Superbowl Picks

I just love this Superbowly-time of year. For forty-six years the National Football League has culminated their season with, what can only be described as, the biggest, annual sporting event in the United States—a 100 yard war on the floor between the best National Football Conference (NFC) and National Football Conference (AFC) teams of the past season. This year the New York Football Giants take on the New England Patriots, in a re-match, to either settle a score, or repeat a victory from four years ago. Whether you're an Eli Manning fan or a Tom Brady follower, the one thing that's universal about Superbowl Sunday, is beer. In the spirit of the big three U.S. breweries, Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Coors—who have taken full advantage of Superbowl advertising—I thought I'd offer a few New York and New England, beery Superbowl picks of my own. I figured I'd match style to style and I'm keeping ABV in mind on this one, no high-octane, überbrews—game day is all about pacing. Here goes:

First quarter
NY - Fresh Chester Pale Ale, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., Ellmsford, NY
NE - Newport Storm Ryan, Coastal Extreme Brewing Co., Newport Rhode island

Second quarter
NY- Flowerpower IPA, Ithaca Beer Company, Ithaca, NY
NE - Harpoon IPA, Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA

Third quarter
NY - Brown Ale, Davidson Brother's Brewery, Glens Falls, NY
NE - Brown Angel, Clown Shoes, Ipswitch, MA

Fourth quarter
NY - Blackheart Stout, Middle Ages Brewing Company, Syracuse, NY
NE - Portsmouth Black Cat Stout, Portsmouth Brewery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

You could make a game out of this, too. Whomever is down at the end of the quarter has to drink the other teams beer—Insidious and delicious!

If you're a fan of the other football being played on Sunday, I'd suggest Sambrook's Wandle for Big Blue fans (Sambrook's is across the river from Chelsea, but it's the closet brewery to Stamford Bridge), and Manchester Star, for those who's loyalty leans toward the Red Devils. Mind you, I have no horse in this race—Arsenal plays tomorrow!