Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or maybe just drinking too much) you know that the Super Bowl literally “kicks off” this Sunday. This event has become almost a national holiday and beer’s a big part of the celebrations.
Only the most misguided would ever sip wine at a football game and anyone drinking hard liquor at the Super Bowl is clearly an alcoholic. Beer’s what you drink at a Super Bowl and the beers that you drink during the game will define you.
Super Bowl 51 is taking place this year in Houston, Texas, home to some great craft breweries. Boston’s New England Patriots will be squaring square up to the Atlanta Falcons both good teams from serious beer towns – so you need to think about what you’re drinking
Let’s start with Houston the Super Bowl’s host city. Clearly you gotta start (and some suggest end) with The Saint Arnold Brewing Company. They’re Texas’ oldest craft brewery and they remain one of the state’s most bad-ass. This multi- award-winning brewery has earned its solid reputation with a consistent selection of world-class year-rounds, surprising seasonals and complex one-offs. Super Bowl Pick: Saint Arnold Santo.
Patriot’s Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady live in a great region for brewing. Samuel Adams comes immediately to mind and we’ve no doubt that many Patriot fans will be throwing their support that way. But we’ve two other New England craft breweries that you may want to have on hand…
Boston’s Trillium Brewing is an award-wining player that always brings their “A game.” Founded in n 2013, by husband and wife team, JC and Esther Tetreault, and they established one of New England’s most cutting-edge breweries and a passionate following almost immediately. From their legendary hazy IPAs to their special Saisons and Sours, these people nail it. Super Bowl Pick: Trillium Pot & Kettle Oatmeal Porter.
Ipswich, Massuchetts-based Notch Brewing is especially toned for Super Bowl performance and endurance. They’re known for their low-alcohol “session beers” – beers brewed for a long Super Bowl contests. Super Bowl Pick: Notch Session Pils
SweetWater Brewing is Atlanta’s franchise player and they deserve that special designation. And even as the 18th biggest brewer in the nation they haven’t lost their competitive edge. Their beers are all fun and their attitude the same, and we especially enjoy their “Hop Hash” variations. Super Bowl Pick: SweetWater Hash Session IPA.
Other competative Atlanta role players include Second Self Beer with their food-friendly approach to brewing. Super Bowl Pick: Second Self Molé Porter
As well as Nick Purdy and Eric Johnson’s Wild Heaven Beer with their European focus on brewing techniques. Super Bowl Pick: Wild Heaven Wise Blood IPA
Beer & Football header credit: Swig