Honduras vs. USA Beer of the Day: New Belgium Brewing Co. “Shift” Pale Lager

By Dan Wiersema / Founder, Free Beer Movement

Today the United States men's national team travels down to steamy San Pedro Sula, Honduras for the first match of their Hexagonal round of World Cup Qualifying.

For anyone that's ever been to San Pedro Sula or Honduras... it's quite the place. I lived there for a while and experienced life, love, and libations.

Wait? What was I even talking about?

Oh yeah... libations.

If you're ever in Honduras chances are it will be on the beautiful Bay Islands. Roatan, Utila, or less likely, La Guanaja. Wherever you are in Honduras you'll find three beers: Barena, Port Royal, or Imperial (not the Imperial from Costa Rica that's wildly available in the U.S.). Each one is a relatively light beer. Barena a Bud or Coruna knock-off; Port Royal similar to Heinekin right down to the green bottle; and Imperial is a bit darker like a Negra Modelo. Each one delightful on a white sandy beach in front of clear, blue water far away for the throat-clogging pollution surroundings of Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

But you probably didn't come here to read about a bunch of tropical beers that are hard to find here. You want your good ol' American craft beer fix for this afternoon's game.

If it's a lighter lager fare you're looking for on par with today's USMNT location then we've got a few well-crafted pilsner lagers to sip on during the afternoon. Plus, they're not too heavy on the ABV for you to get back to your desk after that "doctor's appointment" you had.

The light lager has typically been a category of beer that craft brewers have left well alone to the domain of the macro-brewers. Times are changing though. In order to bridge the "craft gap" between macro drinkers and those who love their double-triple-IPA-cherry-barrel-aged-stouts (note: not a real style... yet) craft brewers are now using their talents to take on this typically tame beer style.

Our game day recommendations for best craft pilsners:

New Belgium Brewing Co. "Shift" Pale Lager (Fort Collins, CO)

Victory Brewing Co. "Prima Pils" (Downington, PA)

Lagunitas Brewing Co. "Pils" (Petaluma, CA)

Oskar Blues Brewing Co. "Mama's Little Yella Pils" (Longmont, CO)

Each of these is sure to be a "refreshing" change of pace from any macro-pilsners or crazy craft concoctions you might normally imbibe. And leave you somewhat ready for getting back to the desk or not falling asleep at the dinner table tonight.

What are you drinking for today's USMNT game?

Unless you're a hipster, you want to see soccer grow in America and what better way than the Free Beer Movement. Check it out and practice it.