Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

High on Hops: Super Bowl Brewery Showdown

Lee Heidel
By

Full disclaimer: I don’t watch football.

In preparation for this article, I honestly had to fire up an Internet search to find out which teams were playing this year.

Recommended Videos

Much to my happy surprise, the Super Bowl 50 matchup is between not only what I presume are the two best teams in professional football but also two of America’s richest craft beer meccas. So while I can’t wax endlessly about the merits of Cam Newton and Peyton Manning tossing around the ol’ pigskin, I can confidently recommend visiting both Denver and the Carolinas to sate your craft beer appetite.

Related

But in the spirit of Sunday’s Super Bowl competition, which is the better locale for craft beer, Colorado or the Carolinas? Let’s look at how the statistics match up.

Denver’s home state of Colorado has long been a haven for craft beer enthusiasts. According to recent Brewers Association statistics, the state showcases 235 breweries inside its borders. That divides out to 6.1 breweries per every 100,000 drinking age adults. With stalwarts like New Belgium, Oskar Blues and Avery anchoring the craft beer scene, newer breweries like Upslope and Crooked Stave are continuing the rich local tradition. Craft breweries alone are responsible for a nearly $3 billion annual economic boost to the state economy. That number will surely continue to increase as the Colorado craft beer industry has seen an 86% surge in the number of breweries over the last four years.

Related Post: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp 2016

While South Carolina is experiencing a more recent boom in the craft beer scene, North Carolina’s Asheville is frequently in the discussion for the honorary title of “Craft Beer City, USA.” The two states combine for 132 breweries and an annual economic impact of over $1.6 billion according to Brewers Association data. Both states are on the rise, with a 76% brewery growth rate over the last four years. Standout homegrown facilities like Mount Pleasant’s Westbrook and Asheville’s Wicked Weed and Highland are creating innovative, sought after beer that keeps these states in the best-of ranks. Out-of-state breweries are also seeing the area’s potential and expanding here. Recently, Colorado’s Oskar Blues and New Belgium have joined Sierra Nevada by opening second facilities in the Carolinas.

While the home of the Panthers definitely racks up points for the quality and uniqueness of its output, the Broncos state has more breweries, production and economic impact on game day, enough to overwhelm this stiff competition.

Congrats to Colorado for winning the 2016 Super Bowl of craft brewing. The Carolinas fought hard, and their continued growth makes this a rivalry to keep watching and enjoying in the future.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Lee Heidel
Lee Heidel
Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…
5 Fresh Hop Beers to Drink Right Now
Hopworks Fresh Hop Abominable Winter Ale

September is easily one of the best months of the year to drink beer. The weather is still good enough for a cooler in the backyard, festivals like Oktoberfest commence (although a little differently this year), and hops fresh off the farm make their way into some remarkable brews.

It's the time of year when hops are pulled from towering rows in places like Yakima, Washington and the Willamette Valley in Oregon and sent fresh to eager breweries all over the country. Many of the resulting beers are one-offs and draft only, so you're encouraged to explore your local producers to see what's available. Many, though, are bottled and canned and sent all over the place for your enjoyment and convenience.

Read more
A Look at Indigenous Breweries in North America
north american indigenous breweries bow and arrow

Equity has no borders, so it was only a matter of time for it to arrive at food and drink. While there’s still a long way to go, there have been some significant gains for BIPOC players in the sectors of eateries, wineries, distilleries, and more.
We’ve seen indigenous communities launch successful brands in places like British Columbia and New Zealand. Native peoples are now doing the same in beer, starting up labels all over America. There are relatively few, to be sure, but the movement is a vital one, injecting some due justice in an arena that’s been fairly one-sided for a long, long time.
Here are some ale-making companies owned and operated by indigenous communities that are worth keeping in mind next time your thirsting for a cold one (or two).

Bow & Arrow Brewing Company

Read more
Oskar Blues Brewery Releases French’s Mustard Beer
oskar blues frenchs mustard beer pr select 2

Mustard and beer is a great combination, but usually we're talking mustard used as a condiment on a sausage or pretzel alongside a pint. Colorado's Oskar Blues Brewery has taken this pairing to a whole new level with a new collaboration with French's Mustard, appropriately called French’s Mustard Beer. It's a tropical wheat beer that is literally brewed with French’s Classic Yellow Mustard, along with an infusion of fruit and citrus flavors including key lime, lemon, tangerine, and passion fruit. “We’re stoked on bold flavors at Oskar Blues Brewery and we never shy away from a challenge,” said Oskar Blues head brewer, Juice Drapeau, in a prepared statement. “With French’s Mustard Beer we elevated the Classic Yellow Mustard flavor with tangy lemon and lime to create a tropical wheat ale I’d pair with a loaded hot dog on the hottest day of the year.”

This isn't the first food crossover for French's, known for its bright yellow mustard that is ubiquitous at backyard barbecues around the country. Last year, the brand collaborated with Coolhaus to release a mustard ice cream that was available in New York and California for a limited time alongside a pretzel cookie. And Oskar Blues is no stranger to brewing uniquely flavored beer, as indicated by its "Death By" series of brews with such flavors as king cake, coconut, and even affogato.

Read more