Thereโs never a bad time for a beer, but there are some ideal timesโand football games fall squarely in that category. Because whether youโre enjoying a quiet afternoon on the couch or hosting an entire backyard full of football-and-grilled-meat enthusiasts, youโre going to want some beer.
Fortunately, thereโs a seemingly unlimited amount of beers to choose from, but lest you get overwhelmed by all the options, weโre recommending five of our favorites that range from light to heavy and will take you from pregame festivities to the final whistle. And because no day of football is complete without cigars, weโre also highlighting a cigar to pair with each beer. So you can spend less time making decisions, and more time shouting at your TV.
Pre-Game: Nite Lite American Light Lager
Light lagers often get a bad rap as watery, flavorless swill, but donโt let the sins of mass-production breweries turn you off of the entire category. Night Shift Brewingโs Nite Lite is the perfect example of a light, low-ABV lager that doesnโt sacrifice flavor. Made from real corn, German hops, and premium two-row barley, itโs crisp, sessionable and goes down easy, so itโs the perfect beer to reach for prior to kick off.
Pair with: Montecristo White Label, a mellow cigar with notes of honey and white pepper.
1st Quarter: Victory Prima Pils
Pilsners are always a great choice for midday beers, or whenever you want to drink well without weighing yourself down. Victory Prima Pils is one of the best examples in the category. Brewed with German hops, itโs crisp and floral, with notes of spice and citrus that cleanse the palate and keep you coming back for more.
Pair with: Room101 Farce Connecticut, a mellow to medium-bodied cigar with hints of cream, slight spice, and pops of cedar.
2nd Quarter: Mirror Pond Pale Ale
When itโs time for a pale ale, itโs hard to beat Mirror Pond by Oregon-based Deschutes. Four types of malt provide a smooth, caramel-accented backbone that combines with Cascade hops for that coveted interplay between sweet malt and hoppy citrus. At just 40 IBUs and 5% ABV, Mirror Pond Pale Ale packs a lot of flavor into a sessionable package.
Pair with: Black Works Studio Hyena, a cigar rich with baking spices, cocoa, cream and malt.
3rd Quarter: Jai Alai IPA
Jai Alai IPA hails from Cigar City Brewing in Tampa. It clocks in at 7.5% ABV and ups the IBU ante to 65, so itโs a markedly more hop-forward beer. Donโt confuse hops with a bitter bomb, however, as Jai Alai leans toward the citrusy spectrum with notes of clementines and sweet Valencia orange peels mingling alongside rich malts.
Pair with: Arturo Fuente Sun Grown, which shows lush spice and cedar before a long, fruity finish.
4th Quarter: Stone Xocoveza Stout
This fun-loving beer hits shelves nationwide each fall and remains available throughout the holiday season, aka football season. Stone Xocoveza is brewed with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, evoking Mexican hot chocolate with each sip. Given its robust flavor and heady alcohol content, itโs the perfect candidate for sipping slowly beside the fire.
Pair with: Davidoff Year of the Rabbit, a rich and luxurious cigar with notes of pepper, coffee, cacao, dried fruits and spice.
About the author: Kevin Gray is a food, drinks and travel writer who's always searching for new experiences. His travels have taken him to cigar factories, distilleries and wineries around the world, and his work has appeared in outlets including Eater, Forbes, InsideHook, Liquor.com, Thrillist and Travel + Leisure. Follow him on Instagram @kevinrgray.
