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By Dan Wiersema / Founder, Free Beer Movement
The pomp and circumstance has passed. We "Dos a Cero"-d Mexico otra vez. Tied them at Azteca (and won a year earlier there), and bailed their asses out all the way from Panama. We can close the book on that Gold Cup embarrassment from 2011, shelve it and let it gather dust. Right now there need not be any U.S. is this-or-that vis a vis Mexico.
Another addition of this age old rivalry is upon us, but for all inclined (unless you're a Mexico fan DESPERATE to save some sort of face from World Cup qualifying) this match is nothing but filler before the main event in Brazil. Tonight's match from Arizona is really an under-card fight pitting Major League Soccer versus Liga MX. It didn't end so well for MLS in the CONCACAF Champions League, but we're willing to bet this round will end better.
Will we or won't we see Julian Green on the field tonight? Will Clint Dempsey find his USMNT form again? Can we please, please improve on the dreadful back line performance from Ukraine aka Cyprus? Will Michael Bradley grab this game by the balls?
These are the important questions not needless measuring sticks with Mexico.
Another important question is what to drink with your U.S. game tonight?
With any "rivalry" match (even if this one is relatively meaningless) is an occasion to break out the "colors". If the new U.S. Soccer away jersey wasn't chalk full of enough patriotism (I love it) then your beer should cover that for you.
We recommend Oskar Blues Brewery's "Dale's" Pale Ale (Longmont, CO). One of America's best craft breweries "Dale's" and Oskar Blues was also one of the first craft breweries to begin putting their suds in cans.Ingenuity... it's the American way.
And while we're talking about the can (we'll get to the insides in a minute) you can't go wrong with the color scheme for "Dale's". Red, white, and blue.... unmistakably patriotic to hold in your hand and hoist in the air when we score on El Tri.
Inside the can you'll find a healthy dose of citrusy hops alongside pale malts. The New York Times even bestowed "Dale's" with the title of "best pale ale" in 2005. Even almost a decade later this gem for Oskar Blues holds up as the craft beer scene has exploded.
Better yet Oskar Blues just recently opened a second brewery location in North Carolina meaning you can know enjoy some of Colorado's finest in nearly every corner of the country.
Drinking Local?
If you find yourself in Phoenix for the match and our looking for something local to taste check out Four Peaks Brewing Company in nearby Temple, AZ. Consistently voted the Phoenix area's best brewery/ brew pub. And they sell their wares in cans, too, around the area.
Cheers to soccer!
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.
