Going Suds Up: The Best Beers, The Best Soccer

By Kirsten Schlewitz / Senior West Coast Beer and Aston Villa Correspondent

I’m back! Sorry about last week. Turns out, once I’ve hit the whisky, it’s a bit difficult to form a coherent sentence, so I’ll be sticking with the strong beers while writing my weekly column.

As you know, this week is Los Angeles Galaxy v Red Bull New York week, with days of insults finally culminating in tonight’s match, televised live on ESPN 2 at 10pm CT. Finally, a match perfect for the act of drinking! Now, last week the Galaxy clinched themselves a playoff spot, and New York is close to certain as well, sitting on 41 points. While I confess to owning a “Beat LA” sweatshirt (it works for so many sports) this week I’ll be cheering the Galaxy. The Sounders may be in seventh, but they’ve yet to cement their spot, so any points taken from teams 2-6 are beneficial to Seattle supporters.

And yes, I’m aware that this match has an effect on playoff positions, but as that does not directly benefit my team, I’m putting that to the side. Now, on to the beer. This match is all about the designated player, and let’s face it, the French just can’t brew beer. Even with all the jokes about English ales being warm and flat, the English can do a certain style very well. And beyond that, there are certain beers, from certain breweries, that stand out, no matter how long they’ve been around.

Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout (Yorkshire, England) is one of those. The brew took a hiatus from about 1910 to 1980, which is about the same amount of time that David Beckham was injured, but now it’s back and still just as tasty. A dark, malty beer that’s perfect for either dessert or breakfast, the taste is quite subtle, with chocolate, cinnamon, and coffee. A very smooth beer.

Off partying away from the TV on Friday? Shame on you. Still, your second match is Roma v Inter, at 1:30PM CT on FSC. Put away your misconceptions that Serie A is boring. Serie A, with Chievo and Brescia in the top three, Roma down in 19, and nearly every match featuring some sort of crazy comeback, is the hot league, my friends. So choose the hottest trend in beers: a black IPA. Southern Tier "Inequity" (Lakewood, NY) pours black with a cappuccino- flavored foam. Roasted malts, brown sugar, chocolate, coffee and caramel aromas. Slightly spicy hops in the background. A very balanced beer, with many of the same tastes, as well as chicory and pine flavors.

About Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle. I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch. I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also contribute to Two Footed Tackle.


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Going Suds Up: The Best Soccer, The Best Beers

By Kirsten Schlewitz / Senior West Coast Beer and Aston Villa Correspondent

Sorry to have abandoned you all last week, but I was off vacationing in sunny San Diego. In fact, I was doing research for this very column. In just three days I sampled over thirty beers, just so I could be suitably informed on the absolute best beers-to-soccer pairings. It’s tough being a soccer and beer writer.

What’s on your TV this weekend? Besides a bunch of MLS friendlies, not much is on national TV.

Except, of course, the Women’s U-20 World Cup and the USWNT against Nigeria on Sunday morning. Which, I might add, is being shown live at the crazy time of 4:30am CT, on ESPNU and ESPN3.com. I guess it is in Germany, but wow, I thought getting up at 4:30am for the men’s WC was insane—this would be 2:30am for me. But for you dedicated U-20 fans, or for anyone who plans to finish the night out by winding down with a match, I have a perfect beer for you:

Pizza Port Coffee Monster. If you are anywhere near Carlsbad Pizza Port in Southern California, grab your growler and run down to fill it with this delicious beer. Skip the morning coffee and just drink this sucker. It smells exactly—exactly—like coffee. I know I recommend coffee beers for morning matches quite often, but this is probably the best coffee beer I’ve ever had. It tastes like freshly brewed espresso with just the faintest hint of chocolate. But be warned, it packs a 9.3% ABV. Just like the USA women. One might be tempted to think they’re just sweet and innocent, patronizingly challenging them to a game of soccer, but they’ll knock you on your ass.

Not looking to get up so early, or stay up so late? Well, y’all, I don’t want to get in the habit of over-recommending the Sounders, but their match against the Colorado Rapids is the only non-friendly on national television this weekend (Sunday at 9:30pm CT on Fox Soccer Channel). Considering I am absolutely against teams promoting friendlies in the middle of a season—how many professional leagues are willing to do this?—I refuse to feature one of these. So in honor of the ridiculous rumors that have been swirling around Seattle for the past couple weeks, I give you:

Green Flash Extra Pale. I Found this at Tap Room in San Diego. Very light gold with just the tiniest bit of off-white foam on top. Very grassy and fresh aroma. The taste is awfully earthy, and every so slightly bitter. Not that this sounds like a soon-to-be-ex-Sounder or anything…

About Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle. I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch. I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also will be contributing to Two Footed Tackle after the World Cup.


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Going Suds Up: The Best Soccer, The Best Beers

By Kirsten Schlewitz / Senior West Coast Beer and Aston Villa Correspondent

After tomorrow, it will all be over. The thrills, the chills up the spine, the vuvuzelas buzzing, the waving flag anthem, John Harkes’ banal commentary, Pulpo Paul, having to watch Nike’s “Write the Future” ad over and over…

Some of the elements of the World Cup will be missed more than others. But what won’t be missed is being able to watch football, and talk about football, nearly every day. It will be four long years before soccer fans have a full month to obsess once again. So don’t take Sunday’s match lightly, boys and girls. Revel in it. Grab your friends and head to a bar, or even better, bring them over, ask them the following questions, and, based on their responses, hand them these beers, specifically chosen to perfectly complement the Holland versus Spain World Cup 2010 Final:

Do you love wearing bright orange? Are you struggling to come to terms with early onset male pattern baldness? Do you just enjoy the idea of having legal access to marijuana? If so, you’ll be supporting Holland on Sunday. The Oranje haven’t made it to the final in over thirty years, so supporters have plenty of reason to celebrate.

Raise a glass (preferably a lager glass) of Anderson Valley "Summer Soltice" Cerveza Crema to commemorate the occasion. This is a honey-orange beer that won’t clash with your kit, with a fluffy head that takes quite a while to fall, rather like Arjen Robben. Cerveza Crema is AV’s summer brew and it fittingly tastes like a grownup version of a creamsicle, with just enough spicy hop to keep it balanced. Whether you’re seeking comfort after yet another display of poor decision making from Robin van Persie, or rejoicing when Wesley Sneijder manages to score a header despite being only four feet tall, this is the perfect beer to have at hand.

Do you regularly swoon in the presence of men who look as though they model Maybelline mascara? Is red your best color? Are you in the habit of eating dinner after 11pm? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you’ll be pulling for Spain on Sunday. Although La Fura Roja are the reigning European Champions and are considered one of the top footballing nations in the world, this is the first time they’ve participated in a World Cup final.

This match has the potential to be a whole lotta sweet or a whole lotta sour for them, so bring out the Lindemans Framboise and pour it in your best champagne flutes. Lambics are known for being great starter beers for people who believe they don’t like beer—and, as much as I hate to generalize about my gender, much of the time it’s the ladies who believe they don’t like beer. So while they’re drooling over the tasty cupcakes of the Spanish squad, pass them a glass of this deep red liquid, with a pink head and plenty of rising bubbles. The taste is of fresh raspberries, but it packs a tart punch as well. Both sweet and sour, it reflects the sensation felt while watching Spain pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass missthechanceongoal. But there’s a beauty to balance, both in beer and in football, and this balanced lambic is befitting of Spain’s equally balanced squad.

About Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle. I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch. I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also will be contributing to Two Footed Tackle after the World Cup.

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Going Suds Up: Your Weekly Beer and Soccer Pairings

By Kirsten Schlewitz

(Editor's Note: Check out the "Going Suds Up" archive for other great beer recommendations. Obviously the games have come and gone, but the beer is still fresh!)

Alright, everyone, it’s time to start preparing for the World Cup—by practicing getting up early. And drinking. Drinking while up early. It really does take some preparation. But don’t despair! Even if you haven’t been in training for South Africa, you can still get into shape this weekend. So set your Saturday alarms for 7:30 CDT and tune into ESPN2 to watch the United States take on Australia in their last friendly before the World Cup begins.

With this early hour, you’ll want to have a breakfast beer to help fortify you for the day ahead. Stouts are traditionally considered a quality breakfast beer (perhaps because they taste of coffee) and there are even stouts that call themselves “Breakfast Stouts.” While it’s highly likely you’ve thrown back a Guinness or two in your lifetime, I’m here to prompt you to move on from this standard stout. In addition to the fact that Guinness brewed here is hopelessly inadequate when compared to it brewed in Ireland, the beer reminds me of the way that Ireland were knocked out of the World Cup. Suffice it to say you won’t find me reviewing French beers.

This Saturday, put down the pint of Guinness and find yourself a bottle of Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout. Pour it into an English pint glass so you can see how pretty it is: almost black in color with a thin cream head (probably couldn’t put a shamrock on this one). This stout has an intense aroma of toasted malt, espresso, chocolate, cinnamon, spicy hop and licorice. Its taste is quite breakfast-y, with oatmeal, as the name suggests, but it also includes mocha, maple, and caramel, all balanced with spicy hop. The smooth finish with a bit of an espresso linger round out this excellent breakfast beer. Plus, it’s Californian, and Bocanegra, Bradley, Bornstein, Edu, Feilhaber, ‘dolo, and Donovan all have California connections.

DVRing the US match but still, for some reason, find yourself up early on Saturday? Perhaps your other half won’t let you watch the USA without him/her, and him/her is a sleepyhead? Check out espn3.com at 7am CDT to watch the Netherlands vs Hungary. I am a big fan of all things Oranje, but in no way am I going to encourage you to drink Heineken. Seeing as I’m sweating in New Orleans right now, I decided to take my hostess up on her offering, but there’s not much taste or smell to the beer. In good news for beer drinkers (although possibly not good news for those who appreciate true trappist beer) De Koningshoeven brewery is now a subsidiary of Bavaria-Netherlands, which means that you can hoist a bottle of delicious beer in support of Holland.

Choose the Koningshoeven Quardrupel to pour on Saturday morning—but a warning, at 10%, you’ll definitely be needing an afternoon nap. You should use a trappist glass for this one, and be careful not to drain the bottle completely—trappist-style beers are typically bottle-aged and have yeast and sediment lingering at the bottom. It pours orange brown with no head. Wonderfully, this one smells like a caramel apple, and tastes slightly of banana, as most Belgian styles do, as well as apple and caramel.

Meet Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle. I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch. I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also will be contributing to Two Footed Tackle after the World Cup.

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Going Suds Up: Your Soccer and Beer Pairings for Upcoming Game

By Kirsten Schlewitz

What with the excitement of so many of my twitter-mates over their travel to Philadelphia this weekend, I’m starting to wonder if I’m the only soccer fan in the country not making the trek to see US v Turkey. If you’re like me and stuck at home, you’ll find it live on ESPN2, at 1PM CDT.

Whether you’re kicking back on the couch or buzzing it up at a bar in Philly, my job is to tell you what you should be drinking when the USMNT kicks off for the last time before heading to South Africa. Now, I realize this is an American game, and what advertisers are going to tell you is that you need to be drinking the great American lager. This is incorrect. Put down that straw-colored, over-carbonated, tasteless macrobrew. Knocking back ten of those babies won’t make you a better supporter of your team. It will just make you fat, and then how will someone mistake you for Clint Dempsey when you’re walking around in your number 8 kit?

Sam Adams is certainly not a microbrew; its parent company, Boston Beer Company, is the largest American-owned beer company, but this week I’m trying to recommend something that is widely available and likely to be on tap and, as always, still delicious. That's my job right? Would I lead your astray? (Ed: Despite Samual Adams massive size they still stay true to craft brew principles.... read about founder Jim Koch.)

East-coasters shouldn’t have a problem tracking down Sam Adams beer. However, I am suggesting you skip their core beers, such as the standard Sam Adams lager, and branch out to their seasonal pours.

When you find Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier, stop, pause, sip, enjoy. I promise we’ll be visiting other witbiers this summer, so this is a great way to acquaint yourself with the style. It pours a hazy copper color with visible bubbles and little head. Strong aromas of blackberry, sweet malt, and wheat. The palate is a little thin and moderately carbonated, so it’s a perfect baby step from the typical lagers. Although the taste disappears quickly, it’s refreshing, with plenty of berries and sweet malts—a good summer sessions beer. And considering it’s named after a revolutionary war hero, what beer would be better at getting you in the mood for USA v England?

I know you’re going to watch USA v Turkey. If you’re reading this column, it will be your must-see match this week. But because I’m nice, I’ll go ahead and give you a backup match. Yesterday brought the sad news that St. Louis Athletica, a club in the Women’s Professional Soccer League, has folded due to financial reasons. This brings the WPS down to seven teams—so if you’re looking for something to watch on Sunday, give the ladies your attention. The Washington Freedom take on the Philadelphia Independence in yet another opportunity designed to remind Americans of their revolutionary past. You can find it Sunday on FSC at 5pm CDT, and streaming live on the WPS website.

These women are a rare breed, underappreciated, devoting their lives to sport for very little reward. Why not salute them with a style of beer also underappreciated by the female population? Imperial IPAs are often not enjoyed by women, as we have a much higher sensitivity to bitterness than males. But just as soccer skills need to be developed, you can also train your palate to appreciate bitter hops. Try Un*Earthly, from New York brewer Southern Tier. This one pours a honey red brown with a thin cream head and minimal lacing. The first aromas are of caramel and dough, with typical hop smells of grass and floral following. Some yeast in the taste, followed by floral notes before finishing with bitter citrus peel—all typical of an IIPA, but not overwhelming in the way some West Coast ones can be. With an 11% ABV, in no time you’ll be cracking amusing puns about the unearthly skills of the women footballers.

Meet Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle. I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch. I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also will be contributing to Two Footed Tackle after the World Cup.

Support the Movement. Get the Free Beer Movement T-Shirt. Only from Objectivo.com

Going Suds Up: Your Weekly Soccer and Beer Picks

By Kirsten Schlewitz

Hello friends, and welcome to the latest edition of my column—which now has a name! After an extensive twitter vote which included ballots cast aside due to cats not having opposable thumbs, “Going Suds Up” won by a single vote.

If you’d like to participate in future votes/beer/soccer chat, follow me @7500_Kirsten. Credit to Chris King (CaryFC) for crafting the winning title, and honorable mention to Aaron Campeau (7500_Aaron) and Steven Stoehr (stoehrst) for the runners up.

With the shameless self-promotion over, time to move on to this week’s matches. The game of the week this week is…

Seattle Sounders v San Jose Earthquakes: 2pm CDT, Fox Soccer Channel

That’s right, the Seattle Sounders, in their infinite wisdom, have scheduled a match at noon PDT—fifteen minutes after the start of the Champions League final. Before anyone gets snippy with me and says that people should support their hometown side over a club halfway across the world, let’s be clear: this isn’t me wanting to stay home and watch an Aston Villa match. The Champions League final is the biggest annual event that football sees. It’s like scheduling a WHL game during the Stanley Cup final, or hosting your NCAA Division II game during the Super Bowl. It is a slap in the face to a fan of the sport. I love donning my Osvaldo Alonso jersey and heading out to cheer on my Sounders, but this logic defies reason. It would have been so easy to schedule the game later in the day, and allow fans of soccer to watch two of the best teams in the world before tuning in to their local match.

If you’re like me and going to Qwest Field tomorrow, stop off at Elysian Fields before the game, conveniently located just across from the stadium. While many of their standard offerings—porter, pale ale, IPA—are a typical mid-table beer, their special brews are certainly in the running for Champions League competition. But even if you can’t find any of their seasonals on tap, the Elysian Avatar Jasmine IPA is always worth a drink. This fun IPA pours golden brown with plenty of bubbles, leaving behind a beige lacing. The smell is exotic and flowery with a bit of sugar mixed in. The jasmine certainly comes out in the taste as well, but the flower isn’t overpowering, as it is tempered by orange spice and peppery hops. At 6.3% ABV, after a couple you might find your anger dissipating. And if you can’t make it to Elysian tomorrow, Avatar Jasmine is one of the few Elysian beers available in bottles, but alas you probably won’t be able to find it too far outside the west coast. I suggest you come experience a Sounders match day, and hit up Elysian beforehand.

Bayern Munich v Inter Milan: 1:45 CDT, Fox

If you’re not going to be watching your favorite MLS team take the field at inappropriate hours, you’re likely to be joining the rest of the world in watching the Champions League final on Saturday afternoon. Bayern Munich take on Inter Milan at the Bernabeu in Madrid, with both teams seeking a treble. Will the Special One succeed? Will Ribéry regret not being on the field? Hundreds of stories have been written about this match-up already; I’m not here to replicate them. Instead I’m here to tell you about Ayinger Celebrator Dopplebock, arguably the best dopplebock in the world and an excellent example of Bavarian beer (for those of you who didn’t pay attention during Geography, Munich is in the region of Bavaria in Germany).

Celebrator is a deep brown brew that holds a decently foamy tan head. It has a primarily malty aroma, with a bit of chocolate and a slight hint of smokiness. This beer is smooth and creamy, with a very faint alcohol burn at the end. It tastes mostly of toasted malts, chocolate, and smoke. Celebrator is available nationwide, and with an ABV of 6.7%, it is the perfect glass to raise when Bayern Munich take the field. Plus, the bottle has a little goat charm hanging off its neck—challenge your friends to a head-to-head action figure battle during halftime!

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Meet Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle.

I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch.

I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also will be contributing to Two Footed Tackle after the World Cup.

Support the Movement. Get the Free Beer Movement T-Shirt. Only from Objectivo.com

Guest Column: This Weekend's Perfect Soccer and Beer Pairings

(Editor's Note: We continue another great series on the Free Beer Movement site. Meet Kirsten, a massive soccer fan, a beer aficionado, and, coolest, a girl and enjoy her second column on the site. [Her first column here.] Each week she will bring you a great game of the week and a beer to pair with it plus a little bonus soccer and beer. Any comments and feedback are welcome below.)

We also have another great guest writer on the post below. Nigerian Mugwayne Nanfusu, helps educate Americans about soccer and to help American soccer fans educate their friends. Check it out!

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By Kirsten Schlewitz

I bet you thought this week’s match to watch might be awarded to MLS, what with the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 all crowning champions last weekend (although the French games continue this weekend). Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga have races that will come to a tight close this weekend. In La Liga the usual suspects, Barcelona and Real Madrid, are fighting for the title, while Sevilla and Real Mallorca are each trying to capture Spain’s fourth Champions League spot.

In Italy, FC Internazionale Milano are two points clear of AS Roma at the top of Serie A. It would seem as though Inter has an easy time of it on Sunday when they face Siena, who have already been regulated. However, Inter’s quest for the Champions League trophy next week might distract their attention from the scudetto. If Inter draw or lose, a win at Chievo means that Roma will take the title.

Siena –Inter Milan, 8am CDT on Sunday, May 16h—Fox Soccer Channel

Chievo—Roma, 10am CDT (tape delay) on Sunday, May 16th—Fox Soccer Channel

A couple early matches for American fans. Obviously, Italy is much better known for its wines than its beers (please, avoid Peroni), so this week, I’m recommending a beer whose taste is more wine-like than the straw-colored, grainy lagers revered as American beer. Beers that are listed as “sour” are often ones that are recommended for wine-lovers who believe that all beer is bitter, weak, and unremarkable. The sour that set off my obsession with the style was Duchesse de Bourgogne, which remains one of my favorites; it exemplifies a sour.

Crisp, with a tart cherry and apple flavor, everything in this beer works in balance. One of its best elements is its smell: deliciously sharp sour apple aromas. Bottles of Duchesse are easy to find in most bottle and beverage emporiums. Check the Belgium section. The royalty of the Duchesse fits well with the bourgeoisie supporters of Inter, so go ahead and pull the cork for the early game.

Sours are also a great breakfast beer, because it’s almost like having one of your servings of fruit for the day! You’ll want something mildly flavored to munch with this beer—I would actually suggest something that includes either cheese or chocolate. Use this as an excuse to welcome the day with a chocolate cannoli and truly celebrate Italy.

Kansas City—Chicago, 7pm CDT on Saturday, May 15th—Fox Soccer Channel.

With summer dialing up full-strength in some parts of the US, and spring finally creeping in in other corners, it’s quite possible you don’t want to abandon your lovely Saturday evening to tune in to FSC’s only MLS game this weekend. Particularly since it’s Kansas City, who managed to get themselves beat by DC United thanks to my magical powers of saying that DC United was going to win, against Chicago, who got themselves thrashed 4-1 by Toronto, who I have chosen to support this week.

My little Sounders are at the bottom of the West and face RBNY who are leading the East, so we’re going to pretend that game doesn’t exist and encourage everyone to watch Wizards v Fire. It’s like a twisted game of Paper, Rock, Scissors: Incendio! No, my powers shall win! Aguamenti! I predict a stalemate. Goalless draw.

Although Kansas City apparently has an excellent brewery in Boulevard Brewing, I have never tasted any of their beers, so instead we’ll have Chicago importing their beers into Kansas. For this match, grab a four-pack of Goose Island Matilda, which is a fairly new offering for the brewery, most famous for its Bourbon County Stout.

This Belgian comes in elegant bottles, perfect for impressing whomever you’ve decided to woo over the soccer match. Be sure to serve it in a tulip or trappist glass, however, unless you’re really fancy and you have a Matilda glass (and if you do, can you please send one my way?) The ale pours orange amber with very little head. Spicy aroma, with fruit and sugar, which apparently comes from the rare yeast they use. Dark fruits, clove, sugar and spice in the taste—a typical Belgian ale but done very well. At 7% ABV, even if the game does turn out goalless, at least you’ll get a nice buzz going.

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Meet Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle.

I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch.

I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also will be contributing to Two Footed Tackle after the World Cup.

Support the Movement. Get the Free Beer Movement T-Shirt. Only from Objectivo.com

Guest Column: This Weekend's Soccer and Beer Picks

(Editor's Note: Today we're shelving "Viernes Video" (moving to a new day and time slot) to launch another great series on the Free Beer Movement site. We'd like to introduce Kirsten, a massive soccer fan, a beer aficionado, and, coolest, a girl. Each week she will bring you a great game of the week and a beer to pair with it plus a little bonus soccer and beer. Any comments and feedback are welcome below. Enjoy!)

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By Kirsten Schlewitz

Soccer + Beer. What could be better, right? But sometimes it’s difficult to choose the perfect beer to compliment your soccer watching. That’s where I come in.

Each week I will be featuring one match from around the world and pairing it with a beer to help you get through the 90+ minutes. In case you can’t catch that match, I’ll also give you a consolation match and pairing. The pairings will involve anything from a beer from that region of the world to a beer based on the way a player’s hair looks. I get to choose! I promise, though, I will do my best to make sure at least one of the picks is widely available.

Lest you think I am a complete Eurosnob, let me assure you that each week won’t involve a Premier League match. But since the EPL season ends this weekend and the title hinges on Sunday’s games, our first match-up will be:

Chelsea v Wigan (10am Central Time, showing on FSC. Supposedly ESPN and ESPN2 have changed their schedules to carry Chelsea and Manchester United, but it is not confirmed online yet).

Chelsea currently hold the lead by one slim point, but if they lose to Wigan (as they did earlier in the season) then the current title holders, Manchester United, could steal first by beating Stoke City. As long as Chelsea send out the team that beat Stoke City 7-0 two weeks ago rather than the one that rolled over and let Tottenham have their way around the pitch, Chelsea will find their fourth top-division title.

And what better way to celebrate a London club taking top honors than by opening a bottle of Fullers London Porter? Fullers is the largest brewery in London and has been brewing—previously as Griffin Brewery—since 1699. While many of you are likely familiar with Fullers ESB, as it is served in almost all English-style pubs in the U.S., it is their London Porter that is consistently ranked among the top ten porters in the world. I was lucky enough to enjoy my bottle in London, but it appears at most quality bottle shops throughout the country.

The beer pours brown red, nearly black, with a creamy, high tan head. Its aromas include nutty malts, yeast, and toffee. A well-balanced porter, it tastes of chocolate, nuts, toasted malt, and brown sugar, with a coffee-like finish. If you’re up early and having breakfast or brunch during the match, it would pair well with French toast with cinnamon and orange, or waffles topped with red fruits. Bet you didn’t know you’d be getting meal tips as well! Serve this in an English pint glass, and, if cold, let it warm to nearly room temperature to bring out the flavors. This one weighs in at 5.4% ABV.

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For those of you not interested in spending your Sunday morning watching the final games of the 2009-2010 Premier League season, well, don’t count on watching MLS that day. Major League Soccer has a nearly-full slot on Saturday, with seven matches to choose from. Only Colorado and Toronto have a free Saturday, but no one plays on Sunday.

For your Saturday drinking needs, I’d like you to meet Firestone Walker Solace, a beer to welcome in the beginning of summer. For those of you lucky enough to live where it’s above 50, that is. This beer pours a hazy golden peach, with a thin off-white head. Stick your nose in and you’ll smell bubblegum, wheat, and spicy clove, just as you should in any decent wheat beer. It tastes of candy sugar, banana, wheat, and some orange peel. This is one you should serve a bit cold, in a hefeweizen glass if possible. Be warned, though, it’s got a bit more of a punch than a standard crisp, refreshing summer beer, with a 6% ABV.

This is the beer to drink while watching DC United take on FC Dallas. Especially if you’re in Dallas, where it’s set to be 78, although leading up to the game it’s been in the high 80s and you probably need a nice cool beer. DC United finally won their last game against the Kansas City Wizards, thanks to a brace by Danny Allsopp and a few excellent saves by the young Bill Hamid. Dallas is also coming off a midweek victory against their cross-state rivals Houston Dynamo. Will they both fizzle out and bring a scoreless draw to their second match in four days? Even if the match is boring at least you’ll have a tasty pint to console you. Unfortunately, you’re only going to catch this match on Direct Kick (and MLS Match Day Live) at 8pm Central.

For more information on rating beer, check out this story on the aptly named Ratebeer.com

And thanks to Collins Pub in Seattle, WA, for letting me sit around for hours at a time, screaming at their TVs and rating their delicious beers.

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Meet Kirsten:

Ever since Brazil caught my eye during the 1994 World Cup I’ve considered myself a soccer fan, but it wasn’t until the summer 2008 that I decided to find a club. I focused on the Premier League and eventually chose Aston Villa. Initially drawn in by the pretty clarets and blues, I found I liked their organization, their owner and their manager. I fell hard and now it’s too late—I can’t give them up. As for MLS, that was easy, as I live in Seattle.

I also support Exeter FC, SSC Napoli, FC Koln, Estudiantes Tecos and Tooting & Mitcham FC, all for a variety of reasons including cider, tattoos, scarves, owls, and a soccer player texting while on the pitch.

I’m the Managing Editor of SB Nation’s Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte. I also will be contributing to Two Footed Tackle after the World Cup.



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