Cheers to Victory: Craft Beer and Other Sports-Themed Cocktails

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Are you ready to kick your game day celebrations up a notch? Today, we’re diving deep into the wonderful world of craft beer and sports-themed cocktails! Are you a die-hard beer enthusiast or a mixology maverick? I’ve got everything you need to elevate your game day drinks to the next level. Grab your favorite team jersey, because we’re about to take your taste buds on a journey they won’t forget!

For the Beer Enthusiast:

Let’s kick things off with everyone’s favorite sudsy beverage – craft beer! Craft beer has exploded in popularity in recent years, offering a diverse range of flavors and styles to tantalize your taste buds. From hoppy IPAs to rich stouts and refreshing lagers, there’s something for everyone in the world of craft brews.

Why not showcase a selection of local favorites or seasonal specialties at your next tailgate party? Set up a beer tasting station complete with tasting notes, pairing suggestions, and even a few fun facts about each brew to impress your guests and elevate their drinking experience.

Here’s a helpful table to provide insight into a few popular beer’s flavor profile, ideal food pairings, and unique characteristics. This is a great start to create a tasting experience for your friends at your next game day. Cheers!

Beer Name	Main Flavor Notes	Alcohol Percentage	Tasting Notes	Pairing Suggestions	Fun Facts
Blue Moon Belgian White	Citrus, coriander, wheat	5.4% ABV	Refreshing citrus flavor with hints of spice	Grilled chicken, salads, seafood	Brewed with Valencia orange peel for a unique flavor profile
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale	Pine, citrus, floral	5.6% ABV	Crisp and hoppy with a balanced bitterness	Spicy dishes, burgers, pizza	One of the first craft beers to use whole-cone hops
Lagunitas IPA	Grapefruit, pine, caramel	6.2% ABV	Bold hoppy flavor with a touch of sweetness	Spicy Thai food, barbecue, sharp cheeses	Features a simple, iconic label with a dog and a hop
Guinness Draught	Roasted malt, coffee, chocolate	4.2% ABV	Creamy texture with a rich, dark flavor	Beef stew, oysters, chocolate desserts	Nitrogenated for a smooth, creamy pour
Founders Breakfast Stout	Coffee, chocolate, oats	8.3% ABV	Smooth and velvety with intense coffee notes	Bacon and eggs, chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream	Brewed with flaked oats for added richness and texture
Stone Brewing Arrogant Bastard	Pine, citrus, caramel	7.2% ABV	Bold and assertive with a complex malt profile	Spicy foods, bold cheeses, grilled meats	Known for its aggressive marketing and bold flavor profile
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA	Citrus, pine, caramel	9.0% ABV	Aggressively hopped with a lingering bitterness	Curry dishes, blue cheese, citrus desserts	Continuously hopped over a 90-minute boil for intense flavor
Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout	Roasted malt, chocolate, oats	5.0% ABV	Silky smooth with a rich and creamy mouthfeel	Beef stew, chocolate desserts, aged cheeses	Brewed with well water from the original brewery’s well
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale	Caramel, biscuit, hops	5.2% ABV	Balanced malt sweetness with a subtle hoppy finish	Grilled meats, Mexican food, nutty cheeses	Named after the founder’s bike trip through Europe
Bell’s Two Hearted Ale	Floral, pine, citrus	7.0% ABV	Well-balanced with a pronounced hop character	Grilled fish, spicy foods, citrus desserts	Named after the Two Hearted River in Michigan

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Why not get creative and incorporate craft beer into some of your favorite cocktail recipes? Beer cocktails are all the rage these days, offering a unique twist on classic drinks. Try adding a splash of IPA to your margarita for an extra hoppy kick or mixing a stout with your favorite chocolate liqueur for a rich and decadent treat.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to combining craft beer with your favorite spirits – so don’t be afraid to get experimental and see what delicious concoctions you can come up with! And share them in the comments below with all of us too!

Creative Mixed Drinks:

Speaking of delicious concoctions, let’s talk about sports-themed cocktails! These unique drinks are not only tasty but also pay homage to your favorite teams and players. Whether you’re sipping on a “Touchdown Tequila Sunrise” or enjoying a “Slam Dunk Sangria,” these cocktails are sure to score big with your guests. And don’t worry if you’re not a master mixologist – we’ve got plenty of easy-to-follow recipes to help you whip up the perfect drink in no time.

Punny Sports-Themed Cocktails

Cocktail Name	Ingredients	Directions
Field Goal Fizz	– 1 oz vodka – 2 oz lemon-lime soda	1. Fill a glass with ice. 2. Pour vodka over the ice. 3. Top with lemon-lime soda. 4. Stir gently and enjoy!
Slam Dunk Sangria	– 1 bottle of red wine – 1/4 cup brandy – 1/4 cup orange liqueur – 1/4 cup orange juice – 1/4 cup lemon-lime soda – Sliced oranges, lemons, and limes – Mixed berries (optional)	1. In a large pitcher, combine the red wine, brandy, orange liqueur, and orange juice. 2. Stir well to mix. 3. Add sliced oranges, lemons, limes, and mixed berries to the pitcher. 4. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, to allow flavors to meld. 5. Just before serving, stir in the lemon-lime soda. 6. Pour into glasses over ice and enjoy!
Goalpost G&T (Gin and Tonic)	– 2 oz gin – 4 oz tonic water – 1/2 oz lime juice – Lime wedge for garnish – Rosemary sprig for garnish	1. Fill a glass with ice. 2. Pour the gin and tonic water over the ice. 3. Squeeze in the lime juice and stir well. 4. Garnish with a lime wedge and a rosemary sprig. 5. Serve and enjoy!
Home Run Huddle Mojito	– 2 oz white rum – 1 oz lime juice – 1 oz simple syrup – 6-8 fresh mint leaves – Soda water – Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish	1. In a glass, muddle the mint leaves with the lime juice and simple syrup. 2. Fill the glass with ice. 3. Pour the white rum over the ice and stir well. 4. Top with soda water and stir gently. 5. Garnish with a lime wedge and a mint sprig. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Champion’s Cosmopolitan	– 2 oz vodka – 1 oz cranberry juice – 1/2 oz triple sec – 1/2 oz lime juice – Lime twist for garnish	1. Fill a shaker with ice. 2. Add the vodka, cranberry juice, triple sec, and lime juice to the shaker. 3. Shake well until chilled. 4. Strain into a chilled martini glass. 5. Garnish with a lime twist. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Touchdown Tequila Sunrise	– 2 oz tequila – 4 oz orange juice – 1/2 oz grenadine – Orange slice and cherry for garnish	1. Fill a glass with ice. 2. Pour the tequila and orange juice over the ice and stir well. 3. Slowly pour the grenadine down the side of the glass, it will sink and create a sunrise effect. 4. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. 5. Serve and enjoy!
Puntini Martini	– 2 oz vodka – 1/2 oz dry vermouth – Green olive for garnish	1. Fill a mixing glass with ice. 2. Pour in the vodka and dry vermouth. 3. Stir well until chilled. 4. Strain into a chilled martini glass. 5. Garnish with a green olive. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Triple Jump Tequila Smash	– 2 oz tequila – 3/4 oz lemon juice – 1/2 oz simple syrup – Fresh mint leaves – Lemon slice for garnish	1. In a shaker, muddle the mint leaves with the lemon juice and simple syrup. 2. Add the tequila and fill the shaker with ice. 3. Shake well until chilled. 4. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. 5. Garnish with a lemon slice. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Volleyball Vodka Lemonade	– 1 1/2 oz vodka – 3 oz lemonade – Splash of club soda – Lemon wheel for garnish	1. Fill a glass with ice. 2. Pour the vodka and lemonade over the ice. 3. Top with a splash of club soda. 4. Stir gently to combine. 5. Garnish with a lemon wheel. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Bowling Alley Bourbon Smash	– 2 oz bourbon – 3/4 oz lemon juice – 1/2 oz simple syrup – Fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries) – Mint sprig for garnish	1. In a shaker, muddle the fresh berries with the lemon juice and simple syrup. 2. Add the bourbon and fill the shaker with ice. 3. Shake well until chilled. 4. Strain into a glass filled with crushed ice. 5. Garnish with a mint sprig. 6. Serve and enjoy!

Punny Football-Themed Cocktails

Cocktail Name	Ingredients	Directions
End Zone Zinger	– 2 oz bourbon – 1 oz lemon juice – 1/2 oz honey syrup – 1/2 oz ginger liqueur – Ginger beer – Lemon twist for garnish	1. Fill a shaker with ice. 2. Add bourbon, lemon juice, honey syrup, and ginger liqueur to the shaker. 3. Shake well. 4. Strain into a glass filled with ice. 5. Top with ginger beer. 6. Garnish with a lemon twist. 7. Serve and enjoy!
Gridiron Grog	– 1 1/2 oz spiced rum – 1/2 oz coconut rum – 2 oz pineapple juice – 1 oz orange juice – 1/2 oz grenadine – Pineapple slice and cherry for garnish	1. Fill a glass with ice. 2. Pour spiced rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, and orange juice into the glass. 3. Stir gently. 4. Slowly pour grenadine down the side of the glass. 5. Garnish with a pineapple slice and cherry. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Pigskin Punch	– 2 oz bourbon – 1 oz apple cider – 1/2 oz maple syrup – Dash of bitters – Apple slice for garnish	1. Fill a glass with ice. 2. Pour bourbon, apple cider, maple syrup, and bitters into the glass. 3. Stir well. 4. Garnish with an apple slice. 5. Serve and enjoy!
Touchdown Tequila Sunrise	– 2 oz tequila – 4 oz orange juice – 1/2 oz grenadine – Orange slice and cherry for garnish	1. Fill a glass with ice. 2. Pour tequila and orange juice over the ice and stir well. 3. Slowly pour grenadine down the side of the glass for a sunrise effect. 4. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. 5. Serve and enjoy!
Quarterback Quencher	– 1 1/2 oz vodka – 3/4 oz lime juice – 1/2 oz simple syrup – 4-5 basil leaves – Club soda – Lime wheel for garnish	1. In a shaker, muddle basil leaves with lime juice and simple syrup. 2. Add vodka and fill shaker with ice. 3. Shake well. 4. Strain into a glass filled with ice. 5. Top with club soda. 6. Garnish with a lime wheel. 7. Serve and enjoy!
Blitzed Blueberry Mojito	– 2 oz white rum – 1 oz lime juice – 1/2 oz simple syrup – 6-8 fresh blueberries – Fresh mint leaves – Club soda – Lime wedge and blueberries for garnish	1. In a glass, muddle blueberries and mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup. 2. Fill the glass with ice. 3. Add white rum and stir well. 4. Top with club soda. 5. Garnish with a lime wedge and blueberries. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Hail Mary Martini	– 2 oz vodka – 1/2 oz dry vermouth – 1/2 oz olive brine – Green olive for garnish	1. Fill a mixing glass with ice. 2. Add vodka, dry vermouth, and olive brine. 3. Stir well until chilled. 4. Strain into a chilled martini glass. 5. Garnish with a green olive. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Spirited Scrimmage	– 1 1/2 oz gin – 1 oz lemon juice – 1/2 oz honey syrup – 3-4 dashes of aromatic bitters – Lemon twist for garnish	1. Fill a shaker with ice. 2. Add gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, and bitters to the shaker. 3. Shake well. 4. Strain into a glass filled with ice. 5. Garnish with a lemon twist. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Puntini Punch	– 2 oz rum – 1 oz coconut cream – 3 oz pineapple juice – 1 oz orange juice – Pineapple slice and cherry for garnish	1. Fill a blender with ice. 2. Add rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice, and orange juice to the blender. 3. Blend until smooth. 4. Pour into a glass. 5. Garnish with a pineapple slice and cherry. 6. Serve and enjoy!
Endzone Elixir	– 2 oz bourbon – 1/2 oz lemon juice – 1/2 oz simple syrup – 2 dashes of Angostura bitters – Lemon twist for garnish	1. Fill a shaker with ice. 2. Add bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters to the shaker. 3. Shake well. 4. Strain into a glass filled with ice. 5. Garnish with a lemon twist. 6. Serve and enjoy!

Bar Station Set-Up:

Now that you’ve got your craft beer and cocktails sorted, it’s time to set up a drink bar that’ll wow your guests. Start by stocking up on ice, glasses, and a variety of spirits, mixers, and garnishes like – olives, limes, cherries, oranges and so-on. Add themed signage around the bar station to tie in your sports-themed decor.

No game day celebration would be complete without a Bloody Mary bar! This classic cocktail is a crowd favorite, offering a savory blend of tomato juice, vodka, and spices. Set up an area on the station with all the fixings – think celery sticks, pickles, olives, hot sauce, and even bacon strips for the ultimate garnish. Let your guests get creative and build their own Bloody Mary masterpieces.

Don’t forget to include a selection of DIY rim salts options for your cocktails. Which, if you are extra like me, can double as a take home gift for your friends. Here are some fun rim salt recipes to try:

Rim Salt Recipes

Rim Salt Recipe	Ingredients	Directions
Spicy Citrus Salt	– 1/4 cup coarse sea salt – Zest of 1 lime and 1 lemon – 1/2 tsp chili powder	1. Combine Sea salt, lime zest, lemon zest, and chili powder in a small bowl. 2. Mix well until fully combined. 3. Spread mixture on a plate in an even layer. 4. Wet the rim of a glass with a lime or lemon wedge, then dip into the salt mixture to coat.
Sweet & Smoky Salt	– 1/4 cup coarse sea salt – 1 tbsp smoked paprika – 1 tbsp brown sugar	1. In a small bowl, mix sea salt, smoked paprika, and brown sugar until well combined. 2. Spread the mixture evenly on a plate. 3. Moisten the rim of a glass with water or citrus juice. 4. Dip the rim of the glass into the salt mixture to coat.
Zesty Margarita Salt	– 1/4 cup coarse sea salt – Zest of 1 lime and 1 orange – 1 tbsp chili powder	1. Combine Sea salt, lime zest, orange zest, and chili powder in a small bowl. 2. Mix thoroughly until evenly distributed. 3. Spread the mixture on a plate. 4. Wet the rim of a glass with lime juice, then dip into the salt mixture to coat.
Coconut Lime Salt	– 1/4 cup coarse sea salt – Zest of 1 lime – 2 tbsp shredded coconut (toasted if desired)	1. In a bowl, mix sea salt, lime zest, and shredded coconut until combined. 2. Spread the mixture on a plate. 3. Moisten the rim of a glass with lime juice. 4. Dip the rim of the glass into the salt mixture to coat.
Cinnamon Sugar Salt	– 1/4 cup coarse sea salt – 2 tbsp granulated sugar – 1 tsp ground cinnamon	1. Combine Sea salt, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. 2. Mix well until thoroughly combined. 3. Spread the mixture on a plate. 4. Wet the rim of a glass with water or simple syrup. 5. Dip the rim of the glass into the salt mixture to coat.

When it comes to fun celebrations, there’s no better place to be than at a sports-themed party. So, raise a glass, cheers to victory – and may the best team win! Remember, drink responsibly and always designate a sober driver if you’re planning to indulge in alcoholic beverages. Let’s keep the party fun and safe for everyone involved.

Cheers,

Anna

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