Super Bowl beers: Body, not big alcohol

Bottle of beer pouring into pint glass. Getty Images

Football and beer. The two have been soul mates since long before the National Football League and American Football League came together 43 years ago and faced off in the first Super Bowl.

Since that day, Super Sunday and beer have been synonymous. And for the big game, you need a big beer. Actually you don’t want a “big” beer — “big” meaning high in alcohol content — unless you want to be asleep on the couch by halftime.

For the Super Bowl, it’s best to go with what’s known as a session beer — a brew with low to medium alcohol content you can drink a lot of in one session and still function. You also want a beer with plenty of flavor to go with those chips and chicken wings.

A word of advice: If you want to impress your friends, the only time Bud, Coors or any beer with the word “Light” should be at your party is during the commercials.

If you’re pulling for the Saints this weekend, you can’t go wrong with anything from Abita Beer, brewed in Abita Springs, La., about an hour away from New Orleans. Abita makes quality beer in good variety and is easily found in Southwest Florida.

Abita has something for everyone. Its Turbodog is a mild, pleasing brown ale that is guaranteed to start conversation with its name alone. Restoration and Jockamo are two smooth India Pale Ales the company makes that aren’t too hoppy or bitter. Purple Haze is a good wheat beer made with a hint of raspberry that is perfect for the ladies, and it’s OK for guys to drink, too.

If you’re looking for a N’Awlins authentic, go with Blackened Voodoo Lager made by Dixie Brewing Company, located in the heart of New Orleans. As the name implies, Voodoo is a dark lager with a bite that will pair well with the spicy foods at your Super Bowl party.

For the Colts fans, you won’t find much in area liquor stores to remind you of chilly game days in Indiana. While the Hoosier state has plenty of great breweries — one of the most popular craft brewers in the nation, Three Floyds, calls Munster, Ind., home — Indiana beer hasn’t made it this far south just yet.

There is, however, a decent selection of Midwestern beers down here in Southwest Florida that will have to do.

The most prevalent beer you’ll find comes from Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. If you like wheat beers, Oberon is one of the best around. If you like hops, Two Hearted Ale is pretty bitter India pale ale.

Another brewery with a decent selection in Southwest Florida is Goose Island from Chicago. Although, being from the Windy City, Goose Island may be the beer of choice of Bears fans, not the Colts crowd.

Connect with Adam Fisher at naplesnews.com/staff/adam_fisher.

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