Game day beer picks: Syracuse vs. Wake Forest

The Syracuse Orange football season did not go as planned, and that’s probably led you to drinking far more than anticipated. Coupled with that, Thanksgiving just wrapped up, and you’re trying to recover from all of the food and terrible dinner conversations. That should make the last game of the year, against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, a tough one to drink for. But we have a feeling you’ll find a way.

Whether you’re at the Dome or are watching this 12:30 p.m. start at home on your local RSN, read below for our beer picks for before, during and after the matchup. You probably won’t be able to acquire at least one of these. Sorry in advance.

Wake Forest Area Beer Pick: Wise Man Body Electric

Wise Man makes some pretty great IPAs, in particular, and John would stack up Body Electric against many of the best beers he’s had all year. Though it’s a hazy New England IPA, it doesn’t just coast on “juiciness.” Rather, the El Dorado, Citra and Mosaic hop combination shows up with enjoyable bitterness on the back end. It’s still a smooth drink. Just one that more resembles West Coast variations of the style in taste — which is a good thing in a sea of similar-ish hazy selections across the U.S.

Syracuse Area Beer Pick: Mortalis Hydra Series

Mortalis is a brewery in Avon, NY. This isn’t in Syracuse, but is of the greater area and I would be completely remiss if they didn’t get a mention in this series. They’re known for the high bar that their product starts at, and the hype is high because of low availability. If you can get your hands on some, it’s 100% worth it. Hydra is their fruited sour series and each variant, or the various heads of the hydra, has been as impressive or more so than the last. Their stouts, Nyx and As Above, So Below are equally impressive, well balanced malt bombs that have some seriously quality barrel aged variants as well. No matter what you’re getting from them, it’s likely to be a treat to your palate. For the final game of the year, you may as well treat yourself.

Los Angeles Area Beer Pick: Burnin Daylight Bubbles

As has been discussed in this space and on the podcast numerous times, pale ales have seemingly been forgotten about in the larger beer market. And yet, they’re arguably a more versatile beer than most. On one end, they can be pleasantly sessionable. On the other, a lighter IPA that still packs a powerful and hoppy punch. Burnin Daylight’s a fairly new spot down in Lomita, but is already seen as a pretty solid local option. Bubbles is a standard American Pale Ale with an emphasis on Mosaic hops. It’s slightly bitter, with light citrus notes and drinks incredibly easily at 5.5%. Basically made for summer day-drinking — or an afternoon watching football.

What are you drinking this weekend?