Every beer has a distinct personality. So does every football team. Each week, we’ll take a look at the Monday Night Football matchup and discuss which beers best represent each team. Arizona Cardinals (2-3) Shane: Pumpkin Ale, Tributary Brewing Company. Just a few years ago, the Portsmouth Brewery went through a bitter breakup with Tod Mott, their famous head brewer (and creator of the world-famous Kate the Great Russian Imperial Stout). Mott decided to form his own brewery, which would become Tributary Brewing Company. Similarly, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer went through a nasty (and public) split with his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, only to eventually move on and (after a brief stint with the Raiders) find success once more with the Cardinals. The Cardinals are excellent on both sides of the ball, and have been ever since they rose to power, seemingly out of nowhere, in the same division as the dominant Seattle Seahawks. However, they have struggled to find their feet in 2016. The Cardinals were an extremely popular pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year, but, so far, this Cinderella team seems instead to be turning back into a pumpkin. Pete: Prima Pils, Victory Brewing Company. The Cardinals are extremely well put together. They have a great coach, great defense, great running back, offense etc. They fit the bill of being a great NFL team and have all the components of being fun to watch and technically sound. But they will not win the Super Bowl, I don’t know why, but they just won’t. Much like this beer, a world class pilsner (yes WORLD, from Pennsylvania), has all the attributes of a great beer. It elevates the style and came out of nowhere to shake up the style category because everyone thought good pilsners had to come from Germany or the Czech Republic. America makes those piss water mass market pilsners right? Well, sorry to tell the world, Victory makes one of the best pilsners. That correlates with how the Cardinals, a perennial also ran basement team, rose to become one of the best teams in the NFL. It just came out of nowhere. But a pilsner, no matter how good, just can’t be the best beer in the world. No matter how well made it is, no one is going to say, “Screw Heady Topper I want a Prima Pilsner.” It can be the best made beer but for some reason can’t be the best. Just like the Cardinals, they can be one of the best assembled teams but just cannot be the champ (for some reason). York: Little Sumpin, Lagunitas Brewing Company. For whatever reason, I constantly find myself rooting for the Cardinals. Maybe a bit of fantasy football, a little rooting more against their opponents like the Seahawks, or possibly just because they seem to have made a real solid team out of some interesting odds and ends. Lagunitas is an NFL caliber player on the West Coast, notably for West Coast IPAs. They’ve got plenty of competition with Russian River, Ballast Point, Stone, and countless other great breweries, but they’re always on the short list. The Cardinals are an oft-forgotten team playing in a division with the contemporary powerhouse Seahawks, and the deep history of the Rams and 49ers. Little Sumpin is one of the better style mashups I’ve found from West Coast breweries. It’s most definitely a hop-forward ale, but it’s got a smooth, wheaty character that makes it approachable for those who normally find West Coast IPAs a bit assertive. The Cardinals equivalent to the baseline IPAs from Lagunitas are the Palmers, Fitzgeralds, and Petersons, but when you watch the Cardinals play, there’s so much more going on. It becomes obvious that there is much more to focus on if those aren’t your style or quite good enough for you. Watch Matthieu roam the secondary or David Johnson juke his way out of the backfield. Chandler Jones is an absolute wrecking ball, and hell, even their kicker has had a little sumpin to watch for. New York Jets (1-4) Shane: Pabst Blue Ribbon, Pabst Brewing Company. No one is going to mistake Pabst Blue Ribbon for a “good” beer, just like no one is ever going to mistake the Jets for a “good” football team. Still, both have an undeniable popularity. The popularity of the Jets stems mostly from the fact that they play in the enormous New York market. The popularity of Pabst stems mostly from the fact that its quality sits ever-so-slightly above that of its similarly priced competition like Bud Light and Miller Lite. And like the Jets, the popularity of Pabst Blue Ribbon takes a serious hit in New England, where there is a better, more local option (the Patriots and Narragansett, respectively) playing the same game. And you know what? I may be a Patriots fan, but I’m also a football fan. It’s not like I’m ever going to turn off a game just because the Jets are playing. Similarly, I’ve always found Pabst Blue Ribbon to be a perfectly drinkable beer. The NFL needs terrible, sad-sack teams. The beer industry needs cheap beers. They each fill their role, and they fill it well. Pete: Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche, Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla (Oak Smoked Dopplebock) - So the Jets are an acquired taste. You have to almost enjoy the short comings, the controversy, the constant feeling that no matter how well everything is going...the sky is going to fall. That niche basically explains the difference between people who like smoke beers and people who don’t. I am someone who enjoys them. They are rich smoky and remind me of ham or campfire. That’s not something everyone likes or gets and I am ok with that. More for me. I know many people who keep trying to like this style, and this is one that just may not happen for you. You won’t get it. Unlike an IPA that you can usually train your palate to enjoy; smoke beers may always feel like drinking ash to some people. I have handed Schlenkerla to many friends who have grimaced and told me I was drinking an ash tray. Perhaps it is because the smoked malt has an aggressive flavor and it has character you just don’t expect. These beers have a weight and grab your palate in way that you cannot mistake. I picked this style for the Jets because there is always going to be something smoldering or burning when you discuss this team. And much like Schlenkerla, the best smoked beer brewer, the Jets are the best at being whatever the hell the Jets are. York: Yuengling Lager, D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. - I suppose this is a similar argument to Shane’s with PBR; however, I think Yuengling adds a level of regionality that PBR may not share. Growing up near the city, I was surrounded almost entirely by Jets and Giants fans. There were, of course, a few of the people whose fathers raised them a 49ers or Cowboys fan, but in general most people could pick out Fireman Ed more accurately than their congressman. The mass market, rowdy fans, and longing for the past greats to be replicated leads to an extremely loyal fan base that is quick to rain down boos, but never really bails on their team. Yuengling has one of the most loyal followings I’ve ever witnessed in a beer. Pennsylvania in general seems to latch particularly strong onto regional products (see Hershey’s Chocolate or Wawa) and the Lager is one of them. When anywhere near Pennsylvania, Yuengling is the default beer where a Budweiser or Coors might otherwise be. Once you leave the area, though, people often haven't even heard of or tried Yuengling. When they do, it seems to be met with a "Yeah it's a good beer. Why are you upset it's not my number one ever favoritest thing I’ve ever had ever?" Yuengling Lager is good. It’s got history, it's got green bottles, and it has transcended the tier of basic gameday beers by adding the regional base to it. The Jets are fine. They’re sure great to follow along with, but only Jets fans could really get excited about the team in recent years. Predictions Shane: The Cardinals have struggled, but they seem to be righting the ship. The Jets are just awful, even more so after losing their #1 receiver this week. I have a limited appetite for pumpkin beers, but I’ll happily take Tributary’s Pumpkin Ale over a PBR. Cardinals, 27-13. Pete: This just screams “the hope game” for the Jets. I think they will manage to win this game in a decisive fashion, which will be the perfect thing to hype the fan base into thinking “Hey, everything is ok! The ship is on the right track!” Then they will proceed to be embarrassed by the anemic Ravens and routed by the Browns. That just feels right. So I will say Jets, 24-14. York: I like the Cardinals here. I had them very, very high on my board this year and had the Jets as low as the Cardinals high. I don’t see this being all that much of a game, and home field for New York in this game would have been much more advantageous in the colder months against an Arizona team. Cardinals, 34-10. Don't forget to follow us on social media!
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Brian York Brewery Name: Barrel Head Brewhouse Type of Brewery: Brewpub Location: San Francisco, California Website: http://www.barrelheadsf.com Facebook: Barrel Head Brewhouse Twitter: @BarrelHeadSF Instagram: @barrelheadsf Background: Departing from my more typical retail brewery type of experience in San Francisco, I decided to check out Barrel Head Brewhouse, a more brewpub/restaurant style setting. I hadn’t heard a ton about their beer, but they’re in a really great neighborhoody district of the city, have an awesome setup in their dining room, oh and their taps are built into a torpedo tube. No, that isn’t some sort of neat "bar nerd" apparatus I'm referencing...a TORPEDO...like the exact kind you’re picturing while reading this! Growlers: Growler pours are offered for at least Barrel Head’s own beer. They have a whole slew of really great guest taps, but I can’t imagine those are able to be provided in growler format. The Beers: Barrel Head had six of their beers on tap when I was there. As always, all were tried. I did however make a mental note that next time I visit, I want to explore their "Brewtails" menu where they put a beer spin on some classic cocktail recipes. If this doesn’t get you intrigued, I’m not sure what would: Here are the beers I got to try:
Vibe: GREAT spot with a group. Finding a good beer spot with a large group of people is a dangerous game, but Barrel Head nails it. The venue is big enough without feeling like an echo chamber, and small enough to keep your group to yourself for a game, dinner, or whatever else you’re up to. They’ve got plenty of TVs for games, a really neat mix of bar seating, high-tops, barrels to stand at, and traditional seating on the main floor and the lofted section of the building. I was there on a Saturday during a Giants game during late afternoon and the place was a perfect level of crowded. There were plenty of people there with flights watching the game, others watching soccer in another section, plus all of the customers posted at the bar or sitting at tables in the brewery section. For how much is going on inside Barrel Head, none of it feels disjointed and everything seems comfortable. Now about that torpedo. I love a good tap setup. Though many think it’s boring, I’ve always been drawn to the simple, unlabeled, stainless steel setup that is common in a lot of craft breweries and taprooms. Barrel Head took this and upped the game by using those same stainless steel unmarked taps, but running the whole system through a decommissioned torpedo shell. It’s hard to do it much justice in pictures, but trust me when I say that it really elevates the experience when sitting at the bar. It’s accompanied by some really cool art on the walls and ceilings, and of course, barrels everywhere. Barrel tables, barrels behind the bar, barrel slats as tasting boards, even the check comes on a little piece of barrel wood when you’re finished. The staff I interacted with was great and engaged about their house beer even when really busy. They were sure to emphasize that taps change frequently and the styles switch up a bit tool. Definitely convinced me to add this to my regular repertoire for finding new brews. Dogs: No dogs this time. The indoor venue is more similar to a restaurant setting than not. Price ($ to $$$$$): $$$. Right about par for the course on beers in the city. Food is priced reasonably and they do run some happy hour and brunch specials. Flights are offered either pre-designed or in a BYO format. Food: GREAT food menu. Barrel Head takes some bar food staples and does them at a really elevated level, then supplements with some creative, impressive additions. The brunch offers things like Brisket Hash and Hog Island Oysters, and the standard menu has everything from steak, to ribs, to pulled pork served gyro-style. They have a great nosh-y menu too with flatbreads, wings, poutine, etc. Final Thoughts: Perfect local spot. Really unique style of beers available, all looping back detectable German characteristics at some level. Venue is top notch for turning beers into dinner, watching the game, or sitting with a group of friends. -- York Don't forget to follow us on social media!
Facebook: Together We Drink Twitter: @TogetherWeDrink Instagram: @TogetherWeDrink Untappd: Together We Drink We love baseball. We love beer. In honor of the Major League Baseball playoffs, we thought we’d do something a little bit different. Just as every baseball team has a distinct personality, so does every beer. We put our heads together to come up with the perfect beer to represent each playoff team. Then, since we completely disagreed about every single one, we decided to do it this way instead. Chicago Cubs Shane: Yuengling Traditional Lager, Yuengling Brewery. I refuse to go for the low-hanging fruit and say Old Style here. I know Yuengling is traditionally a Pennsylvania offering, but it has expanded well outside that original territory at this point, and the similarities are just too apt. Yuengling was founded in 1829, right around the last time the Cubs won a World Series (ZING). They pride themselves on the fact that they have been around for a long time while maintaining their independence and pride. What’s more, everyone seems to feel vaguely positive about Yuengling. I definitely don’t mind it. I’ll drink a Yuengling over a Budweiser any day of the week. When Yuengling finally made it into the Boston market, people universally shrugged and said “alright, cool.” I think that’s how most of the country feels about the Cubs. I doubt there are many people who truly hate the Cubs (except for Cardinals fans, and who cares about them). Most people would be pretty okay with them winning the World Series and finally ending their drought, just like I’m always pretty okay with ordering a Yuengling at the bar. Sometimes “pretty okay” is all you need. York: Belgian White, Blue Moon Brewing Company. Talk about re-branding coming up big, am I right?! The Cubs took shake-up to a new level in the last couple seasons. Baseball genius Theo Epstein was the catalyst, but also included was a switch almost completely towards home-grown talent, and a continued honoring of their beloved ballpark and fans. Look at that result! The Cubs are now a popular pick and loading up that bandwagon all over the country! Blue Moon is a staple. I’ll defend it any day as a great add to any set of bar taps. Perhaps it’s because it comes with fruit, or because it doesn’t taste a whole lot like beer, but for whatever reason, Blue Moon is a favorite of at least one person in every group that goes out drinking. That’s all good and well, but Blue Moon realized recently that the ceiling is higher than just having a loyal fanbase. Boom, rebranding! A branding overhaul is not very common among breweries with major distribution (mass domestic light beers aside of course) but this one was very well served. I dig the new look, I notice it more, and it has definitely made them increase the fanbase! Pete: Bourbon County Stout, Goose Island Beer Co. Goose Island was bought out by Coors a few years ago, and many people scoffed at what was going to happen to the truly unique Chicago Brand. Was the beer going to turn to crap? I don’t know, this is different. They are going to ruin the Barrel program, no more barrel aged beer. That is expensive, yadda yadda, big companies don’t like to spend money. Well, much like Theo Epstein coming in, the infusion of a new direction has created the largest barrel aging program in the US. For whatever it's worth, the company still turns out one of the best bourbon stouts in the country at an increased capacity so more people can enjoy it. That’s like the Cubs. They have a deep farm system, money to spend on free agents, a great young core. What could go wrong? Well, much like Goose Island, some people still don’t like the specter of a corporate owner, which may hold back the brewery getting some accolades. And what will hold back this Cubs team? They are cursed. If the Red Sox and White Sox taught us anything, it is that the Cubs are actually cursed, while those teams just had a rough go of things. So no matter how good things look on paper, there will always be some doubt about this team. San Francisco Giants Shane: Guinness, Diageo. I don’t understand how the Giants are here. Their swoon at the end of the season was remarkable. They let a team missing the best pitcher in Major League Baseball streak past them and seize the division. But it’s an even year, which means the Giants are back in the playoffs and I fully expect them to win the World Series. I base that expectation on one man: Madison Bumgarner. Because frankly, I don’t know what else the Giants are bringing to the table. Hunter Pence is good when he’s healthy, which is usually about five minutes per season. Same with Buster Posey. Outside of that...what? They don’t have much. But Madison Bumgarner might be enough all on his own, man. And that sums up Guinness. Diageo has tried a lot of different things under the Guinness brand. They’ve tried a black lager. It was mediocre. They tried a blonde ale. It was unremarkable. The less said about their nitro IPA the better. And yet, I can confidently tell you that I will order a Guinness multiple times in the next month. It’s just that good. It’s just that perfect. That one beer alone is enough to keep me coming back to the Guinness and Diageo brands. That’s how it is for the Giants: Madison Bumgarner stands alone in a sea of mediocrity, but he stands tall. York: Space Reaper, DC Brau Brewing Company. I don’t care for the National League. Don’t like watching pitchers pretend to hit, don’t dig small ball, the rosters are messy, take your pick. The Giants, play National League style very well, possibly better than anyone. They ranked 9th in hits but 28th in home runs; 7th in on base percentage and 25th in slugging. These aren’t problems if you win, but it sure does make it a boring way to get there. Enter Bumgarner. This dude does everything. He hits homeruns, pitches complete game shutouts, comes in for saves. That by itself makes me tune into Giants games any time he’s playing. On a related train of thought, having lived in DC for quite a while and watching the rise of DC Brau, I was always left a little unenthused. It’s good beer and a lot of people’s favorite beer, just not my jam. Enter Space Reaper. Just like Bumgarner single handedly changes my opinion of the Giants, so does Space Reaper for DC Brau. This is one of my favorite beers from that entire region, not just Brau. Huge hop profile, sky high ABV, fruity and piney all at once, this beer does everything! Pete: Lower De Boom, 21st Amendment Brewery. This beer sums up the Giants because it starts out one year as a very hoppy, malty barleywine that doesn’t feel like it works too well. Then you take a can or two, stick it in the back of your fridge for a year, and voila: it's in perfect harmony. Lighter than many barleywines, you get a great symphony of dark fruit flavors and nice citrus notes for the hops. It’s a winning beer. That’s basically how the Giants have worked for the past six or seven years. One year the vintage just isn’t good. Too much pitching, not enough hitting, or vice versa. But give them a year and they mellow out to be the perfect World Series contender. They just need a year to age. This beer is good, but time makes it great: so it's good every other year, just like the Giants. Who would mind missing the playoffs one year if you knew you would win the championship the next year? Don't forget to follow us on social media!
Facebook: Together We Drink Twitter: @TogetherWeDrink Instagram: @TogetherWeDrink Untappd: Together We Drink We love baseball. We love beer. In honor of the Major League Baseball playoffs, we thought we’d do something a little bit different. Just as every baseball team has a distinct personality, so does every beer. We put our heads together to come up with the perfect beer to represent each playoff team. Then, since we completely disagreed about every single one, we decided to do it this way instead. Washington Nationals Pete: Siren's Lure, Fair Winds Brewing Company. This is the Bryce Harper of this brewery. A little sweet, a little hoppy, it’s a strong beer, while still maintaining some nice saison funkiness. A true five tool player. However, this beer’s name is kind of a metaphor for how I foresee this series playing out. This team is really good but there is still that chance they get tempted off course and crash on the rocks. Bryce is everything to this team, and how he goes, this team will go. And hey, if that’s how it’s going to turn out, we could all use a few more Siren’s Lures. York: Anchor Steam Beer, Anchor Brewing. Recently moving from DC to San Francisco, this is a pretty obvious match in my head. The Nationals gave the DC area a baseball team to get excited about again, and they were adopted objectively as the area’s team. Everyone in and around DC seems to root for the Nats when they play, just like everyone from San Francisco knows to go for the Anchor Steam when it's on tap. Anchor Brewing has been putting out West Coast craft beer for over 100 years, and has a true regional loyalty. Likewise, the Nationals, regardless of whether it's Bryce, Zimm, Stras or any of their other superstars, encapsulate the energy and loyalty of their city. Shane: 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Goose Island Beer Company. 312 is an old go-to of mine. It’s easily one of my favorite summer beers, and my favorite thing about it is that just about every grocery store, convenience store, and beer store has it on the shelf. On a similar note, "on the shelf" also applies to what feels like half of the Nationals lineup. Stephen Strasburg is injured. Jayson Werth is injured. Wilson Ramos is injured. Daniel Murphy is injured. Bryce Harper is supposedly banged up. Ryan Zimmerman is ancient. This team is basically the walking wounded. But much like Goose Island, when they are at their best, the Nationals can go toe-to-toe with anyone. 312 is among the best summer beers around, and while one of its strengths is the fact that you can always find it on the shelf, the Nationals are probably hoping to avoid that description in the future. Los Angeles Dodgers Pete: Brawler, Yards Brewing Company. This is more a tribute to that ageless pugilist, the great Chase Utley. A team that preseason looked really good, and ended up winning the division in a way that few expected. Losing Clayton Kershaw for a good portion of the season, problems with Puig, and a lot of uncertainty. But this team just kept on fighting, and they went on to win the division in spite of all of this. This beer embodies that mentality of fighting through adversity and still coming out on top. It is one of my favorite session beers because it isn’t just a low ABV IPA. Its roasty a little citrusy making it that perfect combination of refreshing and drinkable. It may not have all the crazy hops and a ton of ABV, but it gets the job done. Just like this Dodgers team. York: City of the Sun, Modern Times Beer. I absolutely love Los Angeles. If only the National League would finally acknowledge that the DH makes the game better, I might find myself a Dodgers fan. I love how they acquire talent with seeming reckless abandon. See a good outfielder? “Good sign him”…”But wait we already have 5 starting outfielders”...”Whatever, we’ll make it work.” They Dodgers have an eye for talent and make good things work the best way. Kershaw goes down and Puig implodes? No problem, they still beat out the Giants for the division, all the while playing in a gorgeous city and what I think is one of the coolest stadiums out there. Modern Times makes beer. And roasts their own coffee. And barrel ages. And releases multiple new beers every month. These guys find something good and make it work in their lineup. I can’t get enough of that approach and have become a huge fan of what Modern Times is doing. Simple, classic art and branding does wonders for both the Dodgers and Modern Times, and the always-find-something-new attitude goes a long way with their fans. Shane: Voodoo Doughnut Mango Astronaut Ale, Rogue Ales. I don’t really understand the Dodgers. They are a hodgepodge of players who didn’t really work out elsewhere (looking at you, Adrian Gonzalez), who people thought were too old to compete anymore (looking at you, Chase Utley), who wildly exceeded expectations (looking at you, Kenta Maeda), and who are total and complete head cases (looking at you, Yasiel Puig). Their depth chart is basically a list of names that will make you go “oh yeah! That guy!” Howie Kendrick. Carlos Ruiz. Joe Blanton. Andre dang Ethier, you guys! But somehow they seem to make it work. And then there are the superstars--Clayton Kershaw and Corey Seager can play for my team any day. What I’m trying to say is, the Dodgers possess incredible talent, but the way they’ve managed to put it all together absolutely baffles me. That’s about how I feel about Rogue’s Voodoo beer series. Rogue is an absolute powerhouse of a brewery, but some of these beers just make me scratch my head. Who came up with this idea? Who decided on these ingredients? Who gave it the green light? I don’t have answers for Rogue any more than I do for the Dodgers, but neither one of them seems to need my advice. I’d say they’re doing just fine. Don't forget to follow us on social media!
Facebook: Together We Drink Twitter: @TogetherWeDrink Instagram: @TogetherWeDrink Untappd: Together We Drink We love baseball. We love beer. In honor of the Major League Baseball playoffs, we thought we’d do something a little bit different. Just as every baseball team has a distinct personality, so does every beer. We put our heads together to come up with the perfect beer to represent each playoff team. Then, since we completely disagreed about every single one, we decided to do it this way instead. Texas Rangers Pete: Shiner Bock, Spoetzl Brewery. This beer is consistent. It has been the beer of choice for many of the barbecue locations in DC, I always order it and it is always good. Goes great with smoked meat and is always better than I expected it to be. That’s the Texas Rangers in a nutshell. It has been a while since they were a basement dwelling team. Yes, they have not won the World Series, but they have been a consistent team for a long time now. They have lost their best pitcher and hitter to a division rival, and still managed to be productive and competitive. Just like Shiner bock. It’s never going to be the best beer in the world, but damn if it isn’t a consistent drinkable beer that goes great with everything. York: Ranger, New Belgium Brewing Company. Aside from the obvious shared name, New Belgium fits the rangers in a bunch of different respects. The one that really makes me correlate the two is how New Belgium is constantly doing collaborations, sharing barrels and experimenting to find the perfect lineup. The Rangers have been consistently contending for years because of that same mindset. One of the most active teams in terms of roster changes this year, the Rangers have mixed homegrown talent with signings of big names either for the bats or their attitudes. New Belgium is proud to collaborate and has their hands in all sorts of styles these days as a result. The Rangers look for pieces that fit at the time that works best and it doesn’t matter if they’re expensive, old, young, from a rival, or anything else as long as it pushes them in the right direction. Shane: Old Man, Southern Tier Brewing. I was actually going to say Shiner Bock for much the same reason as Pete, but he beat me to it. Instead, I’ll go with Old Man, a rich, dark, winter ale from Southern Tier. Southern Tier is a brewery that I have never been disappointed with. Their standard offerings are great, and their special offerings are better. But sometimes it seems like, thanks to their location in remote western New York, they don’t quite get the respect or attention they deserve. The Rangers are very much the same. This is a team that is in the thick of the playoff hunt year in and year out, but never seems to get any attention. Obviously Texas is far from remote, but the coastal bias of the baseball press seems to take its toll. So today I’m going to give them both some love. Why did I specifically choose Old Man? Well, just take one look at the core of this team. Cole Hamels, Adrian Beltre, Ian Desmond, and Carlos Beltran are aging superstars, and Carlos Gomez, Elvis Andrus, Shin-Soo Choo, and Jonathan Lucroy aren’t exactly spring chickens themselves. Sure, there are young guns like Rougned Odor and...actually, pretty much just Odor. I think the average age on this team is 50. Toronto Blue Jays York: It’s Complicated Being A Wizard, Burlington Beer Company. The Blue Jays constantly find themselves in a tough spot. That spot being the AL East. In terms of following, the Jays certainly take a seat below the Sox, Yankees, and probably the Orioles. Similarly, Burlington Beer is brewing in a region with craft beer MAMMOTHS like The Alchemist, Hill Farmstead, Lawson’s, and all the other amazing beer coming out of Vermont. Nonetheless, Burlington embraces this and stays true to their own style in branding, brewing and venue. I went with Burlington’s Double IPA to honor the towering home runs the Jays seem to hit nightly. Neither the Jays nor Burlington are trying to disguise themselves as their opponents and by forging their own way have made it to the respective tops of their games! Pete: Habanero Sculpin, Ballast Point. This Blue Jays team is all over the place. They have a ton of great power hitters, decent pitching, and the ability to flame out and shoot themselves in the foot. That pretty much sums up Habanero Sculpin. Such a good base beer, hoppy, refreshing, citrusy, not too overwhelming. But it has some fire in it that can ruin your day. The first time I sampled it (SAMPLED), I spent the next day on the toilet as though I had consumed a dozen super spicy buffalo wings. This team has a lot of potential, some good parts, but there is just a little too much fire in it for me to stomach. They are matched up with a Texas team that has shown they can get under their skin and that does not bode well for the Blue Jays. Maybe a little too much habanero for them to be able to win it all this year. Shane: D.H. IPA, Henniker Brewing Company. Henniker is a brewery mostly known to those in the northeast, so it might seem weird to assign them to a team based in Toronto. But in this case, it just seems to fit. The Blue Jays are absolutely LOADED with players who seem destined for the DH position someday. Encarnacion. Bautista. Tulowitzki. Hell, maybe even Donaldson. So this designated hitter-themed beer just seems right. What’s more, this beer is strong. It’s intense. It has POWER, just like the Blue Jays lineup. I’m a Red Sox fan, and the idea of getting into a playoff slugfest with the Blue Jays both excites me and gives me nightmares. Clocking in at a respectable 8.5% ABV, Henniker’s D.H. IPA should both scare and excite you, too. Don't forget to follow us on social media!
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