After three whole days without college basketball (you don’t count, NIT), the NCAA Tournament finally resumes tomorrow with the Sweet 16.
Since we know you’re going to be watching at a bar, we’re doing you the favor of suggesting the beer to pair with whatever team you’re rooting for. Goooo beer!
Michigan vs. Oregon
A matchup of two great beer states. Pull for the Wolverines with a Bell’s Two Hearted, a well-balanced IPA brewed in Kalamazoo. If you’re riding with the Ducks, go for a hoppy-as-duck Deschutes Fresh Squeezed IPA.
Gonzaga vs. West Virginia
Whether or not you know where Gonzaga’s located (it’s Washington), you can’t go wrong with a stout from Seattle’s Fremont Brewing. West Virginia isn’t highly seeded in the craft beer world, but try to find a beer from the Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co.
Purdue vs. Kansas
Indiana knows basketball and it knows beer, too. Root on Purdue with the state’s super-highly-rated 3 Floyds Zombie Dust IPA. If you’re chanting “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” for Kansas, you should be sipping a Yakimaniac IPA from Free State Brewing.
Arizona vs. Xavier
Arizona fans, cheer on your unoriginally-named Wildcats with a very-originally-named Kilt Lifter Ale from Four Peaks. X-Men and X-Women of Xavier, rep Cincinnati with a Cincy-made Rhinegeist Hustle Red Lager.
North Carolina vs. Butler
#1 seed UNC comes from a top-ranked beer state, as well. Choose a Wicked Weed Pernicious IPA, Tar Heels fans. Butler’s another team from hoops-happy Indiana. For the Bulldogs, sip a Sun King Grapefruit Jungle, brewed in Indianapolis.
Baylor vs. South Carolina
If you’re Team Baylor in this matchup, you’ve pretty much gotta be raising a Lone Star, “the national beer of Texas.” If you’re with the Gamecocks, show it with a Westbrook Brewing Gose, brewed in Mount Pleasant, S.C.
UCLA vs. Kentucky
You may not think of beer when you think of LA, so we’re going to look slightly south and suggest a Stone IPA from down San Diego way. For Kentucky fans, we’re embracing tradition with bourbon-barrel-aged Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.
Wisconsin vs. Florida
Wisconsin loves its Leinenkugel’s, and who are we to argue? If you’re pro-Badger, lift the Leinie’s with pride. If you’re a Florida Man or Florida Woman, you’re celebrating it with a Florida Cracker Belgian White from Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing.
Enjoy the games and the beers, everybody!