When beloved music legend Levon Helm passed away in April, the world mourned the loss of a man of unique talent and character. In Helm’s honor, Chicago brewmaster Jonathan Cutler created an award-winning pale ale.

The beer is “The Weight,” named after the Helm song of the same name. “It’s all American hops and malt. We were playing The Band the whole time we were brewing it,” said Cutler in a recent Chicago Tribune article. And the beer, one of the top three national prize winners of the Great American Beer Festival, is available through the end of the year at Piece Brewery in Chicago.

Get it while you can and gather a group to watch THE LAST WALTZ (1978).

beer glass full (Photo credit: Tim Pearce, Los Gatos)

Directed by Martin Scorcese, this concert video is a true classic (so classic that it’s even aired on Turner). The film documents in 35mm the The Band’s last concert, performed on Thanksgiving Day at the Winterland venue in San Francisco.

Not only does this beautiful film deliver etched-in-your-head-forever performances like “The Weight” with the Marva Staples (below) but also riveting guest performances by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Muddy Waters, and Joni Mitchell. Even Neil Diamond. And Van Morrison being really crazy. Really. Crazy.

If you can’t get a jug of “The Weight” to drink while revisiting this tribute to the hard life on the rock ‘n roll road, I’m sure Levon wouldn’t mind if you raised another beer in his honor. RIP. 

Gloria Bowman is a writer, storyteller, blogger, movie lover, freelance editor,
and author of the novel, Human Slices.
Access her blog at www.gloriabowman.com; on Twitter @GloriaBow