What’s Brewing?

This weekend’s much-anticipated Penn State-Alabama matchup stirs memories of coaches past and present. While one is known for his houndstooth hat and his rolled-up game plan, and the other for his rolled-up pant legs, both Paul William “Bear” Bryant and Joe Paterno are widely regarded as legends of college football.

As a tribute to Saturday night’s contest and two programs shaped by legendary leaders, this week’s column focuses on “legendary beers” – those whose identities are rooted in legend, myth, and history.

Here are a few:

• Titan IPA by Great Divide Brewing in Denver, Colorado – this beer is a very solid India Pale Ale with a fairly strong hop aroma, and at 7.1% ABV you could certainly consider this beer “assertive” as is printed on the bottle.
• Victory Brewing Company’s St. Victorious, made in Downingtown, Pennsylvania – this doppelbock is quite hearty and will keep you warm in the cold winter months (or an unseasonably cold and windy day in Happy Valley such as last week), which is why it is only available December through January. A Pennsylvania beer with the word “victorious” in the name….perhaps a fortuitous sign for the Nittany Lions of things to come this weekend???
• Landshark Lager – this Margaritaville Brewing Company beer is brought to you by legend Jimmy Buffett. We’d put this in the same party class as Corona Light…not bad for a beer to pound throughout a sun-soaked afternoon tailgate. And for about $26 a case at W.R.Hickey’s it’ll save you around $4 over Corona.
• And finally, Legend Brewing Company. Based in Richmond, Virginia, this operation is Central Virginia’s oldest and largest microbrewery. Try Legend for a taste of lager, brown ale, pilsner, porter, golden ale, seasonal brews, and pale ale.  In fact, a member of Lot13Blog’s staff will be watching the PSU-Alabama game on Saturday from a sports bar in Richmond as he passes through town that evening.

Until next week,

WE ARE!