Friday Beer Post: 2012 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!"

I'm missing yet another game.  This time, however, it's my own damn fault.  My 10-year high school reunion is this weekend, and I've decided to attend it for no particular reason.  That means a trip home to Chicago, and not to the UCLA game.  (For the record, this decision was made long before the season started.)

The untimely trip to Chicago does give a great idea for a tailgate beer.  I grew up in DuPage County, about 25 miles west of the Second City.  Happily, just down the road from my old stomping grounds is a great craft brewery.  Two Brothers Brewing, located in Warrenville, IL, makes a fantastic Red Rye Ale called Cane and Ebel, and I'm naming it as my gameday beer-o-the-week.

I talked about Two Brothers and Cane and Ebel early last year, but I think it's a beer worth re-visiting.  I love this brew.  While not typically a fan of rye ale offerings, I find this style does a great job balancing a combination of spicy/sweet malts with hoppy notes.  The bottle touts this as being "hopped up," but it's not as bitter/resiny as that advertising can often mean; more floral/sweet.  The creamy/sweet finish is especially pleasing.

I'm definitely going to grab some while I'm back home.  It may be a little bit of a stretch for those in Colorado to get some by kickoff Saturday, but if you can, it's well worth the effort.

Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, beat the Bruins!