In honor of the movie "Beerfest" which pays tributes to stupidity and the American pastime of over-drinking, (will be interesting to see if it outdraws World Trade Center) here is a list of the "10 Greatest Beer Movies Of All Time." What decides the value of a movie about beer? Why of course, in addition to highlighting the sex appeal and the drunkenness of the boozing lifestyle, a beer movie has to be about beer...and about something else! After all, beer doesn't just get you drunk it also makes you think. Does Beerfest deserve a spot on this list? Well, let's just say too much, too soon. Only time will tell if Beerfest measures up to the rest of these fizzing classics.

10.Sideways (2004)
Oh yeah, I'm sure I'll get some flack from people who say that wine should have no place on this list. Most wine guys don't like beer guys and vice versa. Entire films have been made regarding the class separation of wine guys and beer guys. But substitute Pinot Noir for Budweiser and Merlot for Busch, and you have the classic B-movie. (As in beer) People get drunk, people have sex, and people love their alcohol like their women. Finally a beer movie (under clever disguise) made it to the Academy Awards!

9.American Beer (2004)
Sure there has been some great documentaries over the years that have taught us about war, gun control, the MPAA ratings system and basketball dreams. But American Beer is the definitive documentary about beer. Watch as five friends leave New York City and hit 38 breweries in 40 days in this "bocumentary."

8.Beer (1985)
What Schindler's List did for the holocaust and what The Color Purple did for slavery, Patrick Kelly attempted to do for beer in this 1985 tribute film. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit its mark. Perhaps the movie focused too much on the details (the financial woes of breweries, bar robberies) and forgot to add more substance (or even humor) to the script. Nevertheless, the best titled film of this list.

7.Smokey And The Bandit (1977)
Finally a list where we can actually put Burt Reynold's Smokey And The Bandit without feeling dishonest. The transporting adventures of "Bandit" Bo Darville owes so much of its plot to beer that if you tried to make the film appropriate to underage audiences and remove the beer references, it would make no sense and be really unfunny. For best results try drinking a few cans before hitting play.

6.Blue Velvet (1986)
What is David Lynch's freakfest Blue Velvet doing on a list of great beer movies? Besides the fact that it's a great film that objectifies drunkenness and stoned psychopaths, it has some of the best beer quotes you'll ever hear. (1) Heineken?! F*** that s***!!... Pabst Blue Ribbon!" (2) "Raymond, where's the f***in' beer, man?" "It's right here, Frank. Do you want me to pour it?" "No, I want you to f*** it!... S***, yes, pour the f***in' beer!" (3) "That beer's gonna get warm. One thing I can't f***in' stand is warm beer! It makes me f***in' puke!" Dennis Hopper said it all.

5.National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
Is it just me or do Internet reviews of 1978's party film Animal House seem a bit preoccupied? "massive amounts of alcohol..." says Film Freak Central. "It's got frat parties, beer, and John Belushi dressed like a pirate says E Film Critic. Did people love this film because of the togas, John Belushi's performance or...you guessed it, the beer?

4.Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
While a list of the 10 Greatest Spirits & Liqueurs movies might be more fitting, for your information Ben does drink beer...and wine and liquor and vodka, and well you get the idea. Mike Figgis' self-loathing masterpiece was not so much a film about addiction as it was a macabre tribute to the love of alcohol--smooth, hard and redemptive, even if it kills you.

3.The Lost Weekend (1945)
The Lost Weekend starring Ray Milland is not much fun when you're trying to get a buzz but a great film to watch during the hang over. The Lost Weekend, released way back in 1945 was an influential and daring film. Director Billy Wilder claimed that the liquor industry offered the studio millions of dollars to bury the film and thus let people drink and spent top dollar without any added guilt. Wilder later claimed he would have accepted the bribe. Now that sounds like a beer drinker to us.

2.Three Little Beers (1935)
The three stooges are cinematic legends and everyone should be required to watch the stooges in action. And if you got to watch something that antiquated, then it's best served cold and with frosting...and with an inane plot about beer. The three stooges play goofy deliveryman working at a brewery. While only 17 minutes long, the short comedy gem is a masterpiece...well, a beer masterpiece. (Should clarify, there)

1.The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933)
The golden age of Hollywood is arguably the best age, and so I could only choose beer films from the 1930's including W.C. Fields short film, The Fatal Glass Of Beer, to round out the list. Have you seen this movie and can you rent it at your video store? Probably not; in fact only the most comprehensive researchers and film buffs have ever heard of it. Just know that it's been called one of the funniest films ever made, a predecessor to Monty Python's absurdist parodies, and a film that highlights the bizarre humor of W.C. Fields. Being told about a great beer movie with little to no chance of renting it? What a beertease!

Now go see Beerfest this week and see if it deserves a spot on this list. Drive safely and soberly.

Note: A minimal amount of drinking research was done in the making of this list.