Game day beer picks: Syracuse vs. Clemson

The Syracuse Orange are now 4-0 (!!!), so hopefully you haven’t already plowed through any and all alcohol in the area to celebrate. After all, have to save some for when SU visits the Clemson Tigers (4-0) this weekend.

As you may recall, SU upset Clemson last season, and Orange fans everywhere drank quite a bit as a result. A win’s probably a little less likely this time. And it’s also a noon ET start. But I’m not going to tell you how to live.

No matter when (or if) you’re imbibing before, during or after this game against Clemson, 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.

Clemson Beer Pick: Carolina Bauernhaus Source Series Opuntia

About 18 miles away from Clemson’s campus is Carolina Bauernhaus, serving up a very interesting collection of farmhouse ales and other fruit-forward styles, while also mixing in the typical pale ales, DIPAs, etc. for those that prefer other flavor profiles. Source Series Opuntia won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) last year, earning rave reviews for its flavors derived from locally-sourced ingredients. The saison uses North Carolina rye and pilsner malts, with South Carolina lactobacillus strains and fruit (opuntia, or prickly pear). It’s both sweet and sharp, with a flavor that lingers.

Syracuse Area Beer Pick: Empire Brewing Co. Particle City

If you’ve been a Syracuse local at some point, you’ve probably made it over to Empire Brewing Co.’s downtown location. But on top of that spot is the Cazenovia farm brewery, which creates a cool change of pace while being the largest farm brewery in the state. Particle City’s a double IPA that sees can release but only once per year. The 2018 rollout was in the summer, but there’s still a chance to enjoy this winningly bitter combo of Citra and Mosaic hops — albeit a little bit past when I’d normally drink an IPA, by brew date, anyway.

Los Angeles Area Beer Pick: Boomtown Brewery Nosejob

If you’ve listened to the podcast or read this recurring article recently, you’ve probably seen me bemoan the shift away from traditional West Coast IPAs. But luckily, you can still find some around here, including Boomtown’s Nosejob. The light and bright IPA bursts with sweet citrus notes and is very drinkable (relatively speaking) at 7 percent ABV. There are plenty of other options on draft too (including the popular Mic Czech Pilsner, which is another favorite of mine) if you venture to their Arts District location in L.A. The expansive space has outdoor seating as well for the less-sweltering days.