Friday Beer Post: 2013 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Fresno St. Edition - UPDATED

Each week throughout the football season I'm going to suggest a good beer for the ubiquitous pre-game tailgate. Let's be honest, with tailgates it's not always top quality that you're looking for. To steal a phrase from the heinous beer terrorists at Budweiser, you want "drinkability." (or what a real beer connoisseur calls "a session beer") So, be warned, these may not be "the best" beers around. But, in the words of Dave Chappelle as Samuel L. Jackson "IT'LL GET YOU DRUNK!"


As the rain continues to pour down on Boulder, it's hard to think of football.  I live a block from Boulder Creek, and I can't help but continuously peek in that direction, expecting to see a wall of water headed my way any minute. I also can't help but think about the displaced, the people who have had their lives up turned this week by flood waters.  My prayers are with you all.

In spite of the flooding, the game is still on. If you absolutely must go, tailgating will be severely limited by where your spot is located.  Franklin Field, especially, will be closed, and I would expect other areas will be blocked off as well. If you do make the trek to Folsom tomorrow, be safe, be smart, and remember: it's just a game. The game has been canceled due to the flood.

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There are no breweries from Fresno that distribute to Colorado, so I have to widen my gaze a little bit.  With Boulder currently only accessible by boat, I'm reminded of a fantastic pale ale from Eddyline Brewing in Buena Vista.  That beer, River Runners Pale Ale, is my gameday beer-o-the-week.

Named after a local raft guiding company, River Runners Pale Ale is exactly what you would expect from an international style pale ale.  You get a lot of hops on the palette, but there's enough balancing malt to assure you they know what they're doing.  It's not as bitter as many in the pale ale family, so don't immediately dismiss it if you're wary of hoppy beasts.

Only available in man-cans (16oz), Eddyline just started wider distribution of the brew after it was awarded a gold medal at the 2012 Great American Beer Festival.  I know I'd try to capitalize on that sort of coup.

My suggestion: grab some River Runners, plop down on the couch, put on Pac-12 Networks, and take your mind off the storm for a few hours.  It's what I'll be doing.

Go Buffs!  Stay dry, and beat the Bulldogs!