Well we finally made it. Super Bowl XLIX. Patriots. Seahawks. So rarely do the number one teams in each league make it to the championship game, regardless of the sport. According to Nate Silver of Five Thirty Eight, this matchup is the second best ever, only behind 1978 Dallas-Pittsburgh Super Bowl XIII. That game saw two powerhouses score over 30 points each, and Terry Bradshaw winning MVP and his third Super Bowl title. (tied with a certain number 12) However, Silver still thinks it could be the most boring Super Bowl of all time. I'll finish this post with my final prediction but I absolutely disagree with this.
Being a pseudo-national holiday (wouldn't it be great to get tomorrow off?) I figured it would be great for a brief commentary about the Super Bowl party, and naturally the beer selection. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will eat 1.25 billion chicken wings today, and spend approximately $14.31B. Commercials for fans of 30 teams will be the main focus, and I've found during parties typically the quietest part (even when my team has played) is during the commercials. Water-cooler gossip will center around the best commercial rather than the game. Usually, it comes down to the Anheuser-Busch with the Clydesdales,
Doritos with a viewer created commercial, Go-Daddy with Danica Patrick, or some crazy Bud Light star-studded commercial. I heard that Newcastle will be promoting a small brand as well, and brought on Aubrey Plaza (Parks & Rec) as their dead-pan spokesperson. Should be interesting.
But as diehard Patriots fan, I am much more focused on the game. What do I think will happen? Let's wait another paragraph or two-this is a beer blog after all and I've managed to ramble without discussing it yet.
For today, I want to look back at the article I wrote last June, entitled Why Craft Beer? A Discussion About Price. I discussed how there was a pyramid of beer drinkers, where people start out with cheap beer like Pabst, Bud and Coors. Eventually, people's tastes evolve up to slightly higher priced beers by big beer companies, like Blue Moon and Shock Top. Eventually, varieties like Harpoon and Sam Adams ease people into the craft beer world, before they go after true craft breweries. In my final stage, I discuss fanatics who seek out rare selections from breweries near and far.
After writing this article, I received many calls, texts and comments on the web about a flaw in my system. People told me that there are times and places for beers to be consumed, and that just because someone is a level 5 (according to my scale) is doesn't mean that you cannot enjoy a level 1 or 2 beer for the right occasion. I'll point out I did say:
"The first level is the base of the pyramid, and almost everyone started in this level. It represents those who buy only the cheapest beers available, either because they have a certain income level or just want to drink for the alcohol. It is much more economic for a family BBQ, holiday party, or frat party to buy the cheapest beer available."
I agree that there is a time and a place for any type of beer. For the Super Bowl, I like to drink the cheaper pilsners, not because I have been brainwashed by the $3M 30 second commercials, but because they are lighter in alcohol and you can have several over the course of the afternoon/evening. To try and drink a few Bourbon County Stouts during the Super Bowl would not be a good idea...
As I do every year since my first year in college, I am hosting a Super Bowl party for all of my fellow Patriots fans. What beer did I buy? Coors Light. Yes that's right. I want to buy something made in America (yes they are Canadian owned but it's brewed in Golden, CO). Something that everyone will drink and naturally something that will not break the bank. If you are having only 1 beer during the game, go ahead and spring for a nice beer. If you're having more than that (as most Americans will) go for an American brewed pilsner. As I said there is a time and a place for everything. I'll let my inner beer snob go away today.
Now for the really fun stuff. How do I think this game will play out? Both teams are strong. Very strong actually. And they both have quarterbacks that are incredibly smart. Seattle for the second year in a row led the league in fewest points and yards allowed, something that had not been done since the Bears in 85-86. Very impressive. If you had asked me the prediction before the conference championship weekend started, I would have guessed Seahawks would win by 3. After watching both the Patriots domination over the Colts and Russell Wilson's struggles vs. Green Bay, I am changing my mind. I see Revis shutting down the Seahawks receivers, and forcing Wilson and Lynch to focus solely on a ground attack. I see Collins forcing a fumble, and Revis or Arrington having a pick. I think Brady will throw for 2 TDs, one to Gronk and the other to Edelman, and Blount with a rushing TD. I think Seattle will struggle on offense, and probably only put up 1 TD with a few field goals. Brady will be named MVP, and will go into the record books as the best playoff QB of all time with his 4th Super Bowl victory. Could it happen? Absolutely. Will it? We'll have to watch.
GO PATS!
Patriots 24-Seahawks 13
Being a pseudo-national holiday (wouldn't it be great to get tomorrow off?) I figured it would be great for a brief commentary about the Super Bowl party, and naturally the beer selection. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will eat 1.25 billion chicken wings today, and spend approximately $14.31B. Commercials for fans of 30 teams will be the main focus, and I've found during parties typically the quietest part (even when my team has played) is during the commercials. Water-cooler gossip will center around the best commercial rather than the game. Usually, it comes down to the Anheuser-Busch with the Clydesdales,
Doritos with a viewer created commercial, Go-Daddy with Danica Patrick, or some crazy Bud Light star-studded commercial. I heard that Newcastle will be promoting a small brand as well, and brought on Aubrey Plaza (Parks & Rec) as their dead-pan spokesperson. Should be interesting.
But as diehard Patriots fan, I am much more focused on the game. What do I think will happen? Let's wait another paragraph or two-this is a beer blog after all and I've managed to ramble without discussing it yet.
For today, I want to look back at the article I wrote last June, entitled Why Craft Beer? A Discussion About Price. I discussed how there was a pyramid of beer drinkers, where people start out with cheap beer like Pabst, Bud and Coors. Eventually, people's tastes evolve up to slightly higher priced beers by big beer companies, like Blue Moon and Shock Top. Eventually, varieties like Harpoon and Sam Adams ease people into the craft beer world, before they go after true craft breweries. In my final stage, I discuss fanatics who seek out rare selections from breweries near and far.
After writing this article, I received many calls, texts and comments on the web about a flaw in my system. People told me that there are times and places for beers to be consumed, and that just because someone is a level 5 (according to my scale) is doesn't mean that you cannot enjoy a level 1 or 2 beer for the right occasion. I'll point out I did say:
"The first level is the base of the pyramid, and almost everyone started in this level. It represents those who buy only the cheapest beers available, either because they have a certain income level or just want to drink for the alcohol. It is much more economic for a family BBQ, holiday party, or frat party to buy the cheapest beer available."
I agree that there is a time and a place for any type of beer. For the Super Bowl, I like to drink the cheaper pilsners, not because I have been brainwashed by the $3M 30 second commercials, but because they are lighter in alcohol and you can have several over the course of the afternoon/evening. To try and drink a few Bourbon County Stouts during the Super Bowl would not be a good idea...
As I do every year since my first year in college, I am hosting a Super Bowl party for all of my fellow Patriots fans. What beer did I buy? Coors Light. Yes that's right. I want to buy something made in America (yes they are Canadian owned but it's brewed in Golden, CO). Something that everyone will drink and naturally something that will not break the bank. If you are having only 1 beer during the game, go ahead and spring for a nice beer. If you're having more than that (as most Americans will) go for an American brewed pilsner. As I said there is a time and a place for everything. I'll let my inner beer snob go away today.
Now for the really fun stuff. How do I think this game will play out? Both teams are strong. Very strong actually. And they both have quarterbacks that are incredibly smart. Seattle for the second year in a row led the league in fewest points and yards allowed, something that had not been done since the Bears in 85-86. Very impressive. If you had asked me the prediction before the conference championship weekend started, I would have guessed Seahawks would win by 3. After watching both the Patriots domination over the Colts and Russell Wilson's struggles vs. Green Bay, I am changing my mind. I see Revis shutting down the Seahawks receivers, and forcing Wilson and Lynch to focus solely on a ground attack. I see Collins forcing a fumble, and Revis or Arrington having a pick. I think Brady will throw for 2 TDs, one to Gronk and the other to Edelman, and Blount with a rushing TD. I think Seattle will struggle on offense, and probably only put up 1 TD with a few field goals. Brady will be named MVP, and will go into the record books as the best playoff QB of all time with his 4th Super Bowl victory. Could it happen? Absolutely. Will it? We'll have to watch.
GO PATS!
Patriots 24-Seahawks 13
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