‘The Callisto Protocol’ Has Its Very Own Craft Beer ‘Outer Way Stout’

The Callisto Protocol is one of December’s biggest video game launches. The space-horror game is a spiritual successor, of sorts, to the Dead Space series.

Glen Schofield, who was an executive producer at Visceral Games when Dead Space released back in 2008, went on to found Sledgehammer Games with Visceral alumni Michael Condrey, and work on Call Of Duty titles for Activision.

Schofield founded Striking Distance Studios after leaving Activision and the developer’s first game is The Callisto Protocol.

SDS happened to open its studio in San Ramon, CA just before the pandemic hit a “mere stone’s throw” from one of Fieldwork Brewing’s taprooms, which is how a collaboration between the game designer and the Bay Area brewer came about.

As the game was being developed, the devs began making regular outings to Fieldwork’s nearby taproom. One thing lead to another, and alongside the launch of the game is the launch of a beer to drink while playing it: the limited edition Outer Way Stout.

This ‘Midnight Stout’ comes in 4-packs of 16 oz cans and clocks in at a hearty 9% ABV.

This limited edition craft beer is only available at Fieldwork Brewing taprooms and via Fieldworkbrewing.com for shipping throughout California.

From the press release:

A passion-fueled collaboration between two SF Bay Area businesses, Outer Way Stout brings together SDS’s master developers who are behind some of today’s most sought-after video games and brewmaster Alex Tweet at Fieldwork Brewing for a Midnight Stout that clocks in at 9% ABV. Shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Striking Distance Studios opened its studio a mere stone’s throw from City Center Bishop Ranch (San Ramon, Calif.) where Fieldwork Brewing has had a taproom since 2018 (LINK). While the game was being designed over the past three years, key members of the development team would make the short walk across the road to Fieldwork to enjoy some craft beers and discuss the day’s progress on their then unannounced new game. Little did they realize the outing would become a ritual as they loved the dedication Fieldwork put forth in all of their unique beers.

Flash forward to the official launch of “The Callisto Protocol” and SDS and Fieldwork are thrilled to celebrate the craftsmanship between the two teams with the December 2 release of the limited-edition beer, Outer Way Stout. Outer Way Stout represents more than just a beer, it combines rebellion and fighting for what you believe in with the hard work it takes to develop something special for gamers and craft beer drinkers alike.

Fieldwork Brewing Company was founded in 2015 in Berkeley, CA with locations all over Northern California. Striking Distance Studios was founded just a few years later.

I have a bit of a soft spot for these types of collaborations, even if I’m not sure how a beer can really represent “rebellion and fighting for what you believe in” unless the thing you believe in is beer. Which is totally fine! Beer is worth fighting for—and in many ways, craft beer is something we have now thanks to a long, hard fight against unfair regulations that favored giant beer companies over the little guy.

We’ve seen similar collaborations in the past with The Walking Dead, Fallout and others but rarely with an entirely new IP like The Callisto Protocol.

If you’re in the Bay Area and you’ve had a chance to try Outer Way Stout, let me know what you think on Twitter or Facebook. While I’m not a huge stout drinker myself, I have to give them credit for opting for a dark beer over the ubiquitously popular IPA. A midnight stout fits the game’s themes and aesthetic much better.

The beer—and the game—are available now.