We drink a lot of beer here at RedEye, so why not make our Super Bowl 50 prediction based on what Colorado and the Carolinas have to offer on the brew front? We scoured the city to find three craft beers to represent each team and did a blind taste test of all six offerings, rating each beer on a scale of one to five. Watch the video to see how the teams fared and read more about the beers below.
COLORADO BEER
Avery Brewing Joe’s Pils American pilsner: Though hoppy and floral on the nose, this sessionable beer doesn’t pack a huge punch of flavor, which might be the beer for you if you’re looking for something more mellow and dry with a subtle tanginess.
Great Divide Brewing Co.’s Titan IPA: This aggressively hopped brew is one I often describe as chewy, meaning the hops are so prevalent, it yields a thick hop nectar that’s bitterly crisp and grassy.
Lefthand Brewing Company’s milk stout nitro: Roasty and chocolaty on the nose, this smooth-drinking brew is smokey and creamy on the palate.
CAROLINA BEER
Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill’s Revah pomegranate cider: An excellent choice for those with a sweet tooth, this juicy and tart cider smells like tangy, vinegary fruit juice but lacks effervescence that I like in a good cider.
Evil Twin Brewing’s Mango Femme Fatale IPA: OK, so Evil Twin is technically a Brooklyn brewery, but South Carolina brewery Westbrook Brewing Co. produces and bottles some Evil Twin beer (and Carolina beers were slim pickings in Chicago). This brew smells floral like grandma’s potpourri, but the flavor, while bright and effervescent, falls flat as the mango that’s so prevalent on the nose is too muddled and barely there at all.
Westbrook Brewing Co.’s Big Tasty’s Back Door saison-style ale: Like a sweet lemon poppy seed pastry I’d want to eat with my breakfast tea. That’s what this beer smells like, and I’m picking up some serious funky honey-like flavors like a gingery sage kombucha.
