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This Sunday millions of people around the world will tune in to one of the most watched events in television history. They will huddle around small black and white televisions in poor, Third World countries. They will watch in bars, hotel rooms, and on the Internet. They will gather at massive parties, with television screens in every room and mountains of food. They will watch from hospital beds, military bases, and prison cells. Since January 15, 1967 when the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, the world has stood still on Super Bowl Sunday to watch the pageantry, the gladiatorial games, the wardrobe malfunctions.
But, clashing and clinking glass bottles were not the only successful beer advertisements. Other favorite ads run by A-B during the Super Bowl included the Budweiser Frogs (BUD – weis – errrrrrr!), the young Clydesdale learning the ropes, and the iconic “WASSUP?!” ads. Miller Brewing Company famously tried to belittle their rival in a notorious ad depicting the famous A-B Clydesdales and a defecting Dalmatian. Miller also ran what is most likely the shortest ad in television history with a one-second spot during the 2009 game.
I told you when I started this column I would not focus much on the big boys. So, in keeping with that promise, let’s move on to the beers we all love here – crafts and micros! While the masses are guzzling up the flavorless national brands, you my friends, should look to a more satisfying brew to quench your football fueled beer fever. Why not feature beers from the two team’s regions? Or, fill a few growlers of some of the superb local brews available right here in Jacksonville. Below are a few suggestions that are sure to tickle your buds – taste buds, that is.
There are many great beers that can be found locally which are brewed in either Wisconsin or Pennsylvania.
Wisconsin brews to try are:
Sprecher Brewing Company
Abbey Triple
Abbey Tripels are, as the name eludes, triple fermented ales first concocted by those crazy monks in Belgium. But, I suppose being locked in a monastery for years wouldn’t be so bad if got to brew beers like these all day long. This beer, Sprecher Brewing Company of Wisconsin is a faithful reproduction of the style that pours a hazy pale orange-amber topped by a the finest of laced foam. When you put your nose to it – yes, you can smell beer just like wine – you’ll detect banana, clove, orange zest, and black pepper.
Now, take a sip, the taste should reveal the same flavors you smelled with the addition of ginger, coriander, and a pinch of nutmeg. The body is a light medium, with a moderate carbonation and an almost dry finish. Go easy on this one though; at 8.41% ABV it only takes a few to make you feel like you just got hit by a Packer linebacker.
Lakefront Brewery
Lakefront IPA
The aroma is grassy and piney, backed by a balanced and not overwhelming malt backbone. The taste is spot on. The caramel backbone is noticeable, but the bitterness from the hops shines. Pine and floral notes also come through. A likeable, drinkable IPA that is pretty much par for the course.
Leinenkugel
Classic Amber
A nice amber color just as the name implies, this beer produces a nice two finger white head that fades to a thin layer and a slight amount of lacing.
You will smell lots of sweet malts and grains with a small amount of hops detected at the end.
Just like the nose, sweet malts make their presence known up front when you first sip this brew. Lots of hoppy bitterness at the end, more than the nose belies. Pretty hoppy for an amber but it will grow on you.
Pennsylvania Brews you should consider:
Weyerbacher Brewing Company
Blanche
This easy drinking beer is another Belgian style. Pour this beauty into a glass and you’ll be rewarded with a cloudy, golden yellow hue. On the nose (there I go with the snooty wine-tasting terminology) you should pick up toasted malts, straw, and grains. You will also notice light, earthy hops, a floral characteristic, and the faintest hint of lemon.
The taste reveals a light, sweet citrus, wheat, and maybe a little apple. At only 5% ABV you could drink several and still be able to enjoy the antics of the other party-goers (you know, like that crazy neighbor Dave showing everyone how many brats he can shove in his mouth at once).
Erie Brewing Company
Misery Bay IPA
For those who enjoy a hoppier beer, try this brew from Erie Brewing Company. When poured into a glass you should get a pleasant grassy/citrusy aroma and an appealing golden-copper color. Your firs sip should let you know it’s an IPA with pleasant, but not overpowering, bitter hops and a sweet undertone of maltiness.
Victory Brewing Company
Victory Lager
For a taste all your friends will enjoy – even those who drink the big boys – try this easy drinking lager.
Crisp, light malts and sharper citrus aromas hints of leafy, spicy hops greet your nose.
Smooth light malt flavors kick things off in your mouth on this one and are joined quickly by bright citrus flavors - more lemon rind than anything else. It’s like drinking the feeling of a Steelers touchdown!
Local Brews
Locally brewed, fresh beer goes great with your Super Bowl food spread. Swing by Intuition Ale Works and tell Lindsey, Robbie, Cari, or whoever happens to be pouring quality beer on the day of your visit to fill your growler up with an I-10 IPA, Willow Branch Wheat, or People’s Pale Ale. Or visit Brian and the gang at Bold City for a growler of fresh Killer Whale Cream Ale or Duke’s Brown Ale. Going local is always a great choice with these kinds of choices!
So, on Sunday as you prepare for the gridiron clash of Packers against Steelers, toss aside those dull flavorless beers and pick up something with a little more taste. True, they don’t have clever commercials, but they will make your party stand out. And, we won’t tell if you watch and enjoy the commercials anyway.
Long live the brewers!
Cheers!
Marc Wisdom
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BridgeTroll
February 04, 2011, 01:22:38 PMBeen a fan of Leinenkugel for a long time...
http://leinie.com/av.html
Captain Zissou
February 04, 2011, 01:48:47 PMAnything by Victory or Weyerbacher will be delicious. I recommend the Weyerbacher double Simcoe IPA. It's tropical, drinkable, and delicious. It single-handedly got Stephen Dare to start drinking beer again!!
Marc may want to research Triple's a little more.
Gonzo
February 04, 2011, 02:28:39 PMWhy do you say that Cap'n?
Gonzo
February 04, 2011, 02:33:12 PMThis tasty summer brew was served at the Springfield Brew Crews inaugural event last year. It is just the thing to refresh you on a hot summer evening while sitting on the front porch collecting the breezes.
Website: www.sprbrewcrew.com
Friend on Facebook: Springfield Brew Crew
Captain Zissou
February 04, 2011, 02:47:40 PMThe initial usage of the terms double and triple were to denote strong beers. Rudimentary levels were single is 3% abv-5.9%, double 6.0-8.9%, tripel is 9%+. That was the Belgian usage of the term.
More recently, Double and triple denote the malt and hop content of the beer. Double is 50% extra malt, 100% extra Hops. Tripel is 100% extra malt, 200% extra hops, compared to a normal version of that beer.
Neither usage indicates 'triple fermentation'.
tarheels86
February 04, 2011, 04:36:35 PMAbbey Tripel has no exact definition as some are blonde and some are brune, but the "tripel" term comes from three primary fermentables which in tripel would be something like candi sugar, barley mat, and flaked wheat. You can think of tripel as a ramped up version of a witbier with a lot of the extra alcohol from the candi sugar. Triple fermentation is not correct. In fact, I'm not even sure what this means because beer commericially usually goes through one primary fermentation and then can have a secondary fermentation in barrels for wild character. But there is no beer I can think of that goes through three separate fermentations. Abbey Tripel is actually a very easy beer to make.
Gonzo
February 04, 2011, 04:39:53 PMWell, upon further research, it appears you are correct Cap'n! My initial research (and the website I pulled it from) seems to have a flaw or two. Here is a better snippet taken from http://globalbeer.com.
Thanks for the correction!
Non-RedNeck Westsider
February 04, 2011, 07:08:38 PMI hope you're right, I have a couple Fifteens Smoked Imperial Stout chilling at this very moment.
Non-RedNeck Westsider
February 04, 2011, 07:15:11 PMIt's a stout night for sampling.
Stopped by WW on Edgewood and picked up a couple of each:
Fifteen Smoked Imperial(Weyerbacher), Old Rasputin Russian Imperial (North Coast Brewing), Milk Stout (left hand brewery) & to finish the night off and give my taste buds a break, Saison Athene (Saint Somewhere)
I know the Saison doesn't fit, but I haven't had it and was told I'd enjoy.
I've got about another hour before they're drinkable, so any input before I come to my own conclusions would be awesome.
Gonzo
February 04, 2011, 07:21:38 PMLove Old Rasputin! And the Milk Stout is awesome, too - side note, look for a tapping of a locally brewed milk stout next week.
tarheels86
February 06, 2011, 07:17:03 PMCaptain is right in his logic, but remember that this is how the names are derived but are not how they are applied in real life necessarily. For instance, Abbey Tripels barely display a hop profile even though by this definition they should be quite bitter. And Abbey Quadrupels by this definition will be incredibly alcoholic. As a general guide:
Abbey Dubbel- malt forward 6-7% abv Belgian brune with a heavy yeast character
Abbey Tripel- spicy, alcohol, and yeast forward 7-8% abv Belgian blonde with heavy candi sugar and spicy yeast
Abbey Quadrupel- dark fruit and spice forward 8%+ abv with massive malt character and dessert qualities