Dawn of the Dead-inspired beer rises again this month

Last Updated on September 7, 2023

What’s a better pairing than a movie and popcorn? Well, a case could be made for a movie and beer. And with the spooky season upon us, a Pennsylvania brewery is reintroducing a beer named after one of the greatest horror films ever, Dawn of the Dead, with a portion of the proceeds going to the George A. Romero Foundation.

Arriving this month from Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company is JAWN of the Dead, a red rye IPA that comes in at 6.5%. Using Apollo, Ekuanot, Mosaic, and Nugget hops, the annual staple is a must-have for horror fans who don’t mind a little buzz with their brains. As per Neshaminy Creek, “JAWN of the Dead’s icy, undead body is bready and toasty with a spicy bite that accentuates a pronounced bitterness. There is no escape from the pine, berries, and grilled tangerine notes.” The beer currently has 3.70 on Untappd.

Neshaminy Creek’s JAWN of the Dead — taking inspiration of course from Romero’s second of the Dead film, 1978’s Dawn of the Dead — will be released on September 16th. Unfortunately for many, distribution is limited to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. The release will be quite the event, as the brewery will host a screening of Romero’s 1982 anthology Creepshow and zombie costume contest to coincide with the release. And for those wondering what the hell “jawn” means, it’s a regional phrase for, well, pretty much anything you want. In other words, you can pick up a six-pack of JAWN and drink that jawn responsibly with your jawns.

Even better than cracking open a cold one is giving back, as Neshaminy pledges to give 10% of the earnings from JAWN of the Dead to the George A. Romero Foundation, which works to preserve the legacy of the late horror pioneer — who passed away in 2017 — by restoring his movies, offering scholarships to aspiring filmmakers and more. As per the brewery’s logistics manager, “The decision to embark on this Journey was a ‘no-brainer,’ a way to honor a pioneer in the horror genre while giving back to a community that thrives on creativity, innovation, and the DIY spirit.”

Will you be tracking down the Dawn of the Dead-inspired beer JAWN of the Dead? If you partake, what are your favorite seasonal suds?