Evening Edge
What’s For Dinner?
The big draft
Beer for your brackets
Western beers page
- Whiner's Circle Blog: If your favorite beer was unfairly overlooked, talk about it here
What are you drinking as you watch the college basketball tournaments? Just for fun, we've matched up a Draft 16 of tasty American craft beers in a mock tournament.
In round 1, we'll let you vote for your favorite among the Eastern and Western division beers. Check back on April 3, and we'll open voting on the Bottled Four, the two tops in the two divisions. And that's how you'll choose the champion brew.
--Bob Townsend, for Evening Edge
Bob Townsend is beer columnist for the AJC and editor of Southern Brew News, a bimonthly beer publication distributed throughout the Southeast. E-mail him at btowns@bellsouth.net.
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Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif. A pioneering American craft brew, with fragrant hops and a bright, spicy flavor. RateBeer rating: 3.61; Beer Advocate rating: 4.05 |
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Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale Oskar Blues Brewery, Lyons, Colo. America's first hand-canned craft beer is big and bold with a profusion of hops balanced by sweet malt. RateBeer rating: 3.61; Beer Advocate rating: 3.75 |
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Anchor Steam Anchor Brewing Co., San Francisco A beer that defines the "steam" brewing style, its amber color and creamy head announce a hearty, flavorful ale. RateBeer rating: 3.32. Beer Advocate rating: 3.83. |
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Rogue Dead Guy Ale Rogue Ales, Newport, Ore. A Northwestern ale makers take on German-style Maibock, with a rich, chocolaty malt aroma and flavor. RateBeer rating: 3.47; Beer Advocate rating: 3.94. |
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Great Divide Titan IPA Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver Pine and citrus aromas abound among malty sweetness in this Colorado hop head favorite. RateBeer rating: 3.81; Beer Advocate rating: 4.20. |
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Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager Flying Dog Brewery, Denver This ale/lager hybrid is a Colorado cousin to Anchor Steam, with amber color and malty flavor. RateBeer rating: 3.01; Beer Advocate rating: 3.40 |
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North Coast Red Seal Ale North Coast Brewing Co., Mendocino, Calif. A copper-red pale ale with a full-bodied malt presence and a spicy finish. RateBeer rating: 3.50; Beer Advocate rating: 3.92. |
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Avery White Rascal Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, Colo. Another American take on Belgian wheat beer, with refreshing citrus aromas and flavors. RateBeer rating: 3.22; Beer Advocate rating: 3.70. |
| Western bracket: Choose the champion among these beers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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- See the Eastern Beer Bracket preview and poll
- Whiner's Circle Blog: If your favorite beer was unfairly overlooked, talk about it here
- • Game-watching recipes and takeout, EveningEdge.com
- • NCAA Tournament coverage, ajc.com
- • Blog: What foods go best with NCAA tourney?, ajc.com
- • Atlanta Sports Bars, accessAtlanta.com
- • Bob Townsend's beer column, ajc.com
JUST FOR FUN
If you made it this far, you are way too serious about beer. Just for fun, you can make your own bracket to print, save or e-mail to your best drinking buddies. (Sorry bar pals, this isn't counted in the championship vote.)