Friday Beer Post: 2013 Gameday Beer-o-the-week - Oregon St Edition

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!"

Just a short drive up US 20 from Corvallis, OR is a wonderful little brewery famous for a pale ale worthy of our attention.  That beer, Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes Brewing, is my gameday beer-o-the-week.

Not an adventurous pick, it's a strong offering from one of the few states that can hold a candle to Colorado when it comes to craft brewing.

Named after a key stretch of the Deschutes River in Bend, Mirror Pond Pale Ale is a great example of the now omnipresent northwestern pale ale style.  Strong Cascade hop flavors dominate the profile, but not so powerful as to venture into the hop-freak categories.  A Gold Medal winner from the 2010 GABF, it's a much beloved member of the craft beer community.

A few of these will do nicely when paired with good friends and a comfortable view of the big screen.

Happy Friday!  Go Buffs, pound the Beavers!