Game day beer picks: Syracuse vs. UConn

The Syracuse Orange are flying high at 3-0 on the season, and with former Big East friend neighbor acquaintance the Connecticut Huskies coming to town, there’s a strong possibility SU’s 4-0 at the end of the weekend.

That’s... scary, but mostly exciting. And what better way to celebrate such a fact than by consuming some high-quality beverages? A 4 p.m. ET kickoff at the Carrier Dome helps facilitate this better than most games so far, too.

No matter when (or if) you’re imbibing before, during or after this game against UConn, see below for beer picks that are worth your while. You probably won’t be able to acquire at least one of these. Sorry in advance.

Connecticut Beer Pick: Milk, from cows Black Pond Brews Machu Picchu

If you can believe it, there are towns “near” Storrs. One of them (40 minutes out) is Danielson, Conn. which is home to the adventurous Black Pond Brews. They approach a variety of different styles, and in may cases, put their own spin on it — from California Commons, to IPAs, brown ales and more. The Machu Picchu is a Saison, but with jalapenos and corn, resulting in a spicy take on the Belgian style that doesn’t overpower despite an easy ability for it to potentially do so in less expert hands.

Syracuse Area Beer Pick: Galaxy Brewing St. Susan Ale

No, not “Syracuse,” but since we had to travel 40 minutes for UConn’s beer, why not Syracuse’s too? Binghamton’s Galaxy Brewing Co. sees its beer on draft in the Syracuse area, and while you’re probably most familiar with Andromeda IPA, we also covered that one last year. This time around, it’s St. Susan Ale, a pale ale inspired by the Belgian Patersbier/table beer tradition and also featuring yeast from one of the famed Trappist monasteries. This style’s been a recent favorite of mine in that it’s a no-frills approach to a flavorful ale (or lager) that is infinitely repeatable.

Los Angeles Area Beer Pick: Monkish Brewing Co. Fruit Cart

It’s too easy to pick one of Monkish’s IPAs, so I opted for a selection from their sour program — which is incredibly underrated while existing in the shadow of the #Haze operation that gets all of the hype. Fruit Cart has only been produced a few times, but each batch is a winner. It’s a tart saison aged in French oak barrels with house cultures of wild yeast and souring bacteria. The fruit in the “cart?” Boysenberries, blackberries and cherries. It’s very red and has a sweetness to it, but that’s cut considerably by the bitterness of the aforementioned fruits. Far from a tailgate beer, it’s one to relax with and sip as new notes reveal itself over the course of the bottle.