Fear the Walking Dead: Balloons and beer actually go hand in hand

Fear the Walking Dead covered new territory – literally – with the debut of a hot air balloon, and it’s worth noting that hot air balloons are more common than you’d think.

If you watched Fear the Walking Dead “The Little Prince” and thought that the hot air balloon was one of the most outlandish things ever conceived on a show about the apocalypse, consider this: A quick Google search of “hot air balloons and craft beer” yields no fewer than a dozen beer and wine festivals across the nation that feature hot air balloons. As it happens, it looks like Jimbo was a craft beer festival enthusiast.

Seeing Strand and Charlie flying across the Texas landscape in a hot air balloon was one of the more surprising moments of Fear the Walking Dead ‘s history, but it really helps to highlight how important Jim’s introduction was. While he at first seemed like a random afterthought of a character, it turns out that his brewery has provided a means for Strand and Charlie to traverse the rugged terrain. Not only does his brewing legacy live on, but his hot air balloon might help save the day.

Hot air balloons and craft beer festivals actually go hand in hand. They take place all over the country and include such famous festivals as the Victory Cup Farm Bash in New York, the DeKalb Balloons, Brews and Brews festival in Illinois and the Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival in Southern California. And let’s not forget New Mexico’s famed hot air balloon events.  Anyone who has ever visited the community of Del Mar in San Diego County knows that seeing hot air balloons in the back of pickup trucks is a common sight because they’re everywhere.

Not only was the hot air balloon a great marketing tool for Jim’s beer, but from a business standpoint it makes tons of sense because it’s also a tax write-off for his business. And what better way to get the name out there than to fly a giant balloon shaped like a beer bottle?

Though it might seem completely off the wall to happen upon a hot air balloon in the apocalypse, it actually makes sense given Jim’s profession and his desire to get his name out there. Not only would he of course have his beer entered into festivals, but if there’s an opportunity to really put his name out there, namely on a balloon, then of course he’s going to do it. In the end, a brewer having a hot air balloon isn’t as outlandish as it might seem.

Fear the Walking Dead airs Sundays at 9pm on AMC.