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Gameday drinks

Gameday Drinks: End Zone Dance-Worthy Beverages

 

Football and beer are no strangers to one another. Americans have cherished the tradition of cracking a brew for the big game for as long as football has been around. However, there are also football enthusiasts with more refined beverage tastes, those who prefer shots over beers. And don’t forget the fans who reach for something non-alcoholic when suffering dry mouth from watching their team set up for a fourth-down goal-line stand. If you’re hosting a tailgate party or having friends over to watch the game, you’ll want a variety of gameday drinks on hand.

 

With this year’s football season already underway and the winners beginning to separate themselves from the teams experiencing yet another “rebuilding year,” only one question remains: What’s there to drink?

 

Bud Light NFL Team Cans

 

Bud Light’s popular team cans are back in 2021, and now glass bottles are also available with team designs. This year’s sleek redesign features team slogans, rallying cries, and hashtags and still allows you to represent your team’s logo while quenching your thirst.

 

Some of the war cries include “Mile High Salute” for the Broncos can and “Geaux Saints” for the New Orleans team.

 

The designs are available for most teams, but not all. For example, the Packers, Bears, and Vikings all have their own beer deals elsewhere, leaving the NFC North almost entirely left out.

 

In a tailgate setting, beer also works great as a marinade for grilled chicken or a medium for boiling up extra juicy brats and hot dogs.

 

Other Available Gameday Beer Options

 

Try adding in some fall flavors if you want to go beyond the predictable cooler full of light beer. Oktoberfest brews, newly released spicy seasonals, hearty dark beers are all good options for offering variety.

 

  • Elysian – Great Pumpkin
  • New Belgium – Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin
  • Harpoon – Flannel Friday
  • Founders Brewing – Oktoberfest

 

NFL Spirits Partner

 

The first-ever official NFL spirits sponsor will be Diageo. Unfortunately, we have to wait for the 2022 season for this exciting partnership to kick off, but meanwhile, let’s take a look at some of the beloved Diageo brands that might be participating in next year’s football promotions.

 

  • Smirnoff Vodka
  • Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey
  • Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

 

That’s a starting lineup to make any playoff team jealous!

 

Team Spirit Shooter Tray

 

Do you have friends coming over who prefer shots to beer? If you want to get fancy, you can try to recreate your team’s logo using shots! Try serving touchdown celebration shots in a color-coordinated array for variety and team spirit. Add the perfect touch to your gameday drinks!

 

Liquors and liqueurs that feature standard team colors and work equally well for mixing and straight-shooting include:

  • Cherry Dr. McGillicuddy’s—red
  • Sloe gin—dark red (can vary)
  • Orange Curaçao—orange
  • Limoncello—yellow (can vary)
  • Midori Melon Liqueur—green
  • Hpnotiq—bright blue
  • Blue Curaçao—blue
  • Bailey’s Irish Cream—off-white

 

Explore fruity flavored liqueurs for additional options.

 

Whatever the final score turns out to be, your tailgate or game-watching festivities will be a championship-caliber success after a trip to your nearest Payless Liquors location.

 

The Top 4 IPAs of 2021

Recently, the popularity of IPAs has grown immensely. Known for their high content of hops, IPAs often have a more bitter taste to them than your average lager, for example. IPAs can come in a variety of different flavors and styles. These styles of IPAs are characterized by regions, which is why you might see terms such as New England styles or West Coast IPAs. Every IPA is craft    with an individual formula of hops, malts, grains, and fruits, to create the special flavors that we all know and love.

Ultimately, every IPA is unique in its flavor. That’s why we decided to compile a list of the top IPAs of 2021.

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA

Dogfish Head are brewers that love their IPAs, as they have produced multiple delicious, different varieties. This beer in particular, the 60 minute IPA, has an ABV of about 6%. It is an outstandingly bold, crisp beer that reviewers say carries an ‘explosion’ of flavor and crispness. Because of this, Dogfish Head and their 60 minute IPA are at the top of our list.

Stone IPA

This well-respected IPA is popular across the country—and for good reason. With its high hops content, piney flavors, and notes of citrus, this IPA is full of delicious flavors. The Stone IPA contains subtle hints of malt to balance out its flavors, creating a beer that almost anyone would want to drink after a long day in the sun. This IPA also rings in with a higher alcohol percentage of 6.9%.

Founders All Day IPA

Founders All Day IPA made it onto our list of top IPAs this year for a few reasons. Not only is this beer pretty easy to find, but it won’t break your bank either. This IPA is full of citrus notes and goes perfectly with long summer days with friends. With an alcohol percentage of about 5%, the All Day IPA makes for a great, light beer to drink without feeling too weighed down if you want a few.

Bell’s Two Hearted Ale

Named after the Two Hearted River in Michigan, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale is one of the most popular IPAs across the country. Full of hops, citrus, malts, and delicate hints of fruit, this IPA is delicious no matter the time of year. It’s also a great start for people that are just diving into the world of IPAs. This beer pairs great with summer barbeques and days out on the lake, and its ABV rings in at 7%, meaning that you’re in for a good time.

Finding Your Favorite New IPA

IPAs show off the skills of the breweries that create them by combining ingredients like malts, hops, barley, and more to create unique beers with complex flavor profiles. As IPAs become more and more popular, more and more new styles are being worked on by breweries everywhere.

Whether you’re interested in trying a new IPA or you want to stock up on an old favorite, you can find what you’re looking for at Payless Liquors. With our vast collection of IPAs and many other styles, you’re bound to find something new to love. Check out our full beer selection over on our website!