beer NOLA

As I sat there watching an exciting 1st, bit of a 3rd, and 4th quarter of yesterday’s Saints/Bucs game, I noticed one commercial over and over. Being forcefully drilled into the viewer in a way that only one beer company can do, ads for Budweiser American Ale kept smacking me in the face during just about every commercial break.

What kept making me chuckle each time this commercial aired, however, is that they chose September 2008, just a couple months after being bought out by the Belgian/Brazilian juggernaut that is InBev, to launch a beer called American Ale. Whether it’s just bad timing, or them pandering to those that clung to Bud after Miller and Coors were bought out by foreign companies years ago is anyone’s guess. What’s next, Guinness American Stout? Stella Ameritois? Coronamerican?

So in response to the thousands of airings of the commercial during this football game and during all the rest of the season, here’s a list of actual American Ales you can get in New Orleans to drink while watching the Saints head to the Superbowl!

Local
Abita Turbodog
Abita Jockamo
Abita Restoration
Abita Pecan

From the rest of the Union
Anchor Old Foghorn Ale
Anchor Liberty Ale (can you get more American than this?)

Flying Dog Pale Ale
Flying Dog Road Dog
Flying Dog Snake Dog
Flying Dog Tire Bite

Full Sail Amber
Full Sail Pale Ale
Full Sail IPA

North Coast Acme Pale Ale
North Coast Blue Star Wheat
North Coast Pranqster
North Coast Red Seal Ale
North Coast Old Stock
North Coast Old Rasputin

Red Hook Longhammer
Red Hook ESB

Rogue Chocolate Stout
Rogue Shakespeare Stout
Rogue Hazelnut Brown
Rogue Dead Guy Ale

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Porter
Sierra Nevada Summer
Sierra Nevada Anniversary

Troegs Rugged Trail Brown
Troegs HopBack Amber
Troegs Dreamweaver Wheat

While all of these are American Ales, they’re not all beers you’d want to drink for 2-3 hours while watching a game. As Saints season gets rolling and as Hornets season gears up, stay tuned for the All American Session Beer Shootout. I’ll be compiling a list of the best session beers you can get in New Orleans to drink while watching the Saints and Hornets have an amazing year.