PAC-12 Pints: UCLA Football and Seattle Brews, a match made in heaven

With the UCLA Football program headed to Seattle to take on the Huskies, what are three beers you just have to try for your tailgate down here in Southern California.

If you haven’t gotten the chance to read this game week’s edition of Go Joe Bruin Predicts the game make sure you head over to see what all of the writers here at GJB think about our chances to win this game. Now have you gone and read it? Okay so we didn’t exactly give favorable odds to the UCLA Football Bruins.

Last week we didn’t believe that the Bruins could knock off the Ducks so maybe it’s a good luck charm. But if you still need a couple of delicious brews to help steady your nerves for a game in Seattle here are a few from the Emerald city that you can find here in SoCal.

Now for you hard core craft beer lovers out there I understand that a couple of these might not meet your craft beer qualifications but for the sake of the article we aren’t going to draw a million lines in the sand.

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Fremont Brewing has recently become a go to brewery for craft beer lovers here in SoCal. They produce a number of styles but tend to lean towards the hop heavy profiles. The Pacific Northwest is famous for it’s amazing hop varietals so it only makes sense that we should go with one of their great IPAs. Lush IPA is full of tropical flavors from the Mosaic and Citra hops.That flavor profile is perfectly balanced out with a malt backbone that doesn’t over power the hops but doesn’t let this become a hop bomb.

That type of combination is very Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman -esque. Those two compliment one another with Gaskin providing the big, electrifying plays while Coleman keeps the run game grounded, providing a strong base for the two. A scary thought for the UCLA Football defense.

It’s Fall even thought it might not feel anything like it. What kind of beers do we typically drink in Fall? Darker, roastier, heartier beers are typically the styles we turn to as the weather turns cooler. You can also begin to see the seasonal pumpkin beers pop up on shelves. That’s why this next beer is not only a unique option to have but is guaranteed to be a crowdpleaser as well.

Elysian Brewing is another big name in the Seattle craft beer scene and their Punkuccino is a seasonal release that fans of the brewery always look for during the Fall. A pumpkin ale with a dash of local coffee. The result is a roasty, spiced, pumpkin ale with a touch of sweetness that drinks like almost like a strong pumpkin flavored coffee without any bitterness that can accompany coffee drinks. Those coffee notes are a lot like WR Dante Pettis. A smooth runner in the open field, he has a little jolt to his foot speed like a shot of espresso.

For our last beer we are returning to Fremont Brewing for their limited but incredibly sought after Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star. Dark Star is an oatmeal stout. Stouts have a deeper, heavier mouthfeel that can be accompanied by roasty qualities and notes of chocolate. When you add oats to it you give the beer a more silky mouthfeel. Now combine that with some bourbon barrels and you’ve got a winning combination. The result is a smooth, roasty, deep beer that packs a punch. Much like DL Vita Vea who has surprising athleticism for a such a big man. He can either get by you with smooth moves or he can overpower you with sheer power.

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No matter your style of beer, the state of Washington has something for you. With what is available in such a tight area it’s no wonder Seattle is a major destination for craft beer drinkers. So head out to your local craft store, grab some great Seattle beers to share with your friends and hope they go down as easy as the Huskies against your UCLA Football Bruins.