Tailgating Beers need to answer to a different standard than your average beer of choice. We’re looking for something that you can drink a 12 pack of over the course of the day without losing your mind (check our ABV chart/price chart). We need a combination of availability and versatility. Something you can drink with fried chicken, chili, or a chocolate dessert. In sweltering heat or bitter cold. Throw an extra beer in your pocket and walk around campus or share your cooler full of tasty beer with new guests. These are the beers to have and share at your tailgate.
Shiner Bock – From the Spoetzel Brewery in Texas comes this no frills beer charting in at 4.4 ABV. This is an amber beer that’s easy to drink year round. Available in cans or bottles and in bulk. (Beer Advocate)
Bitter American – Billed as a “extra pale session ale has lower alcohol but all the flavor and hop aroma you”. Coming in at 4.4% ABV this is a good substitute for pounding IPA’s all day long. From 21st Ammendment Brewery in California (only in cans) but seems to have decent coverage on the East Coast now. (Beer Advocate)
Fat Tire – The flagship amber ale from New Belgium brewery. 5.2% ABV puts it a hair above a sessionable beer, but it pairs so well with tailgating food. Also, you can find almost anywhere these days which makes for a very good default beer in bottles, cans, and bulk. (Beer Advocate)
Stella Artois – Stella has been making a push in the US market for well over a decade now with draft beer in an iconic glass. For whatever reason, I seemed to constantly come across bad kegs of it for awhile and backed off. The bottles were okay. But when the cans went mainstream in 2012 this became a tasty and viable tailgating beer. Super smooth and easily shared with girls at your tailgate. (Beer Advocate)
Full Sail Session Premium Lager – The short stubby bottle will definitely stick out at the tailgate. You feel like you could drink these for 12 hours and never get tired of them. 5.1% ABV out of Oregon and sold mainly as bottles in a 12 pack. This a fun and tasty alternative to Bud/Miller/Coors etc. (Beer Advocate)
Yuengling Traditional Lager: We’re hitting all the bases here. Widely available in a ton of forms at a reasonable price. 4.4% ABV with enough taste to put it above the mega mainstream (no longer American) beers. (Beer Advocate)
This is a pretty good example of a tailgating checklist you should make during the week. That way you can cross everything off right before you walk out the door. I do worry a bit that they might forget to bring the beer.
from
The Bro Bible has put together a well done illustrated guide to tailgating. The picture is ginormous, so I’ve just included a snippet below.
In an effort to get you ready for the first game, we created our own list of Tailgating Tips, found someone else’s tips, and spotted some thoughts on tailgate menus. But they can’t all be winners. Sometimes you get boring, lame, motherly advice. Among other things, Susan Klatz Biel wants to inform you that
While it may be possible to have alcohol in some places where people tailgate, you can pretty much count on the fact that it won’t be allowed in any of the college parking lots, especially those that are in the vicinity of the stadium. Don’t try to sneak alcohol in because if you are caught, you you will probably be arrested for having an open container. You may also be the party who is responsible for having the privilege to tailgate in parking lots near the stadium (or elsewhere on campus,) rescinded.
But not every mother sucks the life out of tailgating. Kelley () is a self described “working mother of two”. So does she get ready for the season by nagging you? No! She actually tweeted:
“When making beer bread for tailgating its essential that you drink 1 to enjoy for yourself! Go Cyclones!”
and
“Gave the boards a fresh look for the season. P.I.M.P. Go #Cyclones!”
Tagged as: iowa state
fried gator
Cherokee Distributing has a post with some standard tailgating tips. But most importantly they supplied a sample tailgating menu based on their opponent’s local fare and/or mascots. This is a good example of how you can diversify your offerings beyond fried chicken, burgers, etc.
You can also pick food styles and beverages that fit your tailgate whether they celebrate the home team or represent your opponent. That way you can try new things and enjoy some variety throughout the season. Here are some festive menu ideas for the first five big games the Vols will face this season:
- Sept. 11 – vs. Oregon – in Knoxville – When the Ducks come to town, face the challenge head on by preparing grilled duck breast. To top it off, serve with Duck-Rabbit Amber Ale.
- Sept. 18 – vs. Florida – in Knoxville – There’s only one thing to serve when playing the University of Florida, and that’s fried Gator tail. In celebration of the Orange and Blue crew coming to town, sip on a Blue Moon garnished with an orange slice.
- Oct. 2 – vs. LSU – in Baton Rouge, La. – Whether you travel down to Louisiana or enjoy the game from home, the LSU showdown calls for a celebration of Cajun food. Prepare some spicy jambalaya – a yummy, hearty tailgating dish – and serve it with Abita Purple Haze, brewed in Abita Springs, just north of New Orleans.
- Oct. 9 – vs. Georgia – in Athens, Ga. – When the Vols play the Bulldogs, it’s a classic rivalry that calls for a classic tailgating staple: hotdogs. But, why not mix it up and serve “Sloppy Dawgs” – in honor of how you may hope the opposing team will play! And with new UT Head Coach Derek Dooley returning to his hometown to coach against his law school alma mater – and where his dad Vince Dooley was legendary football coach for 25 years – pick up the Shiner Family Reunion variety pack for the occasion.
- Oct. 23 – vs. Alabama – in Knoxville – When the Crimson Tide rolls in to Tennessee, it’s time to break out the barbeque. If you want to sample authentic Tide fare, order some Dreamland Bar-b-que sauce from the Tide’s hometown of Tuscaloosa. But, if you want to stay loyal to Big Orange Country, try the delicious sauces from local restaurants Calhoun’s, Sweet P’s BBQ and Soul House, Buddy’s bar-b-q or Dead End BBQ. Enjoy the southern staple with Twisted Tea Hard Iced Tea, a fun twist on the South’s favorite drink.
(photo by jasonlam)
Tagged as: beer, tennessee
