Your Fantasy Football lineup is complete, beers are cooling in the fridge, and you’re sporting your chosen team’s jersey. It can only mean one thing – football season is in full force! But, this year, you have decided to kick up your game celebrations a notch. Your home theater is all decked out in Seatcraft Home Theater Seating, your flat screen is mounted and ready for your viewing pleasure, but what is missing? Only the most important factor to any party -the food and the beer! Your friends are already on their way over so don’t fumble on game day! This is where we come in; we have the best of the best when it comes to new recipes to wow your friends as well as the best beers to pair with your eats. Head for the end zone and make it a party your pals won’t forget!
Nachos
Oh yes, the classic snack that brings all of our favorite flavors together. You have meaty, cheesy, salty, and sometimes spicy flavors come together to create a sensational party inside of your mouth. Everyone knows that beer is amazing with nachos, but what kind is the best pairing?
Image courtesy of myrecipes.com
Since we do have all of these flavors coming together inside the dish, you will want a beer that is a bit sweet, but contains enough body to work with all the salt you’re consuming. Amber Ale would be the best counterpart to nachos, more specifically El Rojo Amber Ale, or Flat Tire Amber Ale. They will give you enough contrast to make you fall in love with the amazing flavor. Want to take your nachos to the next level? Try this recipe for Slow Cooker Beef Nachos! You’ll thank us later.
Chili
The perfect meaty dish has become essential for any football party. It’s savory, sometimes spicy, smoky, and just brings the comfort of home into your stomach. So, what beer can possibly be good enough to keep up with these amazing flavors?
Image courtesy of myrecipes.com
In order to pair with chili, the beer needs to be rich, malty, and smoky. It will supply you with as much warmth as you would desire from a drink. The best selection for you would either be Bloktoberfest from Atwater Brewing, or Sam Adam’s Boston Lager. Salivating yet? To upgrade your typical chili, try this recipe for Super Quick Chili! Not only is it quick and easy, it is also delicious.
Chicken Wings
How could you not have this quintessential game day food? You can have it any way you desire, but we all know that if it’s spicy, it’s better. Instead of grabbing a glass of water for relief from the spice, grab a cold one!
Image courtesy of Southern Living
Your beer of choice has to have the proper flavor and composition to complement the spice within the wings, or else your mouth will be perpetually on fire. We recommend a beer that is nice and refreshing, like American Pale Ale, or Bass Pale Ale. More likely than not, any sort of Pale Ale will be the perfect choice. Now, you just need to wow your guests with the recipe for Angela’s Spice Buffalo Wings! They are sure to “turn up the heat” for any party.
Pizza
If it has bread, cheese, and sauce, then it’s perfect for football. Pizza and beer have gone together like peanut butter and jelly for an unthinkable number of years, but have you been choosing the proper beer for your food, or just a kind you think would be good?
Image courtesy of Men’s Health
We’ll let you in on a little secret: you want to look for a beer with IPA next to it. That’s right, Indian Pale Ale goes perfectly with pizza! The best brands would be Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, or North Peak Diabolical IPA. Ideally, if it has hops and a hint of caramel sweetness, it will enhance your pizza’s flavor and make the meal complete. Peel yourself away from the typical delivery or frozen pizza and try making your own with this recipe for Pizza Bagel Bites! They’re bite-sized, fresh, and taste so much better than any other pizza you’ve had.
Hot Dogs
Chances are, you’ve eaten more hot dogs while watching sports than at any other event in your life. Who could blame you? They’re one of America’s classics! However, it’s also difficult to find the perfect beer to pair with it without the drink being overpowered by the hot dog’s strong flavors.
Image courtesy of Men’s Health
Ideally, you want to find a beer that has rich, malt flavors, some spice, and a hint of fruity flavors. It may sound like a strange combination, but it is wonderful! A strong contender would be Bell’s Best Brown Ale, but we love Belgian-Style Dubbel the best. We know you know how to work a grill to cook up some amazing hot dogs, but maybe you would like some tips on how to upgrade them with this guide. Go wild with your flavors!
Dessert
Most people don’t put dessert into consideration when planning their football party, but we demand it! There needs to be some sweetness in the menu, or else your guests will fall into a meat-and-carb-loaded coma. When you do decide on the perfect dessert to end the night with, you have to consider your beer pairing too! If you didn’t know already, beer actually tastes amazing when paired with chocolate. When choosing your beer, it is best to go with a Dry or Irish Stout.
Image courtesy of Food Network
The bitterness in the beer with contrast with the dessert’s sweetness, and the stout will cleanse your palate for the next bite. It lets you have the perfect first bite, each bite. We select Left Hand Brewing Co. Milk Stout Nitro as our dessert beer of choice. It tastes great! If you need ideas for an amazing dessert to serve, try Ree’s Knock You Naked Brownies! It will be a recipe you make over and over again!
Now that you have the amazing food and their ideal beer pairings, it’s time to huddle and get the party started! If you still need to upgrade your home theater, check out 4seating.com and the fantastic selections on home theater seating. We recommend checking out Seatcraft Multimedia Sofas, especially ones with refreshment consoles to keep your beers cold, and trays to place your food upon. They will make your season fun, comfortable, and organized. Enjoy your new and improved football season!
