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YOUR CART

9/8/2018 1 Comment

2018 Fantasy Fridge Craft Draft

Last year we did a fantasy draft similar to a Fantasy Football Draft. This year we're back with all new positions to draft in the fridge, and here they are:
  1. WINTERGATER - the beer for tailgating snowy football games. You need to keep yourself warm inside and out if you plan on tailgating in the north.
  2. THE ANTI-PUMPKIN - the beer you’d rather drink than pumpkins or after you get sick of pumpkin beers
  3. THE SNEAKER - What beer would you sneak into a theater...or really anywhere that doesn't have alcohol
  4. THE LAZY SPORTSMAN - which beer do you take bowling, fishing, or to play darts
  5. MR. PRETENTIOUS - The most pretentious beer you’re willing to drink OR the beer you'd serve to pretentious friends and guests
  6. FLEX - anything you want/need to round out your Fridge
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WINTERGATER
Founder's Sumatra Mountain Brown -  A great beer to have in the cold of winter, and one that will keep you going for quite some time. 

THE ANTI-PUMPKIN
Cococino by Hitchhiker - With the rise of pumpkin beers in the last decade, flavorful beers are a bit of an expectation during the fall season. The Cococino fills that role nicely with the flavors of chocolate, coconut and coffee.  This combination eases you from the bright flavors of summer to the hearty flavors of fall and winter with aplomb.  And not a pumpkin in site.

THE SNEAKER
Any hazy IPA by Dancing Gnome - It's simple, people.  Just take your hazy crazy and put it in a pineapple juice bottle before you head out.  No one will know the difference.

THE LAZY SPORTSMAN
Summer Kolsch by Alaskan Brewing - The Summer Kolsch is a very versatile beer that works in several situations, including the recreation sports of the lazy.  With an easy drinking feel, and a the approach-ability to have a few during the game, the Summer Kolsch is the utility play that we all need.

MR. PRETENTIOUS
Abjuration Vanilla Oak Belgian Ale V1.0
- This pick is not a knock on Abjuration Brewing, or the Vanilla Oak Belgian Ale.  The pretentiousness comes from those that seek it out, the ones that yearn for exclusivity, and having what others can't.  With Abjuration's policy of only making any version of their recipe's only once, the exclusivity for this beer is unmatched. And it's really really good.

FLEX
Trappist Rochefort 10
- You want Tom Brady? You've got Tom Brady.  The Belgian brute is tough to beat, so you've got to have this Belgian Quad on your team if you have any hops of winning.

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WINTERGATER
Lakefront Brandy Barrel-Aged Spiced Winter Lager
will definitely warm your insides on a snowy December. Really boozy which is especially helpful if you're a Buffalo or Cleveland fan. Once you get inside the stadium you can taper off with the sobering reminder of $16 for macro horse piss.

THE ANTI-PUMPKIN
O'Fallon Hemp Hop Rye Amber
is a drinkable red amber, so it's good as just a fall beer. But as pumpkin is just a gimmick, this maintains the gimmick aspect of including hemp in the recipe without being as harsh as The Hemperor. Try it out.

THE SNEAKER
Left Hand Good Juju
because not only is it a good ginger beer on its own, but I would totally try to make some Moscow mules, whiskey bucks and Jamesons and gingers with it in the theater or at a dry wedding.

THE LAZY SPORTSMAN
Sierra Nevada Otra Vez
keeps you hydrated and competitive. The 4.5% ABV means you can keep going longer than the competition. It's like Gatorade but not as sweet.

MR. PRETENTIOUS
Hitachino Nest New Year Commemorative Ale 2014
from Kiuchi Brewery. If you listened to the podcast episode, you heard Adam and I had picked the same beer. So I felt the need to pick something else.  This beer hits a lot of those same pretentiousness notes we talked about. Snobs love to argue verticals and I picked the 2014 version simply because I had this year and actually liked it. Also it's an import. Snobs and pseudo-intellects love imports, but we don't get a lot of Japanese imports on the East Coast outside of Kirin and Sapporo.

FLEX
Epic Brewing's Triple Barrel Big Bad Baptist
; you can call me a pastryboi if you want. I'll die before I refuse this 13% barrel aged coconut stout. And considering the amount of sugars and calories, it shouldn't be too long.

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WINTERGATER
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold

ANTI-PUMPKIN
Penn Brewery Oktoberfest
Odell Brewing Oktoberfest

THE SNEAKER
DuClaw Sweet Baby Jesus

LAZY SPORTSMAN
Founders All Day IPA 

MR. PRETENTIOUS
Brouwerij De Sint-Sixtusabdij van Westvleteren XII

FLEX
Spoonwood Cold Drip City

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WINTERGATER:  Dark Gose
- Pittsburgh Local:  Hitchhiker - Frequency Pattern
- National: Lagunitas - Dark Swan

ANTI-PUMPKIN:  Nut or Caramel Brown Ale
- Local:  East End - Fat Gary's Nut Brown Ale
- National:  Duclaw - Dirty Little Freak

THE SNEAKER:  Lager (so if I get caught and have to dispose of it or chug it, I won't be too upset)
- Local:  Pizza Boy - Swinglebeer - Pineapple Lager
- National:  Kona - Longboard Lager

THE LAZY SPORTSMAN:  Session IPA's (can't get too drunk for sports)
- Local:  Fat Heads - Sunshine Daydream
- National:  Founder's All Day IPA

MR. PRETENTIOUS:  Bourbon Barrel-Aged Beers
- Local:  Spoonwood Brewing - Beard of Bees
- National: KBS or CBS

FLEX:
- Local:  Grist House - KABOOM CANDY (any variety would be fine)
- National:  The Alchemist - Heady Topper

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WINTERGATER
Saranac Carmel Porter
 by Saranac Brewery.  As the last leaves fall and the days turn from chilly to bitter cold, it's time to break out the winter beers.  The Steelers playoff picture is shaping up with a few key games left and I start reaching for these sweet malty brews.  An excellent beer to start drinking early for the 1 o'clock games or for the prime time match ups. At 5.4% ABV slurping down a handful of these puppies won't endanger you forgetting the game too much. 

THE ANTI-PUMPKIN
Reaper's Harvest Rye by Helltown Brewing.  Honestly, I like this rye IPA a decent amount but it only made this list because I can not think of another fall beer I have had that isn't a pumpkin beer. 

THE SNEAKER
Endeavour
 by Saint Arnold Brewing.  An excellent DIPA by one of Houston's most prominent craft breweries. The Endeavour is available in cans which makes sneaking it in a bit easier than a bottled beer. A high ABV of 8.9% makes it so you only need to sneak a couple to get you where you need to go. 

THE LAZY SPORTSMAN
Hop Knife by Troegs Independent Brewing.  This delicious citrusy IPA offers a refreshing finish while flexing your beer muscles through all the lazy activities. 

MR. PRETENTIOUS
Oak-Aged Vanilla World Wide Stout by Dogfish Head Brewery.  At a boastful 17.5% ABV and roughly priced at about $11 per 12oz bottle (woah like a dollar per ounce) this is one pretentious "my wort don't stank" beer. This bold and beautiful brew is a beer snob's wet dream while a casual beer drinkers socks would stand no chance.

FLEX
Railbender Ale
 by Erie Brewing Company.  I have yet to meet someone who does not enjoy a Railbender and I refuse to associate with anyone who would bring around that kind of negativity.  This flagship beer of Erie Brewing is fantastic and fits all kinds of occasions. This is a great gateway for people just discovering craft beer while being good enough to keep the veterans coming back time and time again.

Who has the best fridge?
E-mail Your Own Craft Draft at HopNationUSA@gmail.com
You can listen to the 2018 Craft Draft Here on Episode 76
You can listen to the 2017 Craft Draft Here on Episode 27
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