Football season is upon us and that means there will be plenty of gridiron action to go around on weekends and several other nights of the week. Whether you are a diehard NFL fan or a rabid college football fan, one thing is certain; you will need plenty of cold suds to wash down your football obsession. If the makers of the macro lagers have it their way, you will be drinking tasteless, overly-chilled, fizzy, watery, yellow liquids that they pass off as beer. But, if you are looking for something that packs a flavorful kick to go along with the crushing action on your television, turn to the many craft beer choices you have to refresh you during the gladiatorial combat.
News outlets all over the country are touting craft beers to go along with your Saturday or Sunday afternoon games. And, why not? The craft beer industry is rapidly growing and making inroads to the hearts, minds, and taste buds of football fans from Florida to Alaska and everywhere in between. Esquire Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, and others have all published their picks for the best craft beer from each NFL city. Some choices are spot on, while others make a craft beer lover scratch their head. Regardless of what you think of the so-called expert choices, craft beer is certainly on the minds of the national media and beginning to get the respect it is due.
Locally, here in Jacksonville, there are myriad choices for beer to go with your football addiction. Men’s Health suggests you try Bold City Brewing’s Fritz’s Hefeweizen along with your gameday brats and hot dogs. They also recommend Bold English Old Ale is you seek a more robust beer. Esquire says to try Engine 15’s Rye of the Tiger pale ale as a companion to your football frenzy – just be careful to not get the Survivor song with a similar name stuck in your head. MSNBC’s Bites segment on the Today show recommends another Bold City brew Mad Manatee for its piney, hop-forward flavor and proximity to Everbank Stadium. And Craftbeer.com suggests taking a cooler full of Intuition Ale Works cans to your tailgating party.
Something else Jaguars fans can enjoy on home game days is tailgating with the crew from Intuition Ale Works. All you have to do is mosey on over to Lot H outside the stadium, look for the Intuition van and enjoy great beer, good food, and all manner of fun. This Sunday, Sept. 16, the guys from Tailgate32 will be joining the bunch from the brewery along with representatives from Big Green Egg.
The ATL Beer Guy 