Ah, fall is upon us. Is there a better time of the year? The temperatures are dropping, the evenings are getting longer, and the trees are changing. Best of all, tailgating season is here, as folks across America gather to cheer on their favorite football teams.
Whether it’s a relaxed backyard barbeque or a raucous parking lot party, every tailgate revolves around one thing: a cooler full of beer. Ensuring you have stocked one with the proper selection of brews is as essential as your vintage jersey.
One way to ensure that your cooler stands out is to fill it with a nice selection of American-made beers. Don’t get me wrong; there are a ton of great beers you can enjoy from across the globe these days. But with close to 10,000 breweries turning out delicious drafts across the U.S., why not drink a homegrown beer while watching America’s favorite sport?
Here are eight beers that will tackle tastebuds and make everyone cheer on their team and the exceptional talent of America’s hometown brewers.
Bell’s Best Brown Ale
Is there anything more satisfying than a pint of brown ale on a cool fall evening while cheering on your team? We think not. The malty flavors imbued in them seem to pair perfectly with the changing of the seasons. This beauty from Michigan-based Bell’s Brewing has a slightly toasty taste with ample caramel, cocoa, and toffee flavors, with just a dash of hops to ensure everything is in line. Perfect.
Firestone Walker 805 Beer
Step up your tailgate by filling your cooler with this blonde ale from California-based brewer Firestone Walker. While everyone else sips on their watery brews, you can enjoy the full flavors of this beer knowing that at only 4.7 percent ABV, you won’t be swaying at kickoff. It has everything you want in blonde ale—a hint of hops, a slight sweetness, and a clean finish. With over 50 medals from the GABF under their belts, these folks know how to make good beer.
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale
Put a smile on the face of the pumpkin lover at your tailgate by stocking a six-pack of one of the finest pumpkin beers on the market. This brew from Dogfish Head is overflowing with flavors. Brewed with pumpkin meat, brown sugar, and spices, it is packed with flavors yet not too sweet like so many others in this much-maligned category.
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
For almost as long as there has been craft beer in America, there has been Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. As one of the largest independent breweries in America, they are champions of homegrown beer. Their iconic Pale Ale literally helped define the IPA style so popular today. It is overflowing with crisp, piney flavors but still supremely sippable.
Pabst Blue Ribbon
As one of America’s oldest brewers—they just turned 180 this summer—Pabst has been providing the fun for folks for a long, long time. Tossing a rack of crisp and refreshing PBR in your cooler will ensure that no one will go thirsty, plus you can stay away from the culture wars that seem to have plagued beer for the last several years. If you really want to blow the top off things, bring one of their 180-packs, which they released this summer.
Athletic Upside Dawn
There used to be a time not that long ago when the idea of stocking non-alcoholic beers at a tailgate was unthinkable, they were terrible. Not anymore. These days, people are embracing a sober curious lifestyle, and the Athletic Brewing Company is making some incredible N/A beers. Their Upside Dawn is a golden style with an excellent balance of malt and hops; it’s even gluten-free. You will be surprised how quickly they disappear from your cooler.
Lawson’s Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine
No tailgate is complete without a big, bold IPA, and Sip of Sunshine is one of the best. Hailing from Vermont, this beer has all the hallmarks of a classic New England-style IPA: big, bold floral flavors layered with pineapple and mango flavors. The moment a can is cracked, you can smell the hops. It’s perfect with spicy foods just off the grill.
Blue Moon Belgium White
As one of the biggest craft beers on the market, Blue Moon literally introduced the American public to wheat beer. A Belgium-style ale, its smooth, creamy texture with a hint of citrus flavors offers your fellow tailgaters an easy-to-drink alternative to the pilsners so prevalent in coolers. Best of all, it pairs well with just about any dish offered.
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