Monday Rant (On a Sunday): Feeling Super

I rarely write a post on this blog on the day of, but I feel that a Monday Rant about Super Bowl Sunday is probably best written and read on the day of. Even though my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers fell miserably short for a second year in a row, I actually feel at ease this year for the big game.

Remember, the last two NFL playoffs have been miserable for a Steelers fan. I mean come on. Take into account San Francisco on the verge of tying them in Super Bowls, New England is always knocking on the door and with Baltimore last year. Don't even get me started. To make a long story short, I can watch the game in actual relaxation this year.

I've been working on a pork shoulder since this morning. It's rubbed, roasted, pulled and simmering in the slow cooker. I'm also going to start work on some form of a nacho dish momentarily. I went to Blue Dust just down the road and bought a mixed six pack. I've just opened a bomber bottle of red ale and have on some led Zeppelin as I type this up. Heaven, folks. 

The point is that I don't have a rant. I just hope the Seahawks win this one so that the complaining from Super Bowl XL ends. Also, to the fans of teams that came up a lot closer than my Steelers - Don't worry. The depression sets in about half-way through the fourth quarter. Cheers.

False Beervertising

I love coming across a new Truth in Beervertising video from Breckenridge Brewery while I'm surfing on YouTube. I thought about this on Sunday while watching some of the ads created by American major brewers (you know who they are) and the fact that I wished to one day see one of these Breckenridge ads during a Super Bowl.

It's pretty much a given that the Super Bowl's portion of beer advertising is going to be Coors, Miller and/or Budweiser. One we traditionally see every year is the Budweiser Clydesdale campaign. If you miss that you usually see the new ad brandishing its new, but odd concoction.

The reality is that it's most likely not feasible for any craft brewer to pay the exorbitant sum that's required to advertise during the Super Bowl in today's day and age.

I've always looked at these Super Bowl beer ads to be very close to what the Pittsburgh Pirates do. The argument can be made that the Pirates, Budweiser, etc. have amazing marketing departments. Most in part because they provide viewers/consumers with a magnificent distraction from the actual product, which I don't particularly care for in either case. Budweiser has commercials that emotionally connect with many Americans. The Pirates have fireworks and pierogi races.

I'll admit the commercial was well done. That doesn't mean I'm cracking open a Budweiser any time soon. I'll still prefer a Breckenridge Vanilla Porter.

Monday Rant: Plenty More Football Than Beer

I'll try my best to not talk football on this mournful day following Super Bowl XLVII, but I do need to let a few frustrations off of my chest. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I'm a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. If you can throw some simple addition in there you'll figure out that I don't like the Baltimore Ravens either.

The last two years of the NFL Playoffs haven't been comfortable to watch for me. Each year three of the last four teams have been teams that if they win the Super Bowl it would be a punch to the stomach of any passionate Steelers fan.

One of my favorite labels, too.

If the San Francisco 49ers would've won either of the last two the team would have tied Pittsburgh with six Super Bowl championships (I know Green Bay has more NFL titles, but that argument isn't so convenient for me). If the New England Patriots happened to win the combination of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady would have tied Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw with four Super Bowls as a coach/quarterback pairing. With the Ravens, the reasoning is somewhat obvious.

I especially don't care for how a certain Baltimore linebacker and his tendency to proclaim how his practice of religion is somehow better than other people that happen to play the exact same sport that he does and this is coming from someone that's a terribly inconsistent Catholic.

As you can see, yesterday's big game was a no-win situation for me. The best possible solution? Look at it as a competition between beers. My favorite brewery in San Francisco is Anchor Brewing, whose flagship is Anchor Steam Beer. In Maryland I narrowed it down to Flying Dog. If I had to pick a favorite from Flying Dog it would have to be Raging Bitch IPA.

In terms of beer, this is an easy choice for me. I believe Anchor Steam Beer is one of the truly great beers in existence. I have Raging Bitch ranked up there pretty high as well and my girlfriend literally lives a two minute drive from the brewery, but I from a strictly beer perspective I love Anchor Steam Beer.

So, maybe I was actually rooting for the 49ers last night? I'm not really sure. Anyways, if you're a Ravens fan congratulations. Enjoy it. I sure enjoyed the two my Steelers gave me.