Aside from providing a super spread of edibles, every game day viewing party needs an epic drinks menu. There are so many options that it can become overwhelming but we’ve got some suggestions and recipes to make championship preparations easier on you.
Beer and Football - An American Tale
Beer is by far the most popular game day drink of choice, but there is a limitless number of brands to choose from and different types of beer will pair differently with different championship snacks. If you want to break free of the big game boring, serve your beers in glasses, and provide your guests with something a little more premeditated than an 18-pack, we have done some research. We decided to look into which beers pair well with the various food options you might be planning.
Dips
Pair your delicious guacamole with a hoppy American pale ale. The citrus from the hops marries well with the lime in guacamole, the toasted malt pairs well the corn chips, and the carbonation cuts and lifts fat so nothing is overwhelming.
For queso dip, look to a Session IPA. Session IPAs tend to be a bit more full bodied than their American cousin, and the flavor tends to be a little more intense. When pairing it with queso, you will still get the intense flavors, and the carbonation cuts right through the richness of the cheese. All of this works together like magic to create a finish that combines sweet, salty, and savory.
Appetizers
American-style pale ale will work perfectly with everything here. With a good malt center and a healthy dose of bright, citrusy hops, Pale Ale works great with everything from the heat of the hot wings to a Hawaiian sweet roll mini sandwich.
Breaking Free From Beer?
It’s not blasphemous to serve an alternative to beer on game day. Some people are allergic to yeast and other’s would simply like to fill up on snacks rather than a heavy beer. For those guests, we have a delicious bloody mary recipe and a delectable sangria that you can serve in your epare Double-Wall HighBall Glasses.
The Best Bloody Mary Recipe
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces tomato juice
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1 dash of Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch salt
- Pinch ground pepper
- Hot sauce to taste
- Horseradish to taste (optional)
- Celery stalk and/or pickle spear for garnish
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Rub lemon or lime around rim of glass. Add ice to glass. Mix Vodka, tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, Pepper, celery salt and horseradish (if using) and pour in glass. Garnish with lemon or lime wedge or celery stalk.
From: https://www.thespruce.com/bloody-mary-recipe-and-tomato-cocktails-759596
Red Wine Sangria
- 25 ounces/750 ml bottle of red wine
- 1 lemon (cut into wedges)
- 1 orange (cut into wedges)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 1/2 ounces brandy
- 2 cups ginger ale or club soda
Pour wine in the pitcher and squeeze the juice wedges from the lemon and orange into the wine. Toss in the fruit wedges (try to remove seeds first, if possible) and add sugar and brandy. Chill overnight to marry the flavors. Add ginger ale or club soda just before serving.
From: https://www.thespruce.com/basic-sangria-recipe-3511080
You don’t need fancy cocktails or a long list of drinks for game day. A few cases of our suggested beer styles, and these two easy cocktails will provide more than enough libation! Be sure to have a cooler with ice to keep the beer cold. You can keep the sangria cold by placing the punch bowl in a tub of ice to keep it cool without having to add ice to the actual drink and diluting it. We know it’s going to be tempting, but try not to sneak too many sips on the side while making them, gotta keep those guests warm and happy! Cheers!