College Football and Beer
One of the best parts of the holiday season is the chance to take some time off, eat good food, drink good beer, and watch college football bowl games! In this guide, we’ll suggest some beers to pair with each game. We’ve taken into account the bowl sponsor, the teams playing, the location of the bowl. Let us know how we did in the comments, and what beers you would have paired with each game. Happy holidays and enjoy!
Note: Picks subject to change if we like your suggestions better!
Monday, December 26
Quick Lane Bowl: New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green, 2:30/1:30c, ESPN
Ford Field (Detroit)
Strategy: Two big hitters in Michigan are Founder’s and Bells. Both put out some great brews including Hopslam and the Breakfast Stout off-chutes KBS/CBS/etc. I’m not familiar with any New Mexico beers, but Great Lakes makes some quality products.
The Pick: This is the first game of “bowl week” and it’s an early start, so we’re going to suggest a working beer: All Day IPA.
Tuesday, December 27
Camellia Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo, Noon/11a c, ESPN
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
Strategy: Bama not a big beer state as afar as I’m aware; Buffalo probably not much in mass distribution. So I think Georgia is the play here.
The Pick: Early start, gotta go Terrapin Wake N Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Memphis vs. Utah State, 3:15/2:15c, ESPN
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
Strategy: Memphis and Utah in Texas, early afternoon. First Responders gotta stay fresh, so no big beer here.
The Pick: We’re picking Shiner Bock to keep the buzz going with out getting too ugly too early.
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl: Coastal Carolina vs. East Carolina, 6:45/5:45c, ESPN
Protective Life Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Strategy: Battle of Carolina teams in Bama. Asheville is a hopping beer town with a lot of new entries, as well as, expansion breweries.
The Pick: The smart ticket here is the Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State, 10:15/9:15c, ESPN
Chase Field (Phoenix)
Strategy: “I’m your huckleberry” Arizona is Tombstone country! Wisconsin knows something about beer, and those Cowboys know there way to the saloon.
The Pick: Anthem Brewing Rad Hombrew Mexican lager
Wednesday, December 28
Military Bowl Presented by Peraton: UCF vs. Duke, 2/1c, ESPN
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
Strategy: Military Bowl at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, this is a great event! Florida and NC both have some quality breweries, but I’m plenty familiar with our southern neighbors in MD.
The Pick: Going unique here with Maryland’s Flying Dog Brewery Old Bay Summer Ale.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Kansas vs. Arkansas, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
Strategy: ‘Can-sus’ vs ‘R-can-sus’ in the Home of the Blues for the Liberty Bowl.
The Pick: The call here is for Liberty Ale our of Anchor Brewing; if you can’t find it, audible to the classic Anchor Steam.
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: Oregon vs. North Carolina, Fox
Petco Park (San Diego)
Strategy: Oregon is known for hops, NC is known for great water, and both teams put up points fast. San Diego has a very rich brewing tradition.
The Pick: Rev your engines with Speedway Stout by Alesmith.
TaxAct Texas Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss, 9/8c, ESPN
NRG Stadium (Houston)
Strategy: Two big hitters in Michigan are Founder’s and Bells. Both put out some great brews including Hopslam and the Breakfast Stout off-chutes KBS/CBS/etc. I’m not familiar with any New Mexico beers, but Great Lakes makes some quality products.
The Pick: If you can get a Jester King Spon or farmhouse ale, that’s the call. If not, audible to Hill Farmstead Brewings Samuel…or the best farmhouse ale you can get.
Thursday, December 29
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse vs. Minnesota, 2/1c, ESPN
Yankee Stadium (New York)
Strategy: Empire State is hosting homers Syracuse vs Viking country Minnesota.
The Pick: Upstate brewery Ommegang Hennepin Farmhouse Ale keeps the good times rollin’
Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Florida State, 5:30/4:30c, ESPN
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Strategy: Many years, Sooners-Noles would be HUGE! Maybe even a National Championship game!!! But this ain’t that year, as both teams have fallen on hard times.
The Pick: Need a good Camping beer here, let’s go Pacifico Mexican Lager.
Valero Alamo Bowl: Texas vs. Washington, 9/8c, ESPN
Alamodome (San Antonio)
Strategy: Two more teams living in the past, and probably feeling like they deserve better…they don’t.
The Pick: Remember the Alamo Golden Ale
Friday, December 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs. NC State, Noon/11a c, ESPN
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Strategy: Notorious Charlotte hosts the mayonnaise bath.
The Pick: Maceo by Green Man Brewery should cut through the white stuff.
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. UCLA, 1/noon c, CBS
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
Strategy: Tony is leaving the corn crisp cereal behind for a cold crispi brew
The Pick: Pittsburgh has a lot of great beers out, but we’re gonna go Iron City instead
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Notre Dame vs. South Carolina, 3:30/2:30 c, ESPN
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida)
Strategy: The Golden Domer’s bring trappiest ales into play; while Gators and Cocks becken for something southern.
The Pick: Can’t pass up the opportunity, Orval in a chalice please!
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Ohio vs. Wyoming, 4:30/3:30c, Barstool Sports
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
Strategy: Bad time slot for these two Group Of schools to compete.
The Pick: You’ll probably only park here for a minute after the Gator ends while waiting for the Orange to kick. Use the time to hydrate with an ice water.
Capital One Orange Bowl: Tennessee vs. Clemson, 8/7c, ESPN
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
Strategy: Tennessee is orange, Clemson is orange, in the Orange Bowl… I’m not proud of this but I know what I gotta do.
The Pick: Shock Top Orange Belgian Witbier with an orange slice.
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Saturday, December 31
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Kansas State, Noon/11a c, ESPN
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
Strategy: Saben thinks they would have been favored in any matchup, would it be Sugar Sweet if they dropped this one to K-State?
The Pick: Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Iowa vs. Kentucky, Noon/11a c, ABC
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
Strategy: Think of this game as an insurance policy if Bama does do what we’re used to seeing them do.
The Pick: Mason Ale Works Checkerboard Blue to compliment the Wildcats
CFP Semifinal: Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 TCU vs. No. 2 Michigan, 4/3c, ESPN
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
Strategy: Horned Frogs is not a beer here, and we’ve already worn out the Mexican swill.
The Pick: Bell’s Hopslam is out early this year! Get you some!!!
CFP Semifinal: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Georgia, 8/7c, ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Strategy: Georgia with the defacto home field advantage on route to a Natty.
The Pick: Troegs Freaky Peach will make you kick the can with it’s intense tartness.
Monday, January 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Illinois, Noon/11a c, ESPN2
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Strategy: Couple of not-really beer states in what was a cooler named Outback Bowl.
The Pick: Early kick off with a Yuengling Amber Lager (now made in Tampa too).
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Tulane vs. USC, 1/noon c, ESPN
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Strategy: Classic David and Goliath here. I don’t think SC has any problems, but then that’s why they play the game
The Pick: Wave for a Tree House Green
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: LSU vs. Purdue, 1/noon c, ABC
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Strategy: Purdue benefited from a HORRIBLE B1G West this year. Tigers should have little trouble getting the W
The Pick: Florida Citrus gotta be Jai Alai IPA from Cigar City Brewing down the road in Tampa
Rose Bowl: Penn State vs. Utah, 5/4c, ESPN
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
Strategy: WE ARE! Penn State born and bred. Nothin against the Utes personally in this Grandaddy of them all!
The Pick: If you’re in Cali (or Monk’s in Philly) then Pliny the Elder is the call!
Monday, January 9
CFP National Championship, Michigan vs Georgia 7:30/6:30c, ESPN
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
Strategy: Presumptive? It’s all on the line. You need to fight and battle for every inch on every play if you want to hoist the National Championship Trophy. Leave it all out on the field!
The Pick: Grab that special beer you’ve been holding back, waiting for the special moment to pop open. For me it’s probably gonna be a Mad Elf Grand Cru.
Happy New Year!
It was a lot of fun writing this article, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it as well. Please hit us up in the comments with your suggestions… maybe we’ll change out the lineup based on your feedback. Enjoy the bowl season and we’ll see you next year!
One Response
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