The Dude's Choice Of Beer: Mgd

The Coen Brothers' 1998 cult classic The Big Lebowski has inspired a fervent following, annual events, and even a drinking game. The film's main character, Jeffrey The Dude Lebowski, is almost never seen without an alcoholic beverage in hand. While The Dude's drink of choice is the White Russian cocktail, he does occasionally opt for beer, such as when he needs to keep his wits about him while driving or bowling. In these instances, he has been known to drink Miller Golden Draft, also known as MGD, which he refers to as oat soda.

The Big Lebowski inspires beer names

The Coen Brothers' 1998 cult classic "The Big Lebowski" has inspired a range of beer names, reflecting the good taste of craft beer drinkers and fans of the film. While the Dude's drink of choice in the film is the White Russian cocktail, the craft beer community has paid homage to the film through creative beer names.

Short's Brewing Co. of Bellaire, Michigan, crafted a winter ale called The Fig Lebowski, using figs, honey, cinnamon, and orange zest. Fulton Beer, based in the Coen Brothers' hometown of Minneapolis, offers an American pale ale called The Ringer and a Russian imperial stout, Worthy Adversary, both referencing lines from John Goodman's character, Walter Sobchak. Pipeworks Brewing Co. of Chicago created a Russian imperial milk stout named Hey, Careful Man, There's a Beverage Here, quoting the Dude as he's pushed into a limousine with a White Russian in hand. Evil Twin Brewing of Brooklyn, New York, features a session India pale ale, Citra Sunshine Slacker, with a cartoon logo resembling the Dude.

Abide Brewing Co. of Newman, Georgia, plays on the film's tagline with its rotating imperial series, The Dude Ale, and The Dude Abides. Triple C Brewing Co. of Charlotte, North Carolina, offers an imperial milk stout, The Dude Imbibes, referencing the act of drinking alcohol. Greenbush Brewing Co. of Sawyer, Michigan, crafted The Brew Abides, a Russian imperial stout, inspiring Lebowski-themed beer, bowling, and movie tours in Michigan. Brash Brewing Co. of Houston released Abide, a Russian milk stout, while Boulder Beer Co. of Colorado introduced The Dude's Bane and Scourge of the Dude, barrel-aged barleywines that reference the Dude's love for his rug.

The Big Lebowski's influence extends beyond beer names to events such as the annual "Big Lebowski" Beer Tour by West Michigan Beer Tours, which includes a movie quote-along. The film's cultural impact is evident in the creative ways craft brewers and fans celebrate it through unique beer names, flavours, and experiences.

The Dude's preferred drink is a White Russian

The Dude's preferred drink in The Big Lebowski is the White Russian. This cocktail is made with vodka, coffee liqueur (such as Kahlúa or Tia Maria) and cream, served chilled with ice in an old-fashioned glass. The Dude refers to the drink as a "Caucasian" in the film.

The White Russian was invented in 1949 by a bartender at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, Belgium. The original concoction was created to honour Perle Mesta, the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. The cocktail consists of coffee liqueur and vodka, and the addition of cream turns it into a White Russian. The Black Russian, its counterpart, does not include cream.

The White Russian's sweetness and high alcohol content appealed to a wide range of drinkers during the 1960s and 1970s. After The Big Lebowski, the cocktail experienced a resurgence in popularity and became synonymous with the film. The Dude's affinity for the drink is well-known, and he is seen drinking it throughout the movie.

The Dude's unique twist on the White Russian involves substituting powdered non-dairy creamer for half-and-half, as seen in one of the film's scenes. This showcases his laid-back and unconventional approach to mixology.

The White Russian has inspired a variety of spin-offs and variations, often named after other characters from the film. For example, "The Dude Abides", served at Highland Park Bowl in Los Angeles, includes Tito's Vodka, house-made Civil Coffee Liqueur, Horchata Cream, and a cinnamon tincture blended into an icy slush. Another variation, "The Dude's Delight", includes whole milk, cold brew coffee, Luxardo sambuca, vodka, and St. George Coffee Liqueur, garnished with cocoa powder. These creative takes on the classic White Russian pay homage to The Dude's iconic beverage of choice.

The Dude's drinking game

The Dudes Drinking Game:

The Big Lebowski is a 1998 cult classic film that has, at its heart, a simple story of a guy just trying to get by and enjoy his favorite pastime - bowling. Of course, things get a little crazy along the way, but one constant remains throughout—the love of a good drink, specifically, a certain beer. So, in the spirit of The Dude and his beloved rug, that tied the room together, here is a drinking game centered around this iconic character and his favorite beverage, MGD.

Rules:

• The game is designed for 2-6 players and each player will need their own drinking vessel and, of course, a supply of MGD (or your preferred substitute).
• The movie is split into three acts, and players should aim to pace themselves accordingly, with a healthy supply of snacks on hand to line those stomachs.
• At any point in the movie where The Dude is seen drinking MGD, players must take a drink. This is the most basic rule and will likely result in a steady stream of drinking throughout, so be warned!
• When The Dude is seen drinking a white Russian, players must take two drinks. This is his other favorite beverage, and it deserves a special mention.
• If another character is seen drinking or ordering a beer, players must take a sip, but only if it is a brand featured in the movie, such as Bud or Pabst Blue Ribbon.
• Any time The Dude is seen bowling, take a drink. If he bowls a strike, finish your drink.
• When The Dude says his famous catchphrase, "This aggression will not stand, man," or any variation thereof, players must take a drink.
• If The Dude is seen wearing his signature robe and sandals combo, take a drink. If he is wearing something else entirely, like a dream sequence outfit, players must finish their drink.
• Whenever the movie cuts to a new location, players must predict what beer they think will be featured in that scene. If they guess correctly, they can assign drinks to other players.

This drinking game is designed to be fun and lighthearted, just like The Dude himself. Remember to drink responsibly, and always ensure that you and your fellow players are of legal drinking age. Abide, my friends.

The Dude's drinking habits

The Dude, the central character in the Coen Brothers' 1998 film "The Big Lebowski", is a heavy drinker with a preference for White Russians. In fact, he is rarely seen without an alcoholic beverage in hand. His cocktail of choice is made with vodka, Kahlua, and fresh cream, which he nicknames a "Caucasian". When he can't find cream, he substitutes it with powdered non-dairy creamer.

The Dude also occasionally drinks beer, usually when he needs to keep his wits about him, such as when he is driving or bowling. His beer of choice is Miller Golden Draft, which he refers to as "oat soda". The Dude's drinking habits are so well known that they have inspired drinking games and annual events called Lebowskifests, held at bowling alleys across the country.

The Dude's beer of choice when bowling

In the Coen Brothers' 1998 cult classic "The Big Lebowski", the main character Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski is known for his love of White Russians. However, when it comes to bowling, The Dude's drink of choice is beer.

The Dude is a frequent bowler and can often be seen drinking a beer while on the lanes. In the film, when The Dude orders a beer, he asks for an "oat soda", and the bartender knows exactly what he wants, providing him with a bottle of Miller Golden Draft, also known as MGD. This suggests that The Dude is a regular and that his preferred beer while bowling is MGD.

The choice of MGD as The Dude's bowling beer adds a layer of humour and character development to the film. MGD is a mass-market, mainstream beer, reflecting The Dude's laid-back, unpretentious personality. It also contrasts with his usual drink of choice, the White Russian, which has a more sophisticated image.

The Dude's affinity for MGD while bowling has not gone unnoticed by fans of the film, with some even creating drinking games centred around the movie, which include rules such as drinking a beer when someone bowls a strike.

While MGD may be The Dude's go-to beer when bowling, it's important to note that the character is also associated with a variety of other alcoholic beverages, including vodka, Kahlua, and the infamous White Russian cocktail, which he affectionately nicknames a "Caucasian".

Frequently asked questions