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.