Name the best beers of the NFL's Final Four
Having established that Iron City is the lowliest beer of Pittsburgh, a position Natty Boh holds in Baltimore, we switch now to a higher level.
What do we think are the best beers brewed in these towns, as well as those of Philadelphia and Phoenix, the other two cities with teams still in the NFL hunt?
Let's limit the nominees to bottled beers.
For starters, I say the best beer Pittsburgh has to offer is the Penn Pilsner brewed by Tom Pastorius at Pennsylvania Brewing Company.
As for Philadelphia, since we don't get Yards or Sly Fox in this market, I feel the best bottled beer that we can get our hands on comes from the distant suburb of Downingtown, Pa. That would be Victory Prima Pils.
I come up dry for Phoenix. I would guess Bud Lite. Anybody got a good Phoenix bottled beer?
As for Baltimore, I see a four-way race between bottles of Resurrection, Winter Storm, Pursuit of Happiness, and Flying Dog Gonzo Porter.
The floor is open for nominees.
Comments
Below Decks, further more a Below decks that has been aging for a year in your basement. Doesn't get any better than that.
Posted by: Steve | January 14, 2009 1:38 PM
If you're going for Victory as a Philly beer I'd vote for Storm King over Prima Pils (which is also excellent). Especially on a cold winter's day.
Posted by: Grant | January 14, 2009 1:41 PM
I don't get Baltimorean's obsession with Resurrection. Frankly, I think it's average (for a microbrew) at best.
I do however think that the Clipper City Winter Storm is very well done.
Posted by: Paul Capestany | January 14, 2009 2:40 PM
gonzo is gonzolicious!
Posted by: josh | January 14, 2009 2:42 PM
While Clipper City makes consistently outstanding brews, Flying Dog's hold the title for the best Maryland brew. FD's Gonzo is the winner in my book.
Posted by: Matt Billings | January 14, 2009 3:04 PM
Clipper. City. Gold.
Best beer ever.
Posted by: C. Stone | January 14, 2009 3:46 PM
Hook & Ladder Brewery out of Silver Spring, MD, has some great beer. I just tried a couple different beers from their new variety pack and really liked most of them. They also give back to local burn foundations.
Posted by: charlie | January 14, 2009 3:57 PM
Paul Capestany is a Steelers fan in disguise...Blasphemy!
Posted by: Bobbitybaaah | January 14, 2009 4:14 PM
Gotta go with Hook & Ladder. They've got about 9,000 different varieties, all of which are delicious. Plus, their donation to burn victims makes me feels pretty good about drinking a cold frosty.
Posted by: Winthrop | January 14, 2009 4:44 PM
Juggernaut Porter at Buffalo Wild Wings!
Posted by: Doug Weatherholtz | January 14, 2009 5:05 PM
Although they haven't gotten distribution for it yet due to the hop shortage, Four Peaks in Tempe, AZ started bottling their Hop Knot IPA this past fall. They also bottle their 8th Street Ale, which does have distribution and some nice hardware as well (GABF 2000 & 2002- Silver - English-Style Bitter).
Posted by: Mark Haugan | January 14, 2009 5:11 PM
Flying Dog is the best. Gonzo will make you forget about all the losses to the Steelers.
Posted by: justin | January 14, 2009 5:15 PM
I tried the Hook and Ladder golden ale a couple weeks back and it's a new favorite of mine. I highly recommend it
Posted by: WVSIII | January 14, 2009 5:29 PM
My vote is for Clipper City's BaltoMarzHon and McHenry.
For BaltoMarzHon, it's a fantastic beer and it's got a great name/bottle art. It's not available year round which is a shame.
McHenry because it's also a great beer and it's supposedly the beer that our grandfathers enjoyed.
Posted by: bryanintimonium | January 14, 2009 6:12 PM
Hook and Ladder fan myself. All the varieties are a good quality beer. I second the Golden Ale shout out from earlier today.
Posted by: Randall | January 14, 2009 6:50 PM
Phoenix hands down Four Peaks Brewing Kiltlifter. Great beer and brewery. If you go statewide then Oak Creek Nut Brown.
Posted by: Thomas | January 15, 2009 12:51 AM
For Baltimore I like the Resurrection & Maibock, but overall I'd probably go with Flying Dog's Gonzo Porter. All quality beers, but, I wish we had more microbreweries in B-more.
Philly I'd go with Hop Devil over Prima Pils.
I've had local beers in Tucson & Flagstaff, but nothing you can get locally.
Posted by: Patrick | January 15, 2009 2:46 AM
Does anyone know where the Juggernaut Porter at Buffalo Wild Wings is actually brewed? I stopped by the spot in Westminster, and it was obvious that they weren't brewing there (and they had a limited number of micros in their 20-30 taps).
Posted by: Anonymous | January 15, 2009 7:35 AM
In the Phoenix Area definitely Four Peaks. Either their Kilt Lifter
Scottish-Style Ale or their Hop Knot IPA.
In Baltimore:
Either Below Decks or Winter Storm
In the Philly area, Iron Hill:
Vienna Red Lager or Russian Imperial Stout
Although I've not tasted their beers, Church Brew Works gets high marks on Beeradvocate.com
Posted by: Bill Strehl | January 15, 2009 8:47 AM
Iron City outsources canned beer
Brewer - to temporarily lay off 25% of workers while canning's future is decided.
Omen?
Posted by: Yup | January 15, 2009 11:40 AM