There are lots of predictions flying around this week about which team will win the Super Bowl based upon statistics, match ups and even the whims of a monkey made of coconuts. But in these parts, it’s all about the beer, so let’s see how these competitors stack up based upon their locally-available brews.
Pittsburgh is home to the legendary Iron City Brewing Company. I say legendary, but it’s not based on taste (they make macroesque lagers, after all), it’s mostly due to Iron City’s association as the go-to beer Pittsburgh locals, including Steelers fans. Pittsburgh is also home to the Penn Brewing Company, which makes a wider variety of beers that beer geeks will probably find more satisfying.
Green Bay’s quintessential beers come from Titletown Brewing Company, who appear to make quite a beer-geek-friendly assortment of brews, like the Bridge Out Stout, a Trilithon Tripel and even a Dark Helmet Schwartzbier. It looks like the kind of place I could get lost in. Also calling Green Bay home is the Hinterland Brewing Company, which offers a more mainstream variety of brews than Titletown, but still has offerings that would interest a serious beer drinker, like their Maple Bock, which is made with real maple syrup.
In my book, it’s advantage Green Bay, although I’ll admit I’ve never had a beer from any of the breweries listed above.
But it’s not over yet – things get trickier when you broaden the scope to the statewide level. Politicians always bet state delicacies over the outcome of the game (this year it’s cheddar versus pancakes), so it’s fair to look beyond city limits when comparing “local” brews.
Here’s how the states stack up (according to Wikipedia, which seems to have a solid list for both PA and WI):
Pennsylvania Breweries
Pittsburgh
- The Church Brew Works (official site), Pittsburgh, founded in 1996
- East End Brewing Company (official site), Pittsburgh, founded 2003-2004
- Iron City Brewing Company (official site), Pittsburgh, formed in 1899, formerly Pittsburgh Brewing Company
- Pennsylvania Brewing Company (official site), Pittsburgh, formed in 1986
Harrisburg
- Appalachian Brewing Company (official site), Harrisburg, formed in 1994
- Tröegs Brewing Company (official site), Harrisburg, founded in 1996
Philadelphia
- Nodding Head Brewery and Restaurant (official site), Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Brewing Co. (official site), Philadelphia
- Triumph Brewing Company (official site), Philadelphia, founded in 2007
- Yards Brewing Company (official site), Philadelphia, founded in 1994
Other
- Allentown Brew Works (official site), Allentown, formed in 2007
- Barley Creek Brewing Company (official site), Tannersville, formed in 1994
- Bethlehem Brew Works (official site), Bethlehem, formed in 1998
- Boxcar Brewing Company (official site), West Chester, founded in 2008
- BrewErie at Union Station (official site), Erie
- Bullfrog Brewery (official site), Williamsport, formed in 1996
- City Brewing Company (official site), Latrobe, formerly Latrobe Brewing – Rolling Rock
- Erie Brewing Company (official site), Erie, founded 1993
- Lancaster Brewing Company (official site), Lancaster, founded 1840
- Lion Brewery, Inc. (official site), Wilkes-Barre founded in 1909 (a.k.a. Gibbons Brewery 1943-1974)
- Otto’s Pub & Brewery (official site), State College, founded in 2002
- Selin’s Grove Brewing Company (official site), Selinsgrove
- Sly Fox Brewery (official site), Phoenixville, founded in 1995 and Royersford, second location opened in 2004
- Sprague Farm & Brewworks (official site), Venango.
- Stoudt’s Brewing Company (official site), Adamstown, founded in 1987
- Straub Beer (official site), St. Marys, founded in 1872
- Swashbuckler Brewing Co, LTD (official site), Manheim, Pennsylvania, founded in 2000
- Victory Brewing Company (official site), Downingtown, founded in 1996
- Wagon Wheel Brewing Company St. Marys, founded in 2008
- Weyerbacher Brewing Company (official site), Easton, founded in 1995
- D. G. Yuengling & Son (official site), Pottsville, established in 1829
.
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Wisconsin Breweries
Macrobreweries 15,000+ barrels annually
- Capital Brewery (website) – Middleton
- City Brewing Company (website) – La Crosse
- Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company (website) – Chippewa Falls
- Miller Brewing Company (website) – Milwaukee
- New Glarus Brewing Company (website) – New Glarus
- Stevens Point Brewery (website) – Stevens Point
Microbreweries < 15,000 barrels annually
- Angry Minnow Brewing Company (website) – Hayward
- Black Husky Brewing Company (website) – Pembine
- Central Waters Brewing Company (website) – Amherst
- Cross Plains Beer Company (website) – Cross Plains
- Falls Brewing Company (website) – Oconto Falls
- Furthermore Brewery (website) – Spring Green
- Gray’s Brewing Company (website) – Janesville
- Horny Goat Brewing Company (website) – Milwaukee
- Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company (website) – Milwaukee
- Lake Louie Brewery Company (website) – Arena
- Lakefront Brewery, Inc. (website) – Milwaukee
- Minhas Craft Brewery (website) – Monroe
- Minocqua Brewing Company (website) – Minocqua
- Nicolet Brewing Company (website) – Florence
- O’so Brewing (website) – Plover
- Pearl Street Brewery (website)- La Crosse
- Rhinelander Brewing Company (website) – Rhinelander
- Sand Creek Brewing Company (website) – Black River Falls
- Sprecher Brewing Company (website) – Glendale
- Tyranena Brewing Company (website) – Lake Mills
- Viking Brewing Company (website) – Dallas
It’s a tough call, but I have to go with Pennsylvania here. Don will scream “East Coast bias,” but that’s mainly because he’s a big time Packers fan. While Wisconsin has gems like New Glarus and Central Waters, Pennsylvania has Victory, Troegs, Weyerbacher, Stoudts, Yards, etc., etc., etc! In my book it’s a decisive win for PA.
So what do you think? Based on beer alone, who has the edge? Please vote in the poll below and share your thoughts in the comments.
And I’m aware how silly this post is, but since my Jets have been knocked out of the playoffs, I care much more about the beer than I do who wins!
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Although I’m a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan and am seriously disappointed in this past decade, I prefer to drown my sorrows in Wisconsin beer over Pennsylvania beer. Leinenkugel’s isn’t the world’s greatest beer, but for its price, it delivers great quality.
It’s gotta stink to see the Super Bowl played in your favorite team’s stadium without them on the field. I’ll get to find out in 2014, when my Jets won’t be in it.
Dallas Cowboys . . . Leinenkugel’s . . . the Eagles fan and beerdouchicus parts of my psyche are tingling at the same time. Must . . . resist . . . snarky . . . comment! 🙂
Have to go with PA on this one, even though Iron City and Yuengling are swill. And I despise the Steelers.
Way to control the demon, Alex. Nicely done.
Hey! Iron City ain’t even made in Pittsburgh no more, it’s made in Latrobe! EAST END!!
And that list…whew, it’s missing some. But that’s Wiki fer ya. Cheers! GO STEELERS!
You’re talking like you wrote the book on PA breweries.
Oh wait, you did!: http://www.amazon.com/Pennsylvania-Breweries-Beers-Lew-Bryson/dp/0811736415/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1
Even though I can’t put my finger on it yet, I feel like there are some options missing from the list of ‘Sconnie breweries. For the life of me, I can’t think of any, though.
I have to cop to being wildly unfamiliar with almost all of those Pennsylvania breweries. And being that it’s a hometown type of deal, I can’t vote against the Wisconsin beers here.
Homer! But it’s pretty easy to vote for the state with New Glarus in it.
I agree about the lists, but I liked that they had links and they seemed decent. Plus cutting and pasting is my friend! 😉
I really wish I could think of what’s missing. Like the steering wheel in the pirate’s pants, it’s driving me nuts. I guess there’s Potosi but I can’t vouch for their quality at all.
I think the problem is that I’m thinking of all of the brewpubs, which are great, but they don’t bottle. So places like the Great Dane or the Grumpy Troll.
Potosi makes a great IPA – Snake Hollow! Their Holiday Bock is nice too. “Good ‘Ol Potosi” is a amcro style lager and their worst beer by far. The Pure Malt Cave Ale they make is worth the $, too!
Yet another good beer neither of us can get. Hope you Wisconsinites appreciate and enjoy them! 😦
The one thing this has done is made me want to try lots of WI beer we can’t get here in PA. Any Packers fans want to do a beer trade? I’ll even throw in a terrible towel that you can use to wipe your tears after the Steelers win!
Maybe that wasn’t the most effective way of getting New Glarus.
And Jim, if your Jets did make it, I assume you’d be true to the spirit and put up Jersey breweries against those of whatever NFC team they met. After all, there’s only one New York team, and the Bills won’t get getting to the Super Bowl any time soon.
I think NJ would lose based on brewers versus just about any NFC team. God help us if we faced the Niners!
And you’re right, you’re pobably not going to be getting any New Glarus sent your way with your terrible towel comment. Maybe some Miller, but no good stuff!
Jim, you biased the poll by giving your assessment of who you’d pick!!! Of course I have to go with Wisconsin here. I love me some Victory and what little troegs I’ve had I’ve liked, but when put up against New Glarus and Central Waters and Lakefront, etc. Plus we got the only Macro playing in Miller brewing! Hell, they are even a sponsor! I gotta give the edge to my home state and say Packers all the way! Sorry Greg, you’re gonna need that towel for your own tears.
Oh, okay, Don, I see how it is. Dissing PA just because our beer doesn’t make it to Idaho.
Actually, Don, the SB creates a decent whiskey question. When attending an event like a Super Bowl party with an assortment of drinkers, many of whom enjoy whiskey, what’s a good one to bring? At the last similar gathering, a bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel went over pretty well and was only $25 or so. Smooth enough for mild tastes, decent enough for those of us who like a bit more in it. I’m tempted to repeat it, but I don’t want to seem like a one-whiskey pony. Any thoughts?
Lots of thoughts, but its gonna cost more than $25. I’d say if you can find it bring the Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, or a Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit, or a Wild Turkey Rare Breed, or a Bookers. All are great but will run $40-$50. Now if that is too rich for your penny pinching Steeler Lovin’ heart, I’d go with Old Weller Antique. I can find that for about $20, and it is truly great whiskey. GO PACK!!!
Aw, that’s so nice that you Packers fans bring $50 whiskey to parties! If I donated a $50 bottle to every gathering I went to, my “penny pinching Steeler lovin heart,” would have no money left for beer. For those of us proletarians in the mills, we need solid value from our party whiskey. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Pittsburgh hasn’t had mills in like 40 years, and I work in a cubicle. But that’s not the point, and anyway you’re an elitist for even thinking that.
In all seriousness, thanks for the suggestions! These guys are showing a football game, not getting married. And the real point is they’re not even Steeler fans. Bookers for me, Weller for them.
Now Don, you’re picking with your heart, not your head. If the Packers played in Philly, you’d be singing a different tune!
You can’t go against your team…its bad JUJU.
I’m a big fan of Aaron Rodgers, but can care less who wins this year, so I went with California…
Maybe we should do a “fantasy brewery city” by choosing your favorite breweries from around the country you would like to have in your own city?
Can’t beat your beer-choosing logic there, Jorge.
And Fantasy Brewer City is a neat idea, except for that Fantasy Football makes me nuts – it cheapens the game IMO – so I can’t endorse “Fantasy” anything, except maybe “Fantasy Friday” which I’ve never actually heard of, but it sure sounds like a lot of fun. 😉
Really?… fantasy football was what got me into football to begin with… although I’m by no means they type of guy who knows everyone’s roster and strategically trades players to end up with an unbeatable team…
I guess I spend too much time with beer rather than football…
JIm and I had a row about this at the beginning of last football season. I now know to stay far away from the topic with him. Hope he doesn’t blast you Jorge, when he gets back to his computer!
@Don – got it…
I did somehow managed to take 2nd place in my FF league this season and won $100 (beer money!)… so I can’t dis FF…
Green Bay features more former Buckeyes.
I’m going to assume that’s a good thing, but us bros grew up in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and in my case, Michigan, so I can’t say we share your enthusiasm for Buckeyes…
They also feature more former Broncos (As in BSU, blue turf broncos) so I have to go there for that reason too.
I might be bias since we have a vacation place in Northern Wisconsin but PACKERS all the way!!! And yes, I know that Leinenkugel’s isn’t the best beer in the world, but to be honest I’m not such a beer fan that I have a go-to favorite. All I know is that when I spend my summers in Wisconsin foundering on cheese and sausages Leinenkugels seems to always be there for me. “So I’ve got that goin’ for me. . . Which is nice.”
I love your Bias Keila. It is mine too! Next time you are in Wisconsin, pick up a couple four packs of New Glarus Enigma. That stuff is amazing, and I’m sure it will be better to sip on than the Leinies. Although my Brother Jim is a big fam of the Summer Shandy. I haven’t tried it yet, so I can’t comment on it, but it sounds interesting on a hot day.
Summer Shandy is good stuff on a hot day. It’s my favorite canoe beer. Thanks for the tip! I will definately try out the Enigma. They have all those cool regional beers up there and I never know what to try.
Even though I hate the Steelers success compared to my Birds, gotta go with PA. I really dig the Sprecher Hefeweiss but Weyerbacher is one of my faves.
I see what is happening, see more people are acquainted with Pennsylvania beers, so my two headed, half hearted brother decided to put together this poll because he knew that Pittsburgh would win, and that it would drive me (a life long and very loyal Packer fan) nuts! See what a bastard he is? Are you really going to side with that sort of Machiavellian manipulation of your thoughts? I for one say NAY! Packers all the way!
My WI BREWS App shows over 80 breweries in WI, my favorite is Rush River these days. But my favorite for the Superbowl is the stuff I brewed and kegged specifically for the big game (it’s my first batch, and it’s not that good by the way). regardless, GO PACK!
Well Chris, given the long history of Wisconsin producing less than stellar beer, you should feel right at home drinking Meh home brew and cheering the PACK onto Victory! Enjoy, just grill a couple Brats to cut the bad beer flavor. 😉
Although it is no longer brewed in WI, I think I will be enjoying some ice cold Pabst Blue Ribbon. The label still says “Established in Milwaukee in 1844”.
Our family was established in Milwaukee about the same time. Coincidence? I think not!
Apparently Obama favors Wisconsin, ordering beer from Hinterland for his Super Bowl party. But Scott Smith of East End is fighting for some Pittsburgh representation: http://www.timesonline.com/bct_news/news_details/article/1504/2011/january/27/pittsburgh-brewer-wants-to-supply-presidents-party.html.
I live in Pittsburgh and am a Steelers fan, so I’m totally biased. Though I have a soft spot for Sprecher, site of my first craft brewery tour.
Just remember, after the dust settles in Dallas, the beer is all that really matters!
In the interest of full disclosure, I should let you guys know that I’m ripping the hell off of this article. But with proper linkage and whatnot. It’s fixin’ to publish in a few minutes.
Steal away – at least you give us credit!
I sense a “The Right Moves” versus “Back-to-School” showdown coming up.
You definitely had the right idea.