Best Game-Day Beers

The best game-day beers are the ones you want to drink while watching the game. If you're going to spend it drinking midnight-black stout, fine. Super-hoppy IPA? No problem. But if you're hosting, think about stocking up on a wide variety.

Look for beers that beer geeks call "sessionable," those with a lowish alcohol content and a mellow flavor, so you can have a couple of them without exhausting your palate or your liver. What does that mean in practice? The usual stuff in a can is the obvious pick, but there's way more beyond the obvious.

Small-scale breweries are popping up all over the country, so take a look at what your local options are—odds are, your area has a specialty style of beer that deserves a seat at the table.

Crisp Pilsner and pale ale are a great pair for classic (rich, cheesy) game-day fare—they're bracing and refreshing, but not overwhelming. Wheat beer is a sweeter-tasting, more-filling option, and it's a good match for anything with cured meat or cold cuts.

Amber ale and red ale are maltier and almost-sweet, and they're a good match for spicy or Mexican-inspired food.

IPA (India pale ale), usually strong and hoppy, can go either way. It's a great food pairing, but all but the most- seasoned beer drinkers might find themselves one (or two) and done.

Hard cider, which is not beer, is sweet and delicious (and rapidly becoming more available all over the country). It's a nice thing to have on hand for the one non-beer (or non-gluten) fan who still might want a drink.

Stout is thick and creamy; it's a great match for chili, but it might be too rich for a whole day of grazing and drinking.

If you're doing an assortment, lay in 70 percent basic crowd-pleasers (Pilsner, pale ale, amber ale). Then tip your hat to your friends: a little IPA here, maybe some cider there, and some stout and macro lager for the rest. Don't stress too much about it, though. You'll need to save some energy for fist pumps and yelling at the TV.

Next Up

How to Stock Your Bar for Game Day

Watching the game? Here's how to stock up your home bar to make sure no one goes thirsty.

7 Pairings to Supersize Your Big-Game Wine Experience

Make the most of your football viewing experience with these wine pairings that are perfect for your favorite big-game foods.

Porter Versus Stout: What’s the Difference?

A craft beer brewer breaks down these two popular dark beers.

Game Day Snacks That Food Network Staffers Swear By

Go the whole nine yards with these winning recipes!

These Store-Bought Hacks Will Win Big on Game Day

You won’t miss a second of the action with these time-saving tricks!

8 Reasons You Take Nachos More Seriously Than Probably Anyone

The big game is upon us, and while not all of us may speak the language of touchdowns and fumbles and interceptions, we can all agree on one thing (besides the commercials): nachos.

5 Fun Ways to Eat Chili on Game Day

Keep the whole team happy with these creative eats.

Bud Light and Tajín Unexpectedly Collaborate on a Spicy New Beer

What does Bud Light Chelada Tajin Chile Limon taste like?

Tesla Is Releasing a Cybertruck-Inspired Beer

CyberBeer sold out super fast and is now going for big bucks on eBay.

Guess What the ‘Most Popular’ Beer in America Is

The answer, according to a YouGov survey, may surprise you.

More from:

Drinks for All

Latest Stories