Tailgating Brews: 11 Beers for Game Day

 

Choosing beer for tailgating is not as easy as it might seem. The fall football season opens with balmy, and sometimes downright hot, weather in the South, but calls for blankets and down coats by the time the season wraps up. Then, you have to pick a beer that pairs with your favorite tailgate fare. Finally, you need a brew with a lower alcohol content, which is necessary to stay upright during a long day of revelry. Here are 11 Southern brews to keep you happily sipping from the first kick off to the final championship game.

 

Palmetto Brewery
Charleston Lager

Charleston, South Carolina -Light bodied Pilsner with fresh, sweet malt notes and a dry light finish, perfect for those hot days at the tailgate. Easy to drink, it pairs well with most tailgate items – but especially with fresher items like veggies or chips and salsa.

 

Back Forty Beer Company
Truck Stop Honey Brown Ale

Gadsden, Alabama -A medium-bodied brown ale with a sweetness from American Wildflower Honey balanced with earthy hops. This ale is good choice for sipping with spicy dishes like wings and chili.

 

Good People Brewing Company
The Bearded Lady American Wheat Ale

Birmingham, Alabama -Great for daytime drinking due to it is clean, crisp, and refreshing flavor. A lower alcohol content will help you make it to gametime and a mild citrus hop profile lends to its drinkability.

 

Highland Brewing Company
Clawhammer Octoberfest Lager

Asheville, North Carolina-This seasonal lager ushers in the fall season with pumpkin and spices. It has brilliant, golden color with a hint of fall flavors and a balanced malt profile. This beer captures the flavors of fall in a glass and is a delicious way to start the football festivities.

 

SweetWater Brewing Company
IPA

Atlanta, Georgia– This brew is a mainstay among Southern football fanatics. It will quench your thirst with its bitter yet smooth taste to refresh and revive you for a day in the heat.

 

Jester King Brewery
Das Underkind!

Austin, Texas -This saison is a combination of freshly hopped young beer and sour beer aged in oak barrels. It is dry, mildly tart and thirst quenching with a low 4.5% ABV. A unique beer that pairs well with spicy foods.

 

Red Brick Brewing Company
Divine Bovine Stout

Atlanta, Georgia -As game days become chillier, opt for this milk stout with organic chai spices and dark chocolate notes. The richness of the stout with the chai spice make for happy sipping during a chilly afternoon.

 

Avondale Brewing Company
Strawberry Kolsch

Birmingham, Alabama -Perhaps the perfect tailgating beer for those with a sweet tooth. This Kolsch delivers a punch of strawberry balanced with malt and low hop bitterness. Sweet yet savory, this medium-bodied, flavorful brew is on cue for those wanting a lower alcohol, crispy sip on game day.

 

Westbrook Brewing Company,
White Thai

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina– This refreshing ale was inspired by Asian cuisine and made in the Belgian witbeir style. It is made with lemongrass and ginger which gives it a sweet yet spicy and wonderfully refreshing flavor that makes it a good accompaniment to spicy foods.

 

People Brewing Company,
Brown Ale

Birmingham, Alabama -Don’t let the darker color of GP Brown Ale fool you, as it’s surprisingly drinkable. Its caramel and nutty malt backbone, make this beer perfect for the football season. At 5.4% ABV you can easily sip this beer until game time.

 

Palmetto Brewery
Ghost Rider

Charleston, South Carolina-Palmetto releases this American Pale Ale with cherries and smoked ghost peppers yearly, right around the same time as football season. With hints of cherry and citrus and the smoky heat finish – it’s delicious with brats on the grill.