The Super Bowl Party has grown from a simple gathering of friends to a full-fledged American tradition. It’s been said that this is the US’s second biggest food day and when people gather to watch a game on TV and share good food, good beer should be there as well. But this isn’t the time to try a new, complex beer brewed by blind monks in a cave in France; even the snobbiest of beer geeks will want a simple, satisfying beer on game day. Here are a few of my suggestions for beers to serve at your next Super Bowl party.
Make it a Bud. : Whether you prefer the subtler flavor of Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser or the fuller Bohemian brewed Budvar Budweiser (sold as Czechvar in the US), you’ll be joining millions by popping the top on a Bud. Both beers will pair easily with most foods. But you did that last year, didn’t you? So did everyone else. If it wasn’t Bud and Bud, maybe it was Miller and Heineken or Coors and Grolsch. Why not try something a little different this year?
Wheat Beer.: Wheat style is another subtly flavored beer. American wheat beers like Pyramid's Hefe Weizen are often popular with those that find most craft beers to be “too much" so its always a good idea to have a few of these on hand, especially if you're serving exclusively craft beer.
Pale ale.: There are lots of really good pale ales out there. Anchor and Flying Dog both make excellent pale ales. Typically hoppier than either of the Buds, pale ales will still work nicely with Super Bowl food. They also tend to stay much more interesting in flavor after one or two when the Buds or American Wheat often begin to taste like water.
Stout.: There’s always going to be a few in every crowd that will want a big beer. Stout isn’t the biggest but it’s wide appeal will make it a welcome addition. Of course the most popular stout is Guiness and a six pack of the good black stuff is never uncalled for. But look around at the beer selection a bit before settling on this one. There are some other really good stouts out there. Sierra Nevada makes an excellent black brew as does Goose Island.
Go Local. : I don’t say this often enough: Seek out a local beer. Most of the beers that I’ve named here are pretty easy to find throughout the US and I chose them with that in mind. But there’s something to be said for seeking out a local brew. If there’s a brew pub where you live, go there and ask the bar tender to recommend a couple of brews for your Super Bowl party. It’s likely she’ll have the perfect beer in mind or can tell you which one is a hit with her customers. For ten or fifteen dollars she’ll fill a half gallon growler with some of the freshest beer you’ll ever taste. You’re guests will love it!
