Business is so bad at Moe's Tavern that Moe cannot afford to buy beer for the bar. Homer shows him the "Flaming Homer," a concoction of various liquors mixed with Krusty Non-Narkotik Kough Syrup and then set ablaze. An instant hit, the drink attracts a lot of business. Moe renames it the "Flaming Moe" and takes all the credit.

Soon Moe's is the most popular spot in Springfield. The rock band Aerosmith makes it their official hangout. However, Homer feels that he deserves a piece of the pie and confronts Moe. Moe refuses to cut him in.

Unable to determine the Flaming Moe's secret ingrediant, and giant restaurant chain, Tipsy McStagger's, offers to buy the recipe for $1 million. Just as Moe is about to take the money, Homer bursts into a rage and reveals the mystery ingrediant before the entire bar. The representative from Tipsy McStagger's tears up the contract. Afterwords, with no hard feelings, Moe makes Homer a "Flaming Homer" on the house.