Although it’s kind of funny that the Super Bowl is being played between teams from states that have legalized recreational marijuana, Seattle and Denver are also good places to get your hands on another legal drug – good old fashioned beer.
Bronco Beers
Probably the most popular Colorado craft brewery is New Belgium, makers of Fat Tire.
The beer is named after one the brewery’s co-founder’s bike trip through Europe, and the fact that Fat Tire Amber Ale has “biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness.” New Belgium also offers sour beers like La Folie and Lips of Faith.
Great Divide Brewing makes a number of beers year-round including Lasso IPA, Hoss Rye Lager and Nomad Pilsner. For those looking to get a little bit of a buzz on, Yeti Imperial Stout could be the way to go. The Yeti has a “big, roasty malt flavor that gives way to rich caramel and toffee notes” and tips the scales at an impressive 75 IBUs. There’s also the 10 percent ABV Hercules Double IPA, an aptly-titled beer that is super-strong and “fit for the gods.”
For canned goodies, Oskar Blues Brewery is the place to go. Dale’s Pale Ale is probably Oskar’s most well-known beer, but the brewery also offers selections like Mama’s Little Yella Pills, Old Chub and G’Knight. A strong seasonal beer, Gubna, is 100-plus IBUs and contains “copious amounts of summit hops.”
Seahawk Suds
Redhook Brewery serves up a variety of beers, including Long Hammer IPA, Pumpkin Porter and ESB (Extra Special Bitter). One Redhook beer to consider on gameday is Audible Ale. The brew was created as part of a partnership between Redhook and Dan Patrick and it is “crushable enough to make you want another — without making you sloppy by halftime.”
Although the fish market usually gets all the attention, there’s also the Pike Brewing Company. Try out selections like Tandem, Monk’s Uncle, Kilt Lifter or take things up a notch with the XXXXX Stout. With hints of chocolate and espresso, the seven-percent ABV beer could be the perfect thing to have for dessert after scarfing nachos and chicken wings.
Seattle-based Pyramid Breweries operates out of the Seattle Alehouse across the street from Safeco Field. Beers like an American-style Hefeweizen, Thunderhead IPA and Weiss Cream Spiced Wheat Ale are always fan favorites, but the cream of the crop might be the Outburst Imperial IPA. Outburst packs a punch with eight-and-a-half percent ABV and its dry-hopped style “delivers a bold taste with a massive hop flavor.”
Evan Bleier is a freelance writer based out of wherever he can plug in his laptop. You can send him questions, comments and Buffalo wing suggestions @itishowitis or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
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