It’s plain and simple. Nothing goes better with football than an ice cold alcoholic beverage. And, nothing goes better with watching the Super Bowl than lots of ice-cold alcoholic beverages, oh apart from perhaps looking to win it big from a bet placed on one of your available Sportsbooks. As well as alcoholic beverages, of course. Be it cider, beer, or whatever you chose to wet your whistle with. Although it may be a down year for those of us in the Northwest watching the contest, it doesn’t mean we should stop our annual Super Bowl festivities. Pick up one (or all seven) of these cold drinks below and start sippin’ early on Sunday for Superbowl 50.
Redhook False Start Session India Pale Ale | | Woodinville, WA | | Available exclusively in Washington state, the False Start Session IPA provides the same bright, hoppy flavor as most IPAs, but ditches the high ABV. The IPA weighs in at 4 percent ABV. In addition to the beer only being available in draft form, the tap handle is shaped like a 12th Man air horn. This truly is a beer with the football fan in mind.
Full Sail Brewing Co. Session Lager | | Hood River, OR | | In addition to having won numerous medals at beer competitions both nationally and internationally, Full Sail’s Session Lager has won over the taste buds of many a beer drinker. The brew has a smooth clean finish but it still brims with tons of flavor created through the combination of using both American and European hops.
Locust Cider Original Dry Cider | | Woodinville, WA | | Locust Cider pride themselves on making drinkable session ciders and the Original Dry Cider is exactly that. This is the recipe Locust concocted while trying to create the most drinkable cider in the world. Pacific Northwest Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious and Red Delicious apples come together in perfect harmony creating a crisp and balanced finish.
Breakside Brewery Lunch Break India Session Ale | | Portland | | The Lunch Break ISA from Breakside utilizes Cascade, Amarillo, Simcoe and Centennial hops to craft a beer that has the perfect combination of hop heaviness mixed with citrus notes of grapefruit, orange marmalade, and lemongrass. This session ale sits in at 4.7 percent ABV with 28 IBUs. Food pairings suggested include an Italian sub sandwich for optimal football grazing. You can find fresh Italian subs by going online and looking up phrases like ‘find a sandwich shop near me‘ so you’re game day ready with your food and drink!
Whitewood Cider Red Cap NW Session Cider | | Olympia, WA | | Aged in French Oak barrels, crafted with Washington heirloom and cider apples and it is crisp, light and refreshing? Yes, please. Whitewood’s Red Cap NW Session Cider packs quite the punch, one full of strong apple flavor and supreme drinkability. Only offered on draft right now, the cider will be making its way to bottles soon.
Boneyard Beer Bone Light | | Bend, OR | |Boneyard opened its doors in 2010, and since the inception, have been working hard to produce quality craft beers. Now with 17 different kinds of beer, the brewery based out of Bend’s motto is to craft hoppy, balanced beers. The Bone Light ISA does just that by showcasing Mosaic hops which are brewed with pilsner and pale malts-a precise combination for crushing during Sunday afternoon pigskin battles.
Fremont Brewing Session Pale Ale | | Seattle | | All hops in Fremont’s Session pale are grown in Washington state. Fremont uses Citra and Simcoe hops to make the pale ale. Available all year-round, The Session Pale Ale brings to the table a 4.5 percent ABV and 50 IBUs. Craft beer lovers everywhere will enjoy the citrus smell and refreshing taste of this brew for tossing a few back.