Game day beer picks: Syracuse vs. NC State

We’ve arrived at yet another football Saturday. And whether you’re optimistic about our chances or not down in Raleigh, your day will likely be accompanied by an alcoholic beverage.

The Syracuse Orange (2-2) face the NC State Wolfpack (3-1) at 12:20 p.m. ET, which probably works for those back East to drink, but not so much myself three hours behind.

So whether you’re imbibing before, during or after Saturday’s game against NC State, see below for three beer picks that are worth your while. You probably won’t be able to acquire at least one of these. Sorry in advance.

NC State Beer Pick: Trophy Brewing Co. Boysenberry Sour

Trophy’s one of many excellent breweries in Raleigh, and is certainly worth a stop if you’re near downtown. While I haven’t had a chance to try their Boysenberry Sour, it’s a top-rated beer and also contains one of my favorite sour adjuncts (boysenberries). It’s a well-balanced ale, creating a nice mix of tart and sweet. There are several quality sour spots in North Carolina, and this is one of the eastern portion of the state’s top forays into the genre.

Syracuse Beer Pick: Empire Brewing Co. Local Grind

After a quick divergence outside of Syracuse last week, we head right back into the city with this week’s pick. Local Grind is a Scotch Wee Heavy brewed with a blend of Guatemalan coffee beans supplied by Cafe Kubal. When you’re done with the strong, dark ale at Empire (and maybe a couple other brews from the Walton Street outfit), you can also walk over to Cafe Kubal for some actual coffee. Or keep drinking beer. That’s cool, too.

Los Angeles-Area Beer Pick: HopSaint Brewing Co. Maximum Chaos

Just like it’s pretty tough for me to get the beers listed above, it’s going to be tough for any of you to get the beers listed in this section each week. But it would be irresponsible to celebrate local beers without highlighting some of the best from the exploding L.A. scene.

Down the street from me, HopSaint opened its doors last year with great food and some excellent beers. I’d loved their stuff when they were brewing at nearby Abigaile in Hermosa Beach, and it’s improved even more since they went out on their own. Maximum Chaos stands out to me as a crisp, clean West Coast IPA in a sea of “hazy” endeavors. The beer’s rotating hop bill keeps it fresh, but you’ll always get some tropical notes up front and some fantastic (in my book) bitterness at the end. They don’t bottle, but if you’re in the area for some reason, grab a 32 oz. growler.

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So what are you drinking? Share your own game day beer picks for the weekend below.