I have a confession to make. This Super Bowl Sunday, I’ll be drinking wine as I watch the big game. That makes me one of a very small minority of football fans because the day undeniably belongs to beer.
And why shouldn’t it? With all due respect to the ladies, beer is a perfect companion for guy food. Whether it be nachos smothered in cheese and sprinkled with jalapeño peppers, bowls of salty potato chips or greasy takeout pizza: The clean, thirst-quenching taste and refreshing effervesce of a good brew (especially a lager) helps wash it all down better than any wine.
That said, though Pittsburgh and Green Bay may be fighting it out on the field, this Sunday is really a battle of the beers. And while Budweiser, Bud Light and Coors Light will spend millions on commercials – and no doubt be the guests of honour at most Super Bowl parties – there is so much more to American suds.
Anchor Steam (6 x 355 ml, $12. 50 – $13.55; 1 x 355 ml, $2.99) from San Francisco’s Anchor Steam Brewery is an iconic West Coast ale with a U.K. sensibility that comes through in its lightly roasted, well-balanced malt flavour.
Prices reflect the range across the country. Some products may not be available in all provinces.
Peter Rockwell is the everyman’s wine writer, working in the liquor industry for more than 25 years and travelling the globe looking for something to fill his glass and put into words.
