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Strike a match, pour a fall old fashioned, and settle in for a Halloween watch-along that blends 90s chills with grown-up sips. Andy, Chris, Rob, and Siobhan join Matt and cue up two Are You Afraid of the Dark standouts—The Tale of the Shiny Red Bicycle and The Tale of the Ghastly Grinner—and unpack why these kid-friendly scares still hit.

We start at the campfire with SNICK nostalgia, TV ratings lore, and a shout to the show’s practical-effects roots, including the SFX lead who later racked up Emmys for a very different show.

All of it pairs with our seasonal cocktail: a cider-honey old fashioned tuned toward bourbon for a proper backbone. Think apple, cinnamon, and oak with a warm finish, easy to batch and perfect for a cozy rewatch. Along the way we compare Monster-of-the-Week storytelling to today’s binge era, trace how practical effects give scares real texture, and reflect on how these tales taught us to name fear, protect siblings, and read the signs before trouble hits.

If this rekindles your SNICK heart or inspires your next movie-night pour, tap follow, and share with a friend who knew the Midnight Society by heart!

🍂 Fall Old Fashioned Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 oz bourbon (they used Buffalo Trace)
• 1.5 oz apple cider
• A drizzle of honey (for sweetness)
• A few dashes of bitters
• Simple syrup (optional, if you like a sweeter old fashioned)

Garnish

• Cinnamon stick
• Apple slice
• Cinnamon-sugar rim on the glass

Notes

• The original online recipe called for equal parts bourbon and cider, but Siobhan modified it to cut the cider in half so the bourbon flavor comes through more strongly.
• Served as a fall twist on the classic old fashioned — bourbon-forward, balanced with cider and honey for seasonal warmth.

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Christa, Josh, and The Fish join Matt for a casual stout tasting that quickly transforms into a fascinating exploration of craft brewing's darkest frontier. Diving headfirst into ten distinct stouts ranging from modest 5% session-friendly options to formidable 14.2% bourbon barrel-aged behemoths, our panel discovers that ABV numbers and fancy descriptions don't always align with drinking pleasure.

The journey takes unexpected turns as pre-tasting predictions fall flat. A chocolate strawberry ice cream stout initially dismissed as potentially undrinkable surprises everyone with its restrained balance, while a high-priced, wax-sealed special release bourbon barrel stout polarizes the group. Throughout the tasting, the conversation weaves between technical brewing knowledge, flavor analysis, and entertaining tangents—including a passionate defense of raccoons and trash pandas found on one particularly memorable can.

As the group progresses through progressively stronger offerings, clear patterns emerge about what makes a truly exceptional stout. Is it balance? Drinkability? Flavor complexity? Or simply how well it lives up to its name?

Whether you're a stout aficionado or simply curious about dark beers, this episode offers valuable insights into how seasoned tasters evaluate these complex brews and what separates the truly stellar from the merely adequate. Which stout would claim the top spot on your personal ranking? Listen, learn, and maybe discover your next favorite dark beer along the way.

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Chris, Josh, and Siobhan join Matt as fate takes control of the cocktail shaker in this hilarious second round of our drink-based Russian roulette. Armed with nothing but dice and questionable courage, Matt and friends submit themselves to the whims of chance as they roll for cocktail ingredients that no sane bartender would ever combine.

The dice show no mercy as rolls produce increasingly apocalyptic combinations: a shot mixing gin, pickle juice followed by a curdling science experiment and a unanimously reviled tequila martini with pickle juice.

Through grimaces and gags our brave drinkers uncover a fundamental truth about cocktail creation—balance is everything, and sweetness is crucial for making even the strangest combinations palatable. The episode delivers equal parts mixology disaster, chemistry lesson, and friendship test as participants down concoctions that would make even the most adventurous bartender blanch.

Text us your own random cocktail experiences or suggestions for the future —though after this episode, pickle juice might be permanently banned from the rotation.

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Prepare to enter a tavern where fate determines what's in your glass! In this hilarious and chaotic episode, Chris, Josh, and Siobhan join Matt to play "Roll for Cocktail," a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired drinking game where dice decide every element of their drinks—from base spirits to garnishes.

The adventure begins with dramatic character introductions worthy of a fantasy campaign before explaining the rules of this perilous drinking quest. Armed with multi-sided dice and one precious re-roll each, our heroes face the prospect of everything from pleasant combinations to nightmare concoctions featuring Clamato juice or habanero peppers.

The true joy comes from the group's willingness to embrace chaos, their genuine reactions to each bizarre combination, and the surprising discovery that random ingredients occasionally create something genuinely good. Their discussions about what's missing from each drink—acidity, sweetness, balance—reveal the fundamental principles of good mixology even when working with the strangest ingredient combinations.

This episode represents just the first part of this dice-rolling series. Will you join us for the next round? Roll for initiative, grab your glass, and discover what unexpected combinations await when chance determines your cocktail fate!

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The mysterious Green Fairy beckons you into a world where art, controversy, and botanical alchemy collide. Absinthe has captivated and terrified in equal measure throughout its storied history, and we're pulling back the emerald veil to reveal what makes this spirit so enduringly fascinating.

Discover the botanical trinity that forms absinthe's soul. From ancient Egyptian remedies to Swiss medicine to Parisian cafés, we trace absinthe's remarkable journey through time. You'll learn why the 5 o'clock hour was once known as "l'heure verte" as bohemians and bourgeoisie alike gathered for their daily ritual with the Green Fairy.

We explore the golden age when absinthe inspired an entire artistic movement, with luminaries like Van Gogh, Picasso, and others falling under its spell. But fame brought scrutiny, and we unpack the moral panic, scientific misconceptions, and notorious murder case that led to absinthe being banned across the globe for nearly a century.

Whether you're an absinthe aficionado or curious newcomer, you'll appreciate our breakdown of the proper serving ritual that transforms this potent spirit into a cloudy, mesmerizing experience through the addition of water and sugar. We even suggest modern cocktails that showcase absinthe's unique herbal complexit.? Subscribe now and join us for a sip of the extraordinary.

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Christa, Josh, and The Fish join Matt to explore how the first sip can transport you back to great memories. From a campfire, to the bar that saved a girls' weekend in Ocean City, or back to college hallway where your nickname was born in the craziest way possible.

"A good drink can be an experience, and a good experience can call for a good drink," sets the tone for this journey through our most memorable beverage moments. Christa brings her Orange Crush to the table. The discussion naturally flows to how fresh ingredients elevate any drink from ordinary to memorable, with everyone agreeing that real citrus and quality ingredients make all the difference.

Josh shares his camping bourbon sidecar, revealing the ritual of pre-batching cocktails for evenings by the fire. There's something special about planning that moment of adult relaxation amid the chaos of family adventures. Meanwhile, Matt discovers unexpected nostalgia in a beer label that triggers powerful memories of his band days, when music served as both escape and identity during crazy teenage years.

The highlight comes when we finally learn why "The Fish" earned his nickname during freshman year at UConn, back in 1990. Will we finally learn his real name?

What drink transports you back in time? Share your stories with us on social media and subscribe for more unforgettable drinking adventures.

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Armed with nothing but a $4.99 MTV Throwback Music Party Game from Five Below, Josh, Rob, and Siobhan join Matt and dive headfirst into a chaotic game of music trivia that tests our musical knowledge and performance skills across decades. Players have just 15 seconds to name songs containing specific words, perform interpretative versions of hit tracks, or recite lyrics from memory – all while the pressure of the timer makes previously obvious answers completely disappear from our minds. By the end, it's clear I may have paid to much for this game!

The night kicks off with Josh's masterfully crafted "My Name is Muddy Waters" cocktail. This coffee-themed creation blends Stoli vanilla, St. George Nola coffee liqueur (a nod to New Orleans jazz), Mozart chocolate liqueur, and half-and-half into what even the non-coffee drinkers declare delicious. Later, Siobhan introduces us to a craft beer series appropriately named "One Hop Wonders."

The true magic happens in those panic-inducing moments when someone blanks completely on artists they've listened to for decades – creating some of the most genuine laughter you'll hear on any podcast.

Grab your favorite drink, hit play, and see if you can outperform our contestants before they hit that dreaded "time's up!"

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The beer landscape in America has shifted dramatically, and Modelo Especial now wears the crown as the nation's best-selling beer. This remarkable transformation—from a Mexican import to America's favorite brew—speaks volumes about changing consumer tastes and the evolving American identity.

Born in Mexico City in 1925, Modelo's origin story defies expectations. A Spanish baker decided to trade flour for foam, partnering with industrialist and 22 other investors to launch Cerveceria Modelo. Their ambitious start brought us Modelo Especial and Corona in that first year, followed by Negra Modelo in 1926. The company flourished under unusual leadership: a former Dominican friar and one who rose from sweeping floors to running the entire business. Modelo has expanded beyond its core Hispanic customer base and in 2023 became America's top-selling beer, a position it maintains today.


This 4th of July, as you celebrate independence with friends and family, take a moment to appreciate how your beer choice reflects America's beautiful blending of cultures and traditions. After all, what's more American than the freedom to gather together and to choose exactly what you want in your cooler?

Support the show

Visit www.mattandfriendsdtu.com for links listen, support the podcast, and more!

Check out our sponsor, Poppin's Travel Company, for all of your travel needs! Their highly qualified agents are ready to book your next big adventure or dream vacation.

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Cheers, and thanks for listening!