Introducing the NEW Free Beer Movement "Pint Glass" Shirt

Drum roll, please.....

The time has come to roll out a brand, spankin' new Free Beer Movement t-shirt! Yes, folks, that's right after months of anticipation (at least for us) we're debuting this awesomely, epic shirt.

Our friends at Objectivo/Ultras are back again to support the making, retailing, and shipping of the shirt so if we're already sold you head on over there right away!

If it's not love a first sight here's a short list of things that might convince ya:

1) It's America. Come on! We just got Bin Laden... time to celebrate.

2) Also, its nearly Gold Cup time so support your U.S. Men's National Team. I mean even the American Outlaws would love this.

3) It might be the dopest design you've ever seen. Designed by a real pro, Eric Wheatley. A pint glass, an American flag beer, on a coaster with the continental U.S. and the FBM on it. Plus, our sweet crest is still on the back.

4) We promise you this... it will be the softest shirt you'll EVER own. Made of 50% polyester, 25% cotton, and 25% rayon... its like wearing a shirt made out of a cloud. (BTW... the material is why this shirt is a bit more expensive then the last one)

5) You're helping "Build American Soccer One Beer at a Time". It even says it on the back. Plus, free advertising for the cause you know and love.

So what are you all waiting for!?!?!? Click on over to Objectivo's site. It will be the best $28 you've ever spent.

A traditionalist? There are still limited quantities, sizes, and colors of the original Free Beer Movement shirt. Still available for just $18.


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Better Know A Supporters Group: Bulldog Supporters Group

After a brief interruption in our weekly series we return to our coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report". 

Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.

When we devised this idea a while back it was cool to be able to see what each supporter group is about, but in light of the terrible, one-sided, anti-American, condescending profile of Philadelphia's Sons of Ben SG by the British GQ (not even going to link to it to give them the site hits) we think its all the more important to give supporters groups in Major League Soccer the proper exposure and voice they deserve.

Today it's the "Bulldog Supporters Group", supporters of the reigning MLS champions, Colorado Rapids.

As told to the Free Beer Movement by BSG President Jon Forget.

The Basics

SG Name: Bulldog Supporters Group (BSG, The Bobbies)

MLS Club: Colorado Rapids

Stadium: DSG Park

Year SG Founded: 2010

Section Name (if other than SG name): The East Terrace

Any other SGs apart of your section? West Terrace occupied by Pid Army.

Location of SG in Stadium (section #, side, direction): North side of the stadium, directly under the “2010 Championship” plaque, you can’t miss us.

The Meaty Questions

What are the origins of your groups’ name?

Our name evolved from our home pub. We hail out of the downtown Denver soccer pub “The British Bulldog”. This was a place many of us would frequent before the supporters group formed to watch matches with others. For many of us, our pub is a second home.

Favorite chants/songs?

Glory, Glory Colorado, Conor Casey Rapids’ #9, Mountain Roads Take Me Home, Pabloooooo, Ginger Ninja, We all Bleed Rapids Burgundy, Mental

Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?

No sitting here! We are unique to the league as we are the ONLY standing supporters terrace. I guarantee you will not get the excitement or atmosphere standing/sitting in any other part of DSG Park as you will in the terrace. From the terrace we hope to inspire the team, pushing them on to victory with our voices. Win or lose, we are family.

Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?

We realize that we are new, but that hasn't stopped us from quickly growing and becoming organized. We have many new and old fans that are completely dedicated to the club, and are eager to inject their passion to make it better. It’s this passion from our members that is on display before, during, and after a match. Simply put, we are rowdy, partying, song singing, soccer loving people drinking beer and playing games in the warm Colorado sunshine. There aren't many ways to spend a Saturday better than that.

Greatest game(s) in team history?

Chris Henderson’s screaming volley over Mark Dodd to reach the final in ’97 is something many of us will never forget. Coming back against Kansas City on the 4th of July down a man in ’05. Crushing LA on opening day 4-0 in ’08. Of course our run through the playoffs this past year. Home and away against Columbus, San Jose and Dallas are games that for obvious reasons will never fade from many of our memories.

Predictions for this season?

If we finish out of the top three that would surprise a lot of people. Now that we have a taste for winning in our mouth there are raised expectations. If we don’t get our hands on some kind of silverware I think people will be disappointed. The month of July will be HUGE for us as we will be playing seven games in twenty-six days. After that, we start in the CCL where traveling might take it’s toll. God willing, we will remain healthy and focused enough to be able to mount a serious challenge for back-to-back titles.

Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?

Simply, this is what we have. For people lucky enough to feel so passionate about soccer there IS no other place to start than by supporting your local team. Do it, and be proud of your team, remember your rivalries and that the enemy of your enemy is a friend.

For more information and/or to join BSG check out their website.

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The Beautiful Game: The OTHER Reason We Watch

Editor's Note: We continue with yet another random, new series on the Free Beer Movement. Soccer fans come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and how they became fans of the sport are as diverse as they are. While most of us are engrossed in the on-field action, the tactics, the drama.... for many it is more personal, more intimate.

Introducing "The Beautiful Game" a series that focuses on the lighter side, the more attractive side of soccer. Don't worry we're not trying to become "Kickette", but, in our ever-expanding quest to cover the cultural side of the sport its hard to look past a pretty face. Our contributor Amanda will be serving up soccer's best specimens from both sexes with a wit that only she can provide.

Please leave your feedback in the comments section!


By Amanda / Senior Hottie Correspondent


I started out as a Eurosnob (and I still love Liverpool), but over the past few years, I’ve come to realize Major League Soccer is really where it’s at for me. Nothing like watching a game in person, either jumping and shouting in the supporters section or gossiping and ogling the keeper over a Black Iguana or two with other soccer-loving ladies. And as MLS has matured, one thing that’s come along with much better uniforms (remember this, Sporting KC? Or this, LA?) is former players becoming coaches. Hot coaches. In this installment of The Beautiful Game, we’re taking a look at three old-school MLS players who’ve moved to the bench permanently, and do a damn fine job of looking damn fine.

First up, Jason Kreis. MLS original, Real Salt Lake coach, and GQMF. This man can wear the hell out of a suit. Even back when RSL was a struggling expansion team and not the class of the league (CONCACAF Champions League final aside), they were top of the table when it came to a well-dressed bench. Of course, nothing’s sexier than success, but I like to think having a sharp-dressed man on the sideline helped spur RSL on to their MLS Cup-winning season in 2009 and to the Champions League final this year. If you tell me you don’t want to be the trophy in this picture, I will call you a liar. Even you LA and Colorado fans want a piece of that.

Next, we turn our attention to the Eastern Conference, and D.C. United’s head coach, Ben Olsen. Now, Olsen hasn't had quite as much time as Kreis has and definitely hasn’t had the success (but I think you should get hazard pay for taking over DCU post-Onalfo). However, he is also quite the snappy dresser, though tending a little more toward hipster sweaters and untamed scruff than Jason Kreis, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Especially not when you have an excellently developed
"Sideline Glare of Intensity" and a sweet wool coat to go along with it. And when your team has the leading scorer in MLS in Charlie Davies, who knows what the future holds? Maybe DCU will make the playoffs and we’ll all see just how luxuriant an Olsen playoff beard can get. Fingers crossed.

And finally, Houston Dynamo coach Dom Kinnear, part of the long list of "Terrifying Coaches I Love". Sure, he looks all smiley here, but dude’s been working on his death stare for decades now (when he wasn't working on his awesome curly mullet, it seems). And as much as I love him, I’d be lying if I said Kinnear was anywhere near as well-dressed as Olsen or Kreis.

Actually, he tends to favor team polos and ill-fitting pants. But when he’s not terrifying (i.e. most times except for immediately after a Dynamo loss), just look at that smile. And remember how I said nothing’s sexier than success? Yeah, about that.

Darn right, y’all.

Meet Amanda

I'm a lawyer in South Texas, a.k.a. the middle of nowhere. I drive three hours each way to attend all the Dynamo home games I can, and that's only partially because standing with Texian Army gives me a
great view of Tally Hall from behind. Hot players are a bonus, but I'd love the game even if they all looked like Carlos Tevez (the women too). You can find me on The Girls in the Cheap Seats, talking about the American game as part of a rotating cast of smart female fans. I post my own nonsense over at Needs More Kittens,and tweet more than I should here.

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NEWS WATCH - USWNT Roster for 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany

Coach Pia Sundhage named her 23 player roster for this summer's Women's World Cup in Germany.

Want to know more about the USWNT? Check out our contribution to The Shin Guardian, "The ABCs of the USWNT".

Goalkeepers (3): Nicole Barnhart, Jillian Loyden, Hope Solo

Defenders (7): Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Ali Krieger, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn

Midfielders (7): Shannon Boxx, Tobin Heath, Lori Lindsey, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly, Megan Rapinoe, Lindsay Tarpley

Forwards (4): Lauren Cheney, Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez, Abby Wambach

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Better Know A Supporters Group Photo Essay: Section 8

Chicago Fire training pitch. Toyota Park in the background.

We had to take a brief respite from our weekly series featuring profiles of Major League Soccer supporters groups, because, well, several of them haven't returned their questionnaires yet (you know who you are!).

That being said... we were digging through the dark room at FBM HQ and we came across a bunch of photos we've never featured on the site. Last October we had a chance to catch a game in "Section 8", the supporters section of Chicago Fire the night before the USMNT international friendly against Poland.

Growing up in Wisconsin, the Fire were the closest MLS team for us to travel to so we frequented their games as they played all over Chicago-land; Naperville, Soldier Field, and finally, in their own digs, Toyota Park.

The late fall match pitted Chicago Fire against their arch-rivals, Columbus Crew, and though the home side was starring down a post-season-less 2010, the supporters (and not a supporters group, but an "independent supporters association") were in full voice and in the mood to put a dent in the Eastern Conference leading Crew's march to the playoffs.

The weekend also happened to coincide with the 13th anniversary of the birth of Chicago Fire so the fans were in a festive mood to celebrate their club's accomplishments despite the lack of them that season.

The night was the truest definition of what it means to be a supporter of American soccer; no matter what.... they were behind their club. True support. True passion.

Read more »

Soccer Marketing 101 - Fox Soccer to Debut "Soccer Night in America"

Seemingly out of the blue and partway through the 2011 Major League Soccer season, Fox Soccer (Channel?) announced their prime time matches would, from this moment forward, be known as "Soccer Night in America".

The first "SNiA" will be this Friday as Portland Timbers host Philadelphia Union at 9pm (CT).

Getting beyond the fact that FS(C?) pretty much STOLE our nickname MLS matches during the week (we've been Tweeting and Facebooking that out for the last two years.. I'm sure they got it from us) we pleased as punch that the network is making our domestic league a priority.

The channel that's made its name broadcasting English Premier League, Serie A, and this year, Champions League matches, has treated the American league like a red-headed stepchild in its lineup.

Granted they've hired much higher profile names to call their games, but Fox Soccer's coverage of MLS has often lacked the "polish" of other broadcasts. No pre-game or post-game shows, few stats, on-screen graphics, and fewer camera angles to compliment the coverage they did provide.

Finally, though, it looks we can give credit where credit is due. Fox is looking to make a serious push in covering MLS where ESPN has tried and failed. By committing the league to a specific night (Fridays with some Saturdays sprinkled in) with specific branding ("Soccer Night in America") they're giving the league a spotlight for soccer fans to gravitate too.

Friday nights are tough, but for die hard domestic fans it creates consistency, something the league broadcast coverage has sorely lacked. ESPN used to dedicate Thursday to MLS, but the 2010 season saw that formula fly out the window and their broadcasts bounce in and out of a weekday slot all season (with some weeks not seeing an ESPN televised MLS game at all).

American soccer fans have long complained that one of the nation's largest platforms for reaching the greater soccer fan base in the U.S. has punted on their MLS coverage, but now it appears Fox Soccer wants to get serious about it. From what little we've seen so far the areas of great failure will hopefully become Fox's great successes.

Fox Soccer can do little about the on-field product that the league puts out on a weekly basis, but from here on out they can certainly add a degree of professionalism and presentation to help build the domestic game.

In a perfect world, this would be the new intro for "Soccer Night in America":




We suppose this one isn't half bad:



*** We added a question mark after several mentions of "Fox Soccer Channel" or "FSC" because it seems as though the network is increasingly referring to itself as solely "Fox Soccer" instead. Stay tuned.


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Portland Gets an Top-Tier Team, Its Fans Get a Top-Tier Beer

Photo Credit: Free Beer Movement

On April 14, 2011 the Portland Timbers made their smashing Major League Soccer debut. The American soccer world was blown away at the sights and sounds of the league's newest members. A renovated stadium, a supporters-fueled National Anthem, and a team that brought home a victory for the home fans. Top-tier American soccer returned to the Rose City for the first time since the collapse of the team in 1982 and the North American Soccer League in 1984.

The city earned the nickname "Soccer City USA" for it's great support of the sport in the 1970s, but since then has earned another reputation; that of craft brewing quality. Portland, and the whole of the state of Oregon has led the way  in a national revival of high-quality brewing.

The return of top-flight soccer to Portland meant yet another opportunity for beer and soccer to mix.

Opening night in Portland. (Photo Credit: Portland Timbers)

Cascade Brewing Co., in cooperation with the Timber's supporters group, the Timbers Army, released a beer to honor the team's return to American soccer's main stage.

The beer, called "Portland Pale Ale" is a tribute beer for the Army and its long-standing symbolic representative, Jim Serrill (aka "Timber Jim"). Art Larrance, Cascade's owner, is a long-time Portland sports and soccer fan, and the brewer that brought the Portland brew to life.

Larrance started Cascade Brewing Co. in 1994, after leaving Portland Brewing Co. another brewery he helped start in 1985. Today Cascade brews nearly 1800 barrels of beer a year available at both the brewer (the Barrel House) and their restaurant, the Raccoon Lodge and Brew Pub. Larrance is considered one of the "Fathers of Craft Brewing" in Portland along with the likes of the city's other brewing heavy hitters, Brideport and Widmer Brothers.

“I chuckled, in 1985," Larrance recalled. "Wait til those little babies that are just born now are drinking our beers. That means they would have grown up with our craft beers their whole life. Those are who are drinking our beers today. Those who have grown up with our movement, accepted it, and it’s a part of their life.”

Since brewpubs were legalized in Oregon in 1985, Portland is now home to 30 microbreweries, and with 46 microbrew outlets, has more breweries and brewpubs that any other city in the United States. Beer is a part of Portland's culture, and now, so is professional soccer.

For Larrance rolling out a tribute beer for soccer's return to the city was a no-brainer.

"Timber Jim" takes a swig of Portland Pale Ale.
(Photo Credit: Brewpublic.com)

“We decided we wanted to launch that beer at the same time the Timbers we’re getting kicked off this year because we’ve had a long time association with Jim Serrill,” he said.

Not only was it a tribute, but Timbers Army had a hand in helping make the beer a reality, designing the label that graces each 22 oz. bottle.

"Portland Pale Ale" is an original recipe from Larrance's days back at Portland Brewing Co.

Larrance describes the beer, which clocks in at 4.5% ABV:

“A nice easy-drinkin’ pale ale. It’s one that you can drink more than one or two or three. It just goes down real easy. It’s not over hopped, it’s balanced. A nice blend of the sweets of the malt and the bitterness of the hop. And to me that’s what beer is about; the blending of the elements.”

The Cascade Brewing Co. owner's history with beer (he started as a home brewer) is just a bit shorter than his history as a soccer fan in Portland.

"I'm a sports fan to start with," said Larrance who also has had courtside tickets to the Trailblazers NBA team for 40 years. "I can remember standing six or seven hours in line in 1975 to see the Portland Timbers."

With legends like Giorgio Chinaglia and Pele coming through town, the Timber's inaugural season in NASL saw them run all the way to the championship game only to fall to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-0.

Art Larrance and "Timber Jim" enjoying their beer.

(Photo Credit: Brewpublic.com)

"Soccer and Portland... we like winners here. We jumped on them and we filled the stadium,"

Larrance owned season tickets for several years, but after the NASL left town he saw just a handful of games as the Timbers organization floated through the lower echelons of American soccer.

Now that America's top league, this time as Major League Soccer, is back, so is Larrance.

He said with a laugh, “I did jump back on the bandwagon and have tickets to share with the employees as well as myself.”

For Larrance beer and soccer just makes sense.

“It’s just a part of watching sports," he said.

“I think the people that play soccer; after a game you want to have a beer. So when you’re watching somebody else sweat it feels good to drink for them ‘cause they can’t drink one right now.”

In Portland both beer lovers and soccer fans have something new to cheer about.

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Better Know A Supporters Group: Screaming Eagles

We continue to expand our coverage of American soccer culture with our series "Better Know a Supporters Group," just like Steven Colbert's "Better Know a District" from "The Colbert Report". 

Our goal: to feature each of the MLS teams' supporters groups. We've sent e-mails to each and every SG in Major League Soccer and soon you'll be able to check all what each is all about and what awesomeness they have to contribute to our growing American soccer world.

When we devised this idea a while back it was cool to be able to see what each supporter group is about, but in light of the terrible, one-sided, anti-American, condescending profile of Philadelphia's Sons of Ben SG by the British GQ (not even going to link to it to give them the site hits) we think its all the more important to give supporters groups in Major League Soccer the proper exposure and voice they deserve.

Today it's the "Screaming Eagles", supporters of the capital city's D.C. United.

As told to the Free Beer Movement by SE President Paul Sotoudeh.

(Editor's Note: Last week we featured on of D.C. United's other SGs, Barra Brava. Check their profile out as well!)

The Basics

SG Name: Screaming Eagles

MLS Club: D.C. United

Stadium: RFK Stadium

Year SG Founded: 1995


Section Name (if other than SG name):
The Nest (132-134), The Perch (231-232) and the Aerie (139)

Any other SGs apart of your section?

No (Editor's Note: Other SGs in RFK including Barra Brava, La Norte, District Ultras)

Location of SG in Stadium (section #, side, direction):

Sections 132-134 and 139, as well as additional rows in 231 & 232. Northeast side of RFK (the TV or “loud side”).

The Meaty Questions

What are the origins of your groups’ name?


We held a quick poll amongst the small group of people who came to the earliest meetings. Screaming Eagles was adopted without too much debate. It just made sense. There was an eagle in DC United’s logo and supporters groups scream when they're in the stadium. It serves as a bit of an homage to our fighting men and women (we’re based in our nation’s capital, after all), and we figured that nobody looking for the 101st Airborne would be confused by a soccer group w/ the same nickname.

Favorite chants/songs?


Tough to pick. Although we have a number of go-to chants that we have used for many seasons, we like to keep things fresh and add new ones every year or two, so there’s always a new favorite – we have a good one for Charlie Davies that we just started doing. If forced to pick, I’d say what is currently known as the “Benny’s Army” chant – a chant we first did back when we were “Bruce’s Army” – is a good choice.

Why is sitting in the supporters section the “best seat in the house”?

The Nest is along the touchline at midfield, very close to the action, so we have the opportunity to influence the match through our support. There’s no better place to be a fan and really experience and become part of the game. Plus, our sections are where the party is.

Brag. What makes your SG one of the best supporters groups in MLS?


At the start of MLS, the Screaming Eagles set the standard for how American supporters groups are run in terms of organization, style of support, and relationship with our club’s front office, and we continue to push things forward in 2011. Our tailgates are the best in the league, our support for DC United and the US National Team is second to none, and our match-viewing events draw plenty of new fans. But we also sponsor local rec soccer clubs and organize community outreach activities and charitable efforts that spread the game to young and old alike. We are the best grassroots promotional organization for soccer in the DC area, because it isn’t just about watching the match for us. We’re here to grow the game, and that’s what we do every day.

Greatest game(s) in team history?


The 2004 Eastern Conference Final is the greatest match in MLS history. That said, I think the team’s high point is the 1997 MLS Cup at RFK Stadium, when United beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 in front of a sold-out home stadium. For that match, the league erected and sold additional temporary bleacher seats behind the south goal to accommodate the demand. The weather was rainy and bitterly cold. And still, we had 57,000+ people come out and thunderously chant for DC together – and we won a title. When growing the game is your goal, there’s no better blueprint to follow than that.

Predictions for this season?

Great improvement. We aren’t MLS Cup contenders by any reasonable measure, but we’re young and tough and talented. I expect that we’ll make the playoffs in a weak Eastern Conference, getting markedly better as the season progresses, and then be a really tough out for whoever we’re matched up with in the playoffs.

Why Major League Soccer? Why American soccer?

DC United is our hometown team and the US National Team is our nation’s team. There are lots of people who live in America and claim to love the game, but aren’t interested in supporting soccer in this country so that one day it will be as good or better than what they get up early on weekend mornings to watch. There’s nothing wrong with being interested in watching the high standard of play on display in foreign leagues, but this is our game and these are our teams, and we believe in supporting them 100%.

For more information about the "Screaming Eagles" or to join up with them check out their website.

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VIDEO - "How To Dive and Cheat" and a Few Words of Wisdom

The haters and the non-coverted point to the flopping, the complaining, the asking for cards as THE indictment of soccer. "I just can't stand all the faking!" they scream. "How can this be a real sport when its based on conning the referee?" they question to the heavens.

News flash... we hate it, too.

Ask any soccer fan, casual or hard core, will agree that diving and faking injury in the sport is one of our blackest eyes. The deliberate acts of tricking the ref into making calls embarrass us, too.

So when the darkest corners of our sport and held up as the standard for the sport we have only one response... sarcasm and humor.

Diving and cheating are a terrible part of our game, but why allow the doubters to define our sport?

Soccer is graceful, magical, and at most times a game, of positive play. Just like the NFL is not made up of chop blocks, the NBA is not comprised of flagrant fouls, or MLB a mess of hit batters.

Two soccer fans took is upon themselves to make a humorous point and took the important first step is any problem; admitting there is one.

Which is your favorite?

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Going Suds Up: The Best Soccer, The Best Beers

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

With the trophies practically passed out in three of the four big European leagues – let’s just pass the crowns Manchester United, Barcelona, and AC Milan right now,  although Borussia Dortmund might need another week – it’s more about the battle for the last Champions League position in each league. And so, the games you should pay attention to over this long soccer weekend:

Premier League

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur (Saturday, 11:30 AM CT, FSC)

Chelsea were on the brink of crashing out of the Champions League positions, but seven wins from eight matches have pushed them into second, with delusions of titles still stuck in their heads. Spurs, meanwhile, the most laughably inconsistent team to grace the Premier League this year, are four points back from Manchester City.

Manchester United v Arsenal (Sunday, 8 AM CT, FSC)

Arsenal were a title contender. Now they’re not even safe in the Champions League. Granted, it’s unlikely that Spurs and Manchester City will both manage to catch the Gunners, but it could very well happen, considering Arsenal have won just once in their last seven matches.

Six Pack for England: Anderson Valley Boont ESB (Boonville, CA)

Might as well pick up a six-pack of an ESB, a typical English-style beer, to watch the Premier League matches this weekend. Anderson Valley is widely available and, for goodness sakes, if you see Summer Solstice pick that up instead. Otherwise try this one. It pours golden with a thin head, leaving plenty of lace on the sides. Aromas are mostly caramel, but with a slight peppery note. Yummy butterscotch taste with a bit of spice, but a warning: this one finishes fairly bitter, unlike many ESBs that seem to think the “bitter” part of their name need not be acknowledged.

Bundesliga

Bayern Munich v Schalke 04 (Saturday, 11:30 AM CT, ESPN3)

Schalke may have made it to the semi-finals of the current Champions League tournament, but they did so at the expense of their league form, currently sitting tenth in the Bundesliga. Bayern Munich have fared a bit better, insofar as “bit better” means that last year’s champions are in the running for the final Champions League position.  A win this weekend could move them into the third spot, but with Hannover facing Borussia Monchengladbach, it’s unlikely.  

Six Pack for Germany: Great Divide Hoss Rye Lager (Denver, CO)

Confession – I picked this beer because it was on my shelf. But it’s available in six packs, it’s relatively low in alcohol content, and it’s a märzen, so hey, Germany!  And it’s a pretty beer  and the Germans play pretty football, so why not? It pours golden amber with plenty of clings, and an overwhelming candy sugar aroma. Tastes of caramel, rye, and, surprisingly enough, cherry.

Serie A

Lazio v Juventus (Monday, 1:30 PM CT, FSC)

No, I don’t know why this match is on Monday, either. I’ve given up trying to figure out what the Italians are thinking. What I do know is this that Lazio has to win this match if they want to give themselves any breathing room in fourth place in Serie A. Udinese, one point behind, will have already played Fiorentina on Sunday, which will almost certainly be a draw. Juventus are out of Champions League contention after last weekend, when Catania came from behind to earn a draw, but they certainly won’t make life easy for Lazio – and the Old Lady shouldn’t, considering having to watch Lazio play in Champions League qualification would require me to drink at least an entire six pack per match.

Six Pack for Italy: New Belgium Ranger IPA (Fort Collins, CO)

What, you thought this was going to be an Italian-style beer? Oh no, if you’re going to take a late lunch to watch Lazio beat up on Alessandro Matri and his gorgeous eyelashes, you best be drinking something beyond Peroni, something along the lines of say, 6.5% ABV. This is one of the best IPAs to ever grace a six pack, although I might be biased – I’m partial to floral hops rather than citrus ones.  You can smell the Cascade hops in this one before you even raise the glass. The taste is both floral and piney, with a perfect amount of bitter citrus to finish it off.

La Liga

Seriously? I’m so sick of hearing about any Spanish club. Go grab the strongest beer you can find and drink it until there are no more news reports on Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, fixing, or diving.

About Kirsten

I may be a law student at Lewis and Clark, but soccer is my true love, with beer coming in a distant second. That's not to say I don't love beer--I've tasted over a thousand different brews, and listed many of them onRatebeer. Living in Portland, Oregon, I attend quite a few festivals and tastings, and am able to argue passionately about the merits of Cascade hops vs. Chinook. 

As for the soccer, I'm the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Aston Villa site, 7500 to Holte, the Italy Editor for SB Nation Soccer, and cover the Seattle Sounders on SBN Seattle (don't judge--I'm from Seattle!) Finally, I write for Two Footed Tackle when I find words worthy enough for the site. Want more? Follow me on Twitter!

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