Crush These 14 Canned Craft Beers on Super Bowl Sunday
That familiar snap. Then a hiss. “The sound of ripping open a beer can is burned deep into most people’s psyches,” says Gabriel Magliaro of Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Company. For decades it meant a good time—and mediocre beer. Not anymore. The best brewers in the country are adopting cans for their most sought-after suds, from San Francisco lagers to Chicago IPAs. Why? The opaque containers block UV rays, which can damage hops, and are more portable and durable than glass. Plus, they provide a larger canvas for the design work that’s so important to the cool kids of the beer world. So for the Super Bowl, stock up on cans of American-brewed craft beer. Our favorites are straight ahead—just don’t blame us if your guests talk more about what’s in the cooler than the game.
Ted Cavanaugh1/14All Green Everything Triple India Pale Ale (10.5% ABV), Other Half Brewing (Brooklyn)
Alright, if you're like me, your team did not make it to the Super Bowl (Eagles fan here). Not only is this monster of a brew delicious, but it comes in a green can (again, Eagles fan) and boasts a 10.5% ABV. Guaranteed to inspire a glimpse of happiness in that heartbroken die-hard.
Ted Cavanaugh2/14Baba Black Lager, Uinta Brewing (Salt Lake City)
You may be asking, "What's the deal with this black lager?" Well, the deal with this black lager is that it gives us a vehicle for depth in big roasty malt flavor without being as filling as a heavy stout. Essentially, it saves room for another round of wings, and that is a very good thing. (4.0% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh3/14The Bearded Lady American Wheat Ale, Good People Brewing (Birmingham)
Just like football, this pillowy-soft American wheat ale is big in the South (Alabama to be exact). Also like football, it pairs extremely well with some onion rings, which is, well, exactly what you want from a beer. (4.2% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh4/14Athena Berliner Weisse, Creature Comforts (Athens, GA)
Berliner Weiss is a style that Americans aren't drinking enough of, and this is a beautiful example of why they should be drinking more. A bit of tart citrus and an extremely light body make this brew the most refreshing beer you can be drinking while yelling, "HE COULD. GO. ALL. THE. WAY." (4.5% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh5/14El Sully Mexican-Style Lager, 21st Amendment Brewery (San Francisco)
Remember Corona? Yeah, this is like that, but brewed with a bit more attention to the malt and crispness that make a lager truly great. Pair it with some nachos and a lime? Sure. Pair it with any of these nachos and a lime? Even better. (4.8% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh6/14Wit Fit Witbier, Mikkeller at Sly Fox (Phoenixville, PA)
Similar to a fake punt, this brew will have you expecting something typical and leaving you standing there saying, "Wait...what?" The warm spices (like coriander, anise, and black pepper) and low-key hops will surprise both beer enthusiasts and novices alike. (6.2% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh7/14Fortunate Islands Hoppy Wheat Ale, Modern Times (San Diego)
The big hop character of an IPA mixed with the supreme easy-drinking nature of a wheat ale leaves you with this super chill Frankenstein of a beer. (5.00% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh8/14GoneAway IPA, Half Acre Beer Co. (Chicago)
What you have here is an incredible example of a classic American IPA. Bitter (but not overly so), bright (with enough malt backbone to support the hops), and hitting that 7.00% ABV right on the head. I'm very thankful this comes in a 16 oz. can.
Ted Cavanaugh9/14Heady Topper Double IPA, The Alchemist Brewery (Waterbury, VT)
CITRUS. PINE. JUICY DANK HOPS TO THE FACE. There's a reason this is the most sought after IPA in the country, and that reason is because it smacks you in the taste buds with incredible hop flavors and never gets boring. (8.00% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh10/14Lights On Pale Ale, Tree House Brewing Co. (Monson, MA)
This is a tropical fruit bomb hailing from not-so-tropical Massachusetts. We're talking papaya, guava, tangerine, mango, and every other fruit you never knew you needed your beer to taste like. (5.6% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh11/14Pop Gun Pilsner, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers (San Francisco)
Pilsners sometimes get lost in the shuffle of the craft beer world, but this one shouldn't. Replace the Miller Lite in your friend's hand with this crisp, grassy brew and tell him everything is going to be okay. (4.7% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh12/14Pure Fury Pale Ale, Rhinegeist Brewery (Cincinnati)
This is a superbly crushable pale ale with a hint of hop that shines through in citrus flavor, rather than bitterness. Drinking seven of these wouldn’t be a problem, so watch out. (5.5% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh13/14Seventh Son American Strong Ale, Seventh Son Brewing Co. (Columbus)
Sometimes you need to take something as approachable as an amber ale and turn it up to 11. This strong ale delivers generous portions of bold pine, toasted malt, and a bit of grapefruit without sacrificing any of the crispness and drinkability of a traditional amber. (7.7% ABV)
Ted Cavanaugh14/14What the Butler Saw Saison/Witbier, Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing (Cherry Hill, NJ)
With a forward-facing yeast character and slight tartness, this New Jersey brew is for drinkers who are into natural wines and fermented vegetables. It’s also for your friends who are not into natural wines and fermented vegetables. (5.00% ABV)
