Friday Beer Post: 2011 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - UCLA Edition

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But,     in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"

A Bruin, for those of you who haven't figured it out, is just a common brown bear.  The bear has been a symbol for California since before it even became a state, hence why the two primary public institutions of higher learning, UCLA and Berkeley, use it for a mascot.  Ostensibly a symbol of "strength and unyielding resistance" the bear has remained on the California flag since it was first raised during the California Republic revolt in the Mexican War.

As a result, Bear Republic imagery is common throughout the state, and one of my favorite Californian breweries is even simply called "Bear Republic Brewing."  Their very delicious Racer 5 IPA is my tailgate beer-o-the-week.

Sure, their Cloverdale brewery, located north of San Francisco, is no where near LA, but... Bear.

I'm back on familiar ground with this one.  A good ole American IPA, rockin' with hops and arrogance, and plenty good enough to wash down some football.  It's even award winning: Racer 5 won the gold medal at the '09 GABF for best American-Style Strong Pale Ale.  Did I say strong?  Yes I did; this brew clocks in at 7% ABV, giving you plenty of kick in a 6-pack.

From a state known for cranking out some incredible IPAs, Racer 5 is easily in my California-based top-3.  (In no particular order: Stone IPA, Racer 5, and Russian River's Blind Pig)  You should be able to find some in your local beer-mart, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed.


Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Bruins!