craft beer
noun
a beer made in a traditional or non-mechanized way by a small brewery.
Craft beer continues to explode in the United States and many of us want to branch out from the traditional brew each Sunday. So what’s the perfect pairing of suds for your favorite team? Below is a local brewery for each NFL team and a craft beer you have to drink while watching helmets collide.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Beers For Each NFL Team
Arizona Cardinals
Four Peaks Brewing Peach Ale
Because you need something to go down smooth and sweet in that extreme Arizona heat.
Four Peaks Brewing Co.
Atlanta Falcons
SweetWater Georgia Brown
Because in the south, you need something that's blue collar yet refined.
SweetWater Brewing Co.
Baltimore Ravens
Union Craft Blackwing Lager
This 4.8 percent German lager is described as crisp, clean and dark that "begins with hints of roasted coffee beans and rich chocolate but showcases a surprisingly light body and mouthfeel." It's described as a champion, which is what the Ravens have been twice over the last 14 years.
Union Craft Brewing
Buffalo Bills
Labatt Blue
Not a craft, but the team is practically in Canada, right?... the perfect beer for a Buffalo fall.
Labattus
Carolina Panthers
NoDa Brewing CAVU
A local blonde ale that will keep you as light on your feet as Cam Newton and as cool as the fall Carolina breeze.
NoDaBrewing
Chicago Bears
Pabst Blue Ribbon
No craft here either, but this is a Chicago staple that is only getting trendier. It's a blue collar beer that represents the hardcore work ethic of the Bears' d-line, even if that defense isn't quite what it used to be.
PabstBlueRibbon
Cincinnati Bengals
Mt. Carmel IPA
A local IPA as orange and fierce as that Bengal tiger you're cheering for.
MtCarmelBrewingCompany
Cleveland Browns
Great Lakes Brewing Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
A multiple world gold medal winning roasty chocolate-coffee porter that's as bold as Johnny Manziel on a Saturday night in Vegas.
Great Lakes Brewing
Dallas Cowboys
Deep Ellum Dream Crusher
Do I really need to explain the motivation behind this one? Enjoy this double IPA before the playoffs begin.
Deep Ellum Brewing
Denver Broncos
Great Divide Brewing Heydey
Because Peyton Manning is still having one against each NFL defense he encounters, this Belgian style white ale will taste great with another AFC championship.
Great Divide Brewing Co.
Detroit Lions
Motor City Beer Honey Porter
A working man's porter to get through a cold Michigan winter with a touch of honey as sweet as Matthew Stafford's arm.
Motor City Brewing Works
Green Bay Packers
Titletown Brewing Johnny "Blood" Red
This red ale is named after a Packer -- could it really be more befitting of a cheesehead?
Titletown Brewing
Houston Texans
Saint Arnold Endeavor Double IPA
Because J.J. Watt's skills are out of this world.
Saint Arnold Brewing
Indianapolis Colts
Fountain Square Preacher's Daughter Amber Ale
There is a joke relating Andrew Luck to a preacher's daughter somewhere here... I really just chose this because it looks delicious.
Fountain Square Brewery
Jacksonville Jaguars
Bold City Killer Whale Cream Ale
Who wouldn't want to try a beer with a great story behind it? I guarantee you it's more entertaining than watching the Jaguars play football right now.
Bold City Brewery
Kansas City Chiefs
Boulevard 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer
A hybrid beer with aroma of an IPA, this ale screams KC.
Boulevard Brewing Co.
Miami Dolphins
The Abbey Immaculate IPA
This amber beer is rich enough to celebrate the victories of today yet traditional enough to reminisce of the long-lost days of Marino.
The Abbey Brewing Co.
Minnesota Vikings
Dangerous Man Chocolate Milk Stout
The Vikings are currently playing in a college football stadium. It's time to continue the improvisation in the 'land of 1000 lakes.'
Dangerous Man Brewing
New England Patriots
Samuel Adams
Is it even considered a craft beer any longer? You could argue either way. Still, with their huge variety -- including great seasonals -- along with their championship history, this is the beer that screams Boston.
SamuelAdams
New Orleans Saints
Nola Brewing 7th St Wheat
The gold color of the beer is as rich as the Saints' helmets on Sunday. It's an American style ale that Bourbon St. has gone crazy for.
Nola Brewing
New York Giants
SingleCut Pacific NW Dean Mahogany Ale
An ale for the working man that's still refined enough for the upscale fan coming in from midtown.
Single Cut Beer
New York Jets
Rockaway Brewing Co. Old School IPA
Because don't we all wish it was 1968 again, Jets fans?
RockAwayBrewCo.
Oakland Raiders
21st Amendment Back In Black
Raider nation waves their team colors like no other, might as well drink it too with this black IPA
21stAmendementBrewery
Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Brewing Newbold India Pale Ale
As bold as Chip Kelly's revolutionary high-tempo offense
Philadelphia Brewing
Pittsburgh Steelers
PennBrew Penn Weizen
Not only does this beer have as many championships as the Steelers, but it matches their gold stripes as well.
PennBrew
San Diego Chargers
Ballast Point Longfin Lager
A light go-to German-style beer fit for southern CA and delicious fish tacos.
Ballast Point Brewery
San Francisco 49ers
Anchor Brewing California Lager
This iconic CA brewery is almost too popular for it's own good. Considered the state's first genuine lager, if you're in SF, this is a must-have beer
Anchor Brewing
Seattle Seahawks
Hilliard's The 12th Can
Who needs the 12th man when you have the 12th can?
Hilliards Beer
St. Louis Rams
Urban Chestnut Pilgrim 7 Seven-grain Pale Ale
The pilgrims led an exodus centuries ago. If the Rams do the same by going to L.A., at least St. Louis fans will have a good time saying adios with this beer.
Urban Chestnut
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cigar City Invasion Pale Ale
A pirate invasion ale for the rowdiest Buccaneer.
Cigar City Brewing
Tennessee Titans
Yazoo Sue
A serious southern beer for a town that likes to have some serious southern fun.
Yazoo Brew
Washington Redskins
Capital City Amber Waves Ale
So there is a controversy with our capital's football team name? How about the amber waves? You can keep the same colors, it's patriotic, super sexy AND there's already a drink named after it.
Capital City Brewing Co.