(Photo via Canva)
By Gordon Mays
95.3 The Bull
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While most eyes will be on the well-executed playbooks of football’s biggest game of the year, the true glory will be found on coffee tables and laps all across the Stateline this Sunday.

Widely considered the second biggest food consumption day of the year (just behind Thanksgiving), handheld culinary spreads will be front and center, so we’ve consulted with a handful of local brewery professionals who offer their expert advice on which beers will elevate your snack experience.

Alex from Urban Forest Craft Brewing (6551 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford):

“Our West Coast IPA Wind It Back and American Pale Ale Jewel Case both pair well with spicy foods. Maybe somebody made a spicy chili, or brought chips and salsa but the salsa has a decent kick, or you got a couple dozen buffalo wings…the bitterness from the American hops in these beers work well with those types of spicy foods.”

“Heavier and sweeter beers like our super-popular Whitney Vanilla Cream Ale, our Honey Brown Ale BumbleBrown and our Oatmeal Stout Time & Materials pair great with the sweets and deserts. If somebody brought a cookie platter, cheesecake sampler, cupcakes, etc… these beers will fit in just great.”

Reed from Prairie Street Brewing Company (200 Prairie St., Rockford):

“Another option would be something in the even more bitter category like a Prairie Street IPA or a Petritz Pale Ale. Salt neutralizes the bitterness of the hops and builds desire for something quenching. Thus, begging you to take another sip of that tasty IPA. The circle of snack, sip, snack, sip. Next thing you know your bag of chips or pretzels is gone and you have a sweet buzz.”

Jaime from Lena Brewing Company (9416 W Wagner Road, Lena):

“Our Haymow Molly Amber Lager is smooth malty easy drinking beer that pairs well with nachos, particularly BBQ Brisket Nachos, a Rafters Restaurant favorite. Another is The Pog Mo Thoin Irish Ale. Dark in color but light caramel and malty in flavor makes for a tasty beer mustard sauce that goes awesome with Pretzel Bites (also available at The Rafters).”

Related: Customers ‘elated’ with return of Carlyle Brewing Co. in downtown Rockford

Aaron from More Brewing Company (13980 Automall Drive, Huntley): 

“Our Villa Pils is an excellent choice to pair with snacks! It’s a light German-style Pilsner with a slight hop bitterness that is the perfect pairing for salty chips, pretzels, or spicy options like buffalo chicken dip or jalapeno poppers! Also, our Morever hazy IPA has just enough body to cut through light snacks like popcorn, or enhance those zesty flavors found in buffalo wings with a BBQ sauce, or pizza rolls.”

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