The $5 Secret: 5 Things You Didn't Know About The 'Milkshake Martin And Lewis' Phenomenon

The phrase "Milkshake Martin and Lewis" has become a curious and often misunderstood piece of pop culture, evolving from a cryptic movie line into a celebrated craft beer. As of December 2025, the most current and relevant context for this unique term lies in the world of New England brewing, specifically with a highly-rated, regularly-released beer that pays homage to cinematic history.

This deep dive will uncover the dual identity of the term, tracing its origins to one of cinema's most iconic scenes and following its journey into a modern, creamy, and controversial beer style. Prepare to explore the history, the flavor profile, and the surprising current-day relevance of this quirky cultural entity.

The Unexpected Biography of 'Martin and Lewis': From Comedy Duo to Cult Classic IPA

The name "Martin and Lewis" is instantly recognizable to classic film buffs, but its modern association with a beverage is a more complex story. The original duo, consisting of legendary crooner Dean Martin and comedic genius Jerry Lewis, dominated American entertainment from 1946 to 1956, becoming one of the most successful comedy teams of all time.

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Their fame became a cultural shorthand that Quentin Tarantino leveraged in his 1994 masterpiece, Pulp Fiction. This is where the term "Milkshake Martin and Lewis" was truly born.

• Dean Martin (1917–1995): The straight man, singer, and actor, known as "The King of Cool."
• Jerry Lewis (1926–2017): The manic comedian and filmmaker, famous for his slapstick and tireless charity work.
• The Duo's Run: 1946–1956, spanning nightclubs, radio, television, and 16 feature films.

1. The $5 Milkshake Origin: The Pulp Fiction Reference

The initial curiosity around "Milkshake Martin and Lewis" stems from the famous scene at Jack Rabbit Slim's, a 1950s-themed restaurant in Pulp Fiction. When Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) orders a $5 vanilla milkshake, the waiter, played by Steve Buscemi, asks a cryptic question: "Martin and Lewis or Amos and Andy?"

This line is the key to understanding the term's cultural weight.

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• The Context: The waiter is subtly asking Mia if she wants a "white" milkshake (referencing the white comedy duo Martin and Lewis) or a "black" one (referencing the controversial, though historically significant, black comedy show Amos 'n' Andy).
• The Flavor: Mia orders the "Martin and Lewis," which the waiter confirms is simply a vanilla shake. This highlights the absurdity and conspicuous consumption of the $5 price tag—a running joke in the film.
• The Legacy: The scene immortalized the phrase, turning the names of the comedy legends into a cultural symbol for a premium, diner-style vanilla milkshake, "no bourbon or nothin'."

2. The Craft Beer Revival: Widowmaker Brewing’s Milkshake IPA

The term received a significant, modern-day revival from Widowmaker Brewing Co., a highly-regarded craft brewery based in Braintree, Massachusetts. They created a specialty beer called the Martin & Lewis Milkshake IPA, directly capitalizing on the film's obscure reference.

This beer is not just a one-off; it is a recurring release that keeps the phrase "Milkshake Martin and Lewis" relevant and current, with vintages tracked as recently as the 2025 release.

3. Deconstructing the Martin & Lewis Milkshake IPA Flavor Profile

The beer itself is a masterclass in the Milkshake IPA style, a subgenre of the New England IPA (NEIPA) that is known for its creamy, smooth, and fruit-forward characteristics. The "Milkshake" designation comes from the addition of lactose, a non-fermentable sugar, which provides a rich, velvety mouthfeel that mimics a dairy shake.

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Here are the key entities and flavor notes that define this particular brew:

• Style: Milkshake IPA / New England IPA (NEIPA)
• Alcohol Content: A moderate 7.1% ABV.
• Key Hops: Brewed with a blend of Citra and Mosaic hops, two varieties famous for imparting intense, bright tropical fruit flavors like mango, passionfruit, and citrus.
• Adjuncts: Lactose (for body and creaminess) and Vanilla (to replicate the vanilla shake flavor from Pulp Fiction).
• Appearance and Aroma: Cloudy and yellow in color, with a pronounced, bright tropical fruit nose and minimal bitterness, leaning into maximum sweet creaminess.

4. The Current Status of Widowmaker Brewing Co. and the IPA

For those looking for the "latest news" on the Martin & Lewis Milkshake IPA, the focus must be on the brewery's growth and the beer's consistent release schedule. Widowmaker Brewing Co. is a growing entity in the competitive Massachusetts craft beer scene, and its commitment to this specific IPA is a testament to its popularity.

• Expansion: Widowmaker Brewing is actively expanding its footprint, with plans to open a second location with a new taproom and kitchen in Boston, just steps away from the Roadrunner venue. This growth signifies the brewery's success and stability.
• Seasonal Consistency: The Martin & Lewis Milkshake IPA is a highly-rated and continuously released beer, with vintages appearing yearly, including the most recent 2025 version. This makes it a reliable staple for New England IPA enthusiasts.
• Topical Authority: The brewery's founders—Ryan, Colin, and Bud—started the company in 2015, building a reputation for high-quality, inventive IPAs, solidifying their authority in the Milkshake IPA market.

5. Why the Milkshake IPA Style is a Modern-Day Martin and Lewis

The connection between the classic comedy duo, the movie reference, and the craft beer is more than just a clever name; it speaks to a shared theme of breaking conventions and creating a lasting, memorable impression.

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were famous for their chaotic, improvised performances that defied the structure of traditional comedy. Similarly, the Milkshake IPA is a style that breaks traditional beer rules. It uses non-traditional brewing ingredients like lactose and vanilla, which were once considered taboo, to create a beer that is intentionally sweet, thick, and creamy—a stark contrast to the bitter, clear IPAs of the past.

The Martin & Lewis Milkshake IPA is therefore a fitting tribute. It’s a modern, audacious, and slightly polarizing product that, much like the $5 milkshake in *Pulp Fiction*, demands attention and generates conversation. It successfully bridges the gap between classic Hollywood history and the cutting edge of contemporary American craft brewing, ensuring the "Milkshake Martin and Lewis" name endures for a new generation of fans.