The Best Beers for Super Bowl LIX

1. Deschutes Brewery The Abyss

Origin: Bend, Oregon
Beer type: Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Price: $21.00 for 22 oz
ABV: 11%
Brewed by: Deschutes Brewery

At this time of year most of the country is bundled up for the cold winter, and this brew will warm up your tastebuds. Brewed with licorice, cherry bark and molasses and aged in a blend of new oak, bourbon and wine barrels, the name is a testament to its pitch-black motor oil hue.

Aromas of vanilla, dark fruits, prune, chocolate and licorice give way to complex flavors of espresso, bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, licorice and rich, sweet maltiness. Released in limited quantities since 2006, this 11% ABV imperial stout is one of the most sought after and highly respected beers in the world. It’s a prime candidate for aging, and a favored pastime for beer connoisseurs and craft beer establishments is to save vintages from year to year and drink them side by side to notice the subtle and not so subtle changes as the beer ages.

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2. Dogfish 60 Minute IPA

Origin: Milton, Delaware
Beer type: Indian Pale Ale
ABV: 6%
Brewed by: Dogfish Head Brewery

Dogfish Head Brewery is known for pushing the boundaries of innovations to the favored IPA style. Brewed using a boatload of intense Northwest hops, Dogfish Head Brewery boils this IPA for a full 60 minutes, adding more than 60 hop additions continuously to create a bold and timeless flavor. 60 Minute IPA is a sessionable IPA for beer enthusiasts.

The beer comes in a beautiful golden amber color with piney and citrus notes. The flavor is moderately bitter with a crisp finish.

Cheese Pairing: Vintage cheddar | Food Pairing: Spicy foods, pesto, grilled salmon, soy-based dishes, pizza

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3. Oskar Blues Double Dale’s Imperial IPA

Origin: Lyons, Colorado
Beer type: Double IPA
Price: $12 for 12 oz six-pack
ABV: 9%
Brewed by: Oskar Blues Brewery

Dale’s Pale Ale, the groundbreaking American Pale Ale holds the distinction of being the first craft beer ever packaged in a can. Double Dale’s Imperial IPA, a double take on the beer that started it all.

Speaking on the nuances of the ale, Oskar Blues Lyons’ Head Brewer Juice Drapeau said, “Double Dale’s captures some of the citrus and caramel character of Dale’s, while achieving its own unique flavor profile and identity.” Double Dale’s is brewed with juicy, tropical El Dorado and complex Talus hops, keeping with the Dale’s tradition of utilizing only American hops. Fruity, piney flavors from the hops mingle with a caramel-driven malt bill, and a new mineral-forward house blend of H2O, which includes six brewing salts.

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4. Stone Delicious Double IPA

Origin: San Diego, CA
Beer type: Double IPA
Price: $12 for 12 oz. 6-pack
ABV: 9.4%
Brewed by: Stone Brewing Company

Stone Brewing has established itself as one of the world’s most renowned brewers of IPAs and consistently nails the style and its sub-categories. It is also lending its brewing prowess to another mostly overlooked aspect of the IPA offerings: gluten-reduced beer.

Stone’s Delicious IPA has been on the market since 2015, which clocks in below the FDA requirement for “gluten free” labeling (less than 20 parts per million), but as the beer is brewed with barley and an innovative fermenting process removes the gluten, Stone only gets to claim “gluten reduced.” This arrival to the gluten-reduced line packs a heftier punch than the original, with an ABV of 9.4%. There’s also a serious depth of flavor and explosive aroma of lemon and ripe fruit from Centennial and Amarillo hops, but with less bitterness than a typical double IPA. To experience all of the gluten-reduced line, the released Delicious Mixed Pack includes two each of the Delicious IPA, Delicious Citrus IPA and Delicious Double IPA.

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