Super Bowl Beer Guide

Beer and football; Does it get any more American?  Every year from college dorm parties to sports bars to living rooms across the country, millions partake in the swilling of this delicious beverage and the watching of our one, ultimate football game, the Super Bowl.  And, while you can indulge in quantity with the cheapest, most “drinkable” beers on the shelf, there are a slew of mostly unknown, but complex and flavorful craft beers that would be right at home in the big cooler.  Here’s a breakdown of our top five, Super Bowl-worthy craft beers.

 1.  Titan I.P.A. – Great Divide Brewing Company

 I.P.A. (India Pale Ale) style beers have been skyrocketing in popularity over the past year, and rightfully so.  Typically marked by an acidic bite, due in part to the addition of extra hops in the brewing process, I.P.A.s like Titan will definitely get your tastebuds dancing.  Acidic, yet complex with a small hint of citrus, the Titan IPA will nicely compliment the savoriness of any beef dishes you’ve got at the party.

 2.  Magic Hate #9 – Magic Hat Brewing Company

 Advertised as a “not quite pale ale”, the #9 is much less biting than typical pale ales, but still packs a flavorful punch.  Smell this beer and you’ll find strong hints of aromatic apricot.  This is no fruity beer though.  The taste is light, malty, and finishes with that hint of apricot.  It’s also very light so it won’t fill you up like some of these other heavier brews. The #9’s mild sweetness goes great with spicy foods like chicken wings or queso dip.

3. Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen – Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

 Hefeweizens are another style of beer that are light in texture, yet heavy on flavor; in this case, sweeter spices like cinnamon and clove.  Hefeweizens originated in Germany, but that’s not stopping American craft breweries like Sierra Nevada from putting their own spin on this overseas classic.  Golden and cloudy in appearance, the Kellerweis Hefeweizen is a predominately wheat beer giving off mild notes of clove and banana.  Squeeze an orange wedge into the mix and be amazed.  Hefeweizens typically go great with any grilled or smoked meats like bratwurst or grilled vegetables.

4.  IPA Maximus – Laugunitas Brewing Company

Well, IPA Maximus is quite a fitting name for this one.  Packed with hops and thus, a strong bite and bigger body than most IPAs, the Maximus is a beer you need to try, if only once.  Even though there’s that signature bite, there are also notes of rose petal that permeate throughout this ale.  Once again, goes great with any beef-related dishes at the party.

5.  Left Hand Milk Stout  - Left Hand Brewing Company

Called milk stout due to the addition of lactose (a sugar derived from milk) in the brewing process, this brew is really in a class of its own.  The sweetness of this beer is balanced out perfectly due to the typically coffee-like, nutty flavor of the stout.  It’s quite the filling beer and goes great with after meal deserts like dark chocolate.  Some people even swear by stout floats - a pint of this stuff with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top – but you’re on your own with that one.

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