In July, I went to Providence Park in Portland to see the Thorns V Wrexham in a friendly. I would have enjoyed having a beer at the game but even a vending machine 12oz can of Pub Beer from 10 Barrel was $8.00 and draft options were around $12.00.
Fast forward and I see the average beer prices for Premier League clubs and I nearly fell out of my chair.
Even at a $1.31 exchange rate, the high end is about $8.00. The high end. $8.00 ain’t getting me a half a soda at the new Intuit Dome here in Los Angeles. Everything about attending professional sports in the U.S. is expensive and I get that overcharging beer leads to less drunken and rowdy behavior during the game but it also leads to fans drinking it all before the game at tailgates.
If the Premier League can do it, so to other leagues.
For a few years now, I have had a monthly post which pairs books with beer and a second one matching podcasts with beer. 2023 seemed the right time to add a new brand to the family, Sports & A Beer.
Each month, I will cover a topic from the sports world, that I find fun or thought provoking or what is making me crazy about my favorite teams. And what better way to start than with the crazy rumor mongering and optimism that is the January Transfer Window in football (aka soccer).
This is the month about halfway through most professional leagues season, where underperforming teams get desperate, where teams with injuries are shopping and teams who think they have a chance to win now – pay for it dearly.
Liverpool have been OK but nowhere near their form as their attack has been reduced by injury but they have brought in reinforcements like Cody Gakpo. Arsenal were circling players but might get a gem from Brighton Hove Albion in Leandro Trossard.
My team, Chelsea has changed managers and have three teams worth of players in my opinion and have splurged more American money on a quintet of players. David Datro Fofana. The second Fofana on the squad. French defender Benoit Badiashile. Midfielder Andrey Santos from Vacso de Gama. And big signings Joao Felix and Mykhailo Mudryk. And then wrote a super big check for Argentinean Enzo Fernandez.
Lot of names to Google there but the breathless spectacle and media attention and leaks and rumors are part of what makes Premier League football fun.
To pair with this crazy month, I suggest going one of two fun routes. One if you have a favorite team and one if you do not. If you do, each signing can be assigned as either expensive, a good deal or a steal. Then buy a beer in one of those three categories. If your team splashes cash then go grab a barrel-aged $20 bottle.
If you do not have a team then find a smattering of beers from football playing countries and enjoy while watching Sky Sports coverage.
Norwich has has a rough go this year, it seems that the green and gold brings goals for the opposing side but you can head to Chalk Hill to have a pint and plot how to escape relegation.
Start with…
CHB Bitter – “A copper-coloured beer with a malty aroma, fruity sweetness and bittersweet hoppiness towards the finish.”
Gold – “A straw-coloured and malty golden ale with gentle sweetness.”
Flintknappers Mild – “A mild that’s black and malty, full of flavour. Available in Autumn and Winter.”
Our next featured Premier League club is Everton, who have a new manager in former Chelsea midfielder and manager, Frank Lampard as well as two new high profile signings in Donny Van de Beek and Delle Alli.
We head to Love Lane Brewery for this e-tour. The brewery (and distillery) is based in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle.
They took an old rubber factory and turned it into a 18,000 Hectolitre brewery where they also create Gin.
My taster tray would start with the Baltic Haze, then move on to the Oatmeal Cookie Brown before the third beer which would be the Pale Ale followed by their take on a West Coast IPA and finishing with their big Sgt. Peppermint at 12% abv.
I am a Chelsea supporter but even I have to admit that Liverpool were a beast this year and truly deserve the title despite the season not being completed in the Premier League. Carlsberg might not be a fantastic choice but it is a cool label.
