberwolf Ale.
In reality, the bottles on set usually contain coloured water, as is common in Hollywood productions. This ensures continuity across scenes, as shooting schedules can be out of sequence. However, there have been instances where the actors have consumed real alcohol, including a memorable eggnog scene where Jared Padalecki, who plays Sam, spiked the drink with liquor, resulting in a genuine reaction from Jensen Ackles, who plays Dean.
So, while Dean's drinking habits may be a cause for concern, his choice of beer, El Sol, is a fitting beverage for the character and adds a touch of authenticity to the show.
Beer and Pregnancy: Safe Drinking During Two-Week Wait?
You may want to see also
He also drinks PBR
In the show Supernatural, Dean Winchester, played by Jensen Ackles, is known for his drinking. While on hunting trips, Dean always has a few bottles of alcohol, usually liquor or beer, on hand. Beer is regularly bought in six-packs. Dean's drinking has increased to a level of obvious dependence, although he is rarely seen drunk.
Dean's preferred beer is El Sol, a Mexican beer that is light and tasty with salty food or after sweating a lot. It is typically served with a slice of lime in the neck of the bottle. However, he also drinks PBR sometimes, as well as a couple of obscure craft beers.
In one episode, Dean is seen struggling to open a beer. He opens the bottle with ease, but the beer foams and spills over his hand and onto the floor. Jensen Ackles, who plays Dean, plays it cool until he goes to blow the foam off the top of the bottle, which he does with a straight face, and then takes a swig. At this point, everything starts shaking, and Jensen starts hamming it up for the camera, drinking the beer as if his life depends on it, only to start spitting it out on the ground.
In another episode, Dean and Sam are on a supply run and decide to relax and drink beer by the Impala. They talk about their cases, the past, the future, and their thoughts. It is during one of these moments that Dean reveals their father's dying words to Sam: "He said I might have to kill you, Sammy."
Shrooms vs. Weed: Why Beer is Better
You may want to see also
Dean's drinking is a coping mechanism
In the TV show Supernatural, Dean Winchester is shown to have a problematic relationship with alcohol. While drinking is common among hunters in the show, Dean's drinking has increased to a level of obvious dependence. Dean himself refers to himself as a functional alcoholic.
Dean's drinking started early—he remembers having his first beer before he was even ten years old. His drinking increased markedly after his resurrection as he struggled to cope with his memories of Hell, and it continued during the Apocalypse. At one point, he admits that he drinks somewhere in the mid-fifties of drinks per week. After the death of his brother, Sam, Dean moves in with Lisa and Ben and drinks half a fifth of alcohol a night. After he leaves and returns to hunting, his anxiety and drinking only seem to increase.
Dean's drinking doesn't change even after Sam gets his soul back. As he tells Sam, "You shove it down and you let it come out in spurts of violence and alcoholism." When Dean feels like there is nothing he can do to stop Castiel while the angel is acting as "god," he gives up and resorts to drinking in Bobby's kitchen early in the morning.
After going behind Sam's back to kill Amy Pond the kitsune, Dean's drinking increases even further. When they find that the victim of a case they are investigating was in Alcoholics Anonymous, Dean refuses to go to a meeting to investigate, saying, "A.A. gives me the jeebs." Instead, he goes to a bar and downs three double scotches in quick succession, only switching to beer when the bartender indicates an interest in hooking up with him.
Dean's drinking, while still excessive, seems to plateau after his role in Amy's death is revealed and remains relatively stable after Bobby's death. He does not keep his resolution to avoid bars and booze for long, but he seems more in control. Later, when facing a shojo, an alcohol spirit that can only be seen by those who are drunk, Dean has to drink approximately 3/4 of a 750ml bottle of 40% alcohol to get drunk enough to see the spirit. Unlike Sam and Garth, he is sober when he fights the shojo and has to take directions from Sam in order to locate and kill it.
Overall, Dean's drinking is a coping mechanism that provides temporary relief from the stress and trauma of his life. However, it is not a healthy coping strategy and has negative consequences on his life.
Beer and Weight Gain: Fact or Fiction?
You may want to see also
He is rarely seen drunk
Dean Winchester, one of the protagonists of the TV show Supernatural, is rarely seen drunk despite his excessive drinking. While Dean's drinking has escalated to a level of obvious dependence, he is rarely seen inebriated. In one instance, Dean appears slightly tipsy in the episode "Yellow Fever" (season 4, episode 6), but this could be attributed to the combination of alcohol and ghost sickness.
Dean's drinking significantly increased after his resurrection as he struggled to cope with his memories of Hell. Following Lucifer's rise and the onset of the Apocalypse, Dean's drinking continued to be a problem. He admits that he consumes "somewhere in the mid-fifties" drinks in a week. When Sam ends up in Lucifer's Cage, Dean moves in with Lisa and Ben and drinks heavily—according to Lisa, he consumes half a fifth of alcohol every night.
Even after Sam gets his soul back, Dean's drinking remains unchanged and becomes a part of his character. As he tells Sam about coping with his traumatic experiences, he says: "You shove it down and you let it come out in spurts of violence and alcoholism." Dean's drinking increases even further after he goes behind Sam's back to kill Amy Pond the kitsune. When they investigate a case involving Alcoholics Anonymous, Dean refuses to go to a meeting, saying, "A.A. gives me the jeebs." Instead, he goes to a bar and downs three double scotches before switching to beer.
Dean's drinking eventually plateaus after his role in Amy's death is revealed and remains relatively stable after the death of Bobby, a fellow hunter. Dean carries Bobby's flask with him and keeps it full, but his drinking seems to lessen after an encounter with the Amazons and the death of Emma. He tells Sam that he wants to avoid bars, alcohol, and "hot chicks" on their next case, although he doesn't keep this resolution for long.
Despite his excessive drinking, Dean is rarely seen drunk, indicating a high level of alcohol tolerance. In one instance, he consumes a significant amount of alcohol (approximately 12 standard US drinks) to see an alcohol spirit called a shojo, and he admits that he hasn't felt debilitated by alcohol in a long time.
Tooth Chip and Beer: What's Safe?
You may want to see also
Fake beer labels are used on set
Fake beer labels are used on the set of the TV show Supernatural. The show's prop master, Chris Cooper, creates fake labels for the beer bottles that often have something to do with the location they are filming in. For example, in Texas, the label might be Lone Star Lager, and in Minnesota, it might be Timberwolf Ale. However, the actors are not drinking real beer. On sets, alcohol is usually replaced with coloured water or tea.
In one instance, however, Jared Padalecki, who plays Sam, spiked Jensen Ackles' (Dean) drink with real alcohol. In the scene, Dean discovers that his girlfriend in the illusion was based on a model he saw in an El Sol beer ad. When offered the drink, Jensen reacts to the taste, showing it was not what he expected.
In another instance, Misha Collins, who plays Castiel, accidentally drank five beers in a row when he thought the cameras were not rolling.
The show also features real beer brands, such as Margiekugel, which is named after the production designer Jerry Wanek's mother, Margie.
George Washington's Favorite Beer: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Dean drinks El Sol, a Mexican beer.
Dean also drinks PBR and a few craft beers.
Dean drinks whiskey, Jäger, and liquor.
Yes, Dean has been known to drink tea.
Sam, Dean, and Bobby often use flasks for holy water. They also drink wine and mixed drinks.