14 Best Beers For The Ultimate Tailgate Party

One of our favorite fall sports is definitely football. Whether we're cheering on the high school team on Friday, getting together with some of our favorite alumni on Saturdays, or gathering at the local bar to scream at the TV on Sunday, it doesn't matter. As long as we're all rooting for the same team, we're happy. 

While the ritual includes munching on hamburgers and hot dogs during the game, it's almost more fun to pregame with hot wings, ranch, and your favorite chip-and-dip combo. But all those goodies are just food unless you pair them with the right ice-cold brew. You can sip it straight from the can or pour it into a chilled glass, but however you drink it, the beer you pick will not only get the party going, but also keep you primed and ready to cheer on your team like the hardcore fan you are. 

There's just one thing: what's the best beer to kick off your tailgate? Is it an iconic American beer or a California craft beer? Maybe you prefer a foreign beer or something that satisfies that sweet tooth. We really weren't sure, so we approached several people who pour beer for a living. We wanted to know what they reach for before kickoff, and they were more than happy to oblige. Read on to see if your favorite made the list or maybe a new brand tickles your fancy. 

Joshua Procter, the beverage manager at Ormsby's in Atlanta, insists that "Round Trip [Brewing's] Instant Krüsch Extra Pale Kölsch is my first choice due to its 'krüsch-a-bility." Created by the Georgia brewing company, this German-style pale ale is one of the few beers that Round Trip has available all year, meaning not only can you find it at either of the brewery's two locations or even get it shipped, you can enjoy this can for the very first game of the season and continue drinking it all the way through the Super Bowl. Procter says its accessibility makes this beer "perfect for classic tailgate shenanigans."

A lighter Kölsch at only 4.2% alcohol by volume, the Instant Krüsch is a beer you can start drinking before the game and keep sipping until the final whistle. With just a hint of hops, Procter says, "This classic German-style crisp lager pairs perfectly with German sausages of any kind."

This may be the youngest beer on our list, released last April as a tribute to Jack Parker's great-uncle, Henry Lambert. While most breweries make several different beers, Henry Lambert's only makes one so far: the mid-strength lager. 

Brewed in New York, Parker keeps the lager at a very low 2.5% ABV because the point of drinking the beer isn't to get tanked; it's to enjoy the people and the situation around you. Sounds like the perfect can to sip at a tailgate because, let's be honest, wouldn't you rather commiserate with your friends before and during the game rather than asking them to fill in the blanks the next day? We certainly would. 

But if you're concerned that a lower ABV means less flavor, don't be. Lambert's is brewed to strength, so you get all the flavor Parker and his brewers put into it. Made up of just water, barley malt, hops, and yeast, it's a beer that James Philbin, the general manager at New York's Craft and Carry, says "you can drink... all pre-game long without sacrificing ANY of that wonderful pizza-crust malt flavor you love from a lager." Even though it's a newer brand, Philbin declares he "couldn't recommend them more." 

"San Diego's own Salty Crew Blonde Ale is the ultimate tailgate party beer," says Pendry's beverage director, Samuel Connors. This award-winning ale comes from Coronado Brewing, run by brothers Ron and Rick Chapman, on Coronado Island just over the bridge from San Diego. They started their brewpub as a place where patrons could enjoy good food and brews in a casual setting.  Now, 20 years later, Coronado Brewing has seven beers under their umbrella, including the Salty Crew. Connors describes it as "crisp with a clean finish, making it the perfect refreshment for a warm day."

Even though Salty Crew is marketed as a "boat beer" that Connors says is "popular among local fishermen," Coronado Brewing insists it's also great on land, making it a perfect choice for some pregame imbibing. But what Connors really appreciates about this beer is that since it has a lighter 4.5% ABV profile, it's "perfect for ramping up before the main event, while its subtle, malty notes make it an ideal pairing for classic pre-football fare." 

If you want something a little heavier, Alex Howard, bar director and co-owner of Martha My Dear in Nashville, suggests a Shiner Bock. "As it gets colder throughout the season, I like something with a bit more weight to it," he explains. 

Easily recognizable by the bighorn sheep on its label, this classic Texas beer is available year-round from the Shiner brewery and sits at a solid 4.4% ABV. Made with roasted barley malt, German specialty hops, and lager yeast, it's a darker, maltier beer whose flavor Howard appreciates. "Shiner Bock is my favorite because it has some sweetness and toasted flavor, while still [being] easy to drink a few without feeling full," says the bar director.

The beer started as a seasonal option when it first appeared in 1913, but its popularity grew. In 1973, Shiner brewers started offering it year-round, so you can now enjoy a six-pack during the preseason and share it with friends at your favorite Super Bowl party. "It's just a great fall football beer," Howard declares.

Monday Night Brewing has an interesting history. It all started in 2006, when Jeff Heck, Joel Iverson, and Jonathan Baker met on Monday nights to brew beer. After five years of loosening their ties and perfecting their brews, the three launched their first beers in Atlanta. Now, 20 years later, Monday Night Brewing has more than 20 beers and six locations where you can stop in and enjoy them. 

While Monday Night's beers span the gamut from IPA to lager to sour to stout, Ormsby's beverage manager, Joshua Proctor, recommends the newest year-round beer for your tailgate party. "If you're looking for a little more gas in the tank, Monday Night's Gasoline Dreams Hazy New Zealand-Style Pale Ale will get the job done," he exclaims. This beer packs a little more punch, coming in at 5.7% ABV. Made with Nectaron, Nelson Sauvin, Citra Cryo, and Motueka hops, Proctor believes Gasoline Dreams' "tropical hop bitterness will help cut the bite of a hot wing!" 

One of the most recognizable stouts on the market today is definitely Guinness. You can't miss that pitch-black bottle or can with the gold harp. And once it's poured, the creamy head is undeniable. It's also Michael Shelter's pick for tailgating, especially if your game is the first of the day. See, it's not just the "creamy, roasty, coffee" flavors that excite the managing partner of Las Vegas's The Silver Stamp; it's that it also pairs well with breakfast sliders, sausages, and burgers.

Believe it or not, Guinness Draught wasn't Arthur Guinness's first beer. In fact, they didn't even create the Draught until 1959, to celebrate the 200-year anniversary of Guinness signing a 9,000-year lease on St. James's Gate Brewery, where they've brewed the stout since 1759.

What makes the draught so great for game day, though, is that you no longer need to be in a bar to enjoy it. Now you can grab a six-pack and get the same draught experience in the comfort of your own home. Pour it the right way, and you'll get a beer Shelter calls "the ultimate 10 a.m. kickoff beer."

The brewers over at Eckhart aren't in a rush. They take their time brewing their numerous European-style beers, a quality James Philbin really appreciates. "We just did a brewery tour [at Eckhart] last week," Craft & Carry's general manager explains, "and our minds were blown at how true these guys are to traditional German/Czech-style brewing." That attention to detail means Eckhart ferments each beer low and slow at bone-chilling temperatures, giving each brew time to mature and become a clear beer with plenty of flavor.

While Eckhart has 14 different beers under its name, Philbin points to the Czech-style Pale Lager as a great tailgate option thanks to its "silky smooth" drinkability. Available year-round, this 4.2% ABV lager is made from Czech Saaz, Zuper Saazer, and Sladek hops. The general manager says the lager "will complement some spicy wings with a nice clean, bready finish." And if you live in Brooklyn, Philbin suggests grabbing takeout from the taproom's kitchen before kickoff, "because their food is the bomb." 

Named after the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon, Gary Fish founded Deschutes Brewery in 1988 to bring the community together over a pint of beer. They only sold 310 barrels that first year, but today the brewery produces and sells over 225,000 barrels. The brewery may have grown, but Fish and his brewers' mission remains the same: making sure the community can still come together over a great beer; and with more than 40 different beers under its moniker, we're pretty sure their mission will continue without issue. 

Even with over 40 beers, only two made our list. The first, King Crispy, comes highly recommended by Michael Shelter. Available year-round, this award-winning pilsner is made with pilsner and carapils malts, plus Tettnang, Sterling, and Mt. Hood hops. The end result is a 4.8% ABV brew that Shelter says is "crisp, light, and dry." While you can easily pop the can and enjoy it on its own, Shelter suggests pairing it with chicken wings, chips and salsa, or even a basic hot dog.

The second Deschutes to make our list is the Black Butte Porter. Sure, it's a little heavier since it's a porter, but Joshua Proctor says it's the perfect choice "to keep you warm during cold tailgates." Don't get confused by the numerous porter options Deschutes produces. It's the original porter, the first beer Deschutes ever produced, and Proctor recommends it for those chilly football games. "Its roasted, chocolaty flavors will help keep you warm and toasty even in the coldest weather," he attests. 

Another Deschutes option available year-round, the Black Butte Porter is made with two hops and four malts, including a dark chocolate malt. The result is a 5.5% ABV beer with notes of chocolate and coffee and a creamy texture that keeps fans coming back again and again. With five other iterations, including an award-winning non-alcoholic version, it's easy to see why Proctor thinks so highly of this beer. 

"When I'm tailgating, I'm always looking to drink 'beer-flavored beer,'" declares the bar director at Martha My Dear. The beer that fits that bill? Coors Banquet. In fact, it's Alex Howard's "go-to" football beer. But he's not alone. Coors has been the "go-to" beer for several celebrities over the years, including Paul Newman, Keith Richards, and Carl Yastrzemski. Originally sold only west of the Mississippi, the beer had to be smuggled to the East Coast so fans could get a taste. 

Brewed in the heart of Colorado with water from the Rocky Mountains, Coors Banquet has been a staple since its first batch in 1873. Adolph Coors created the beer using Moravian Barley seeds, the same barley Coors used in 1937. The final result is a beer that Howard says is "cold, crisp, and easy to drink multiple times over the course of the game." Howard appreciates how "affordable and easy-drinking" this beer is, "with enough body to avoid feeling watery or boring." As for what to pair it with, Howard says "it's the perfect beer to wash down anything salty or off the grill." 

Unlike the other beers on our list from their respective breweries, Beer Zombies didn't start as a brewery. It started as an Instagram page where beer fans could share their favorite brews and watering holes. As its following grew, Beer Zombies' creator and bartender, Chris Jacobs, started creating merchandise and hosting bottle shares. In 2016, he collaborated with Kings Brewing and released Beer Zombies' first bottle. He followed that up with more beers, and then in 2019 Jacobs opened the first draft room and bottle shop. 

To date, Beer Zombies has more than 20 beers on tap any given day, and several are also available in cans to take home. Of the many choices, Michael Shelter picks the Boomstick Blood Orange for his tailgate party. This beer is an upgrade from the Beer Zombies' Boomstick Blonde Ale, adding a kick of blood orange to create a beer that Shelter calls "refreshing, fruity, and clean." Although the managing partner of The Silver Stamp isn't sure it'll pair with a classic burger or hot dog, he guarantees this brew will pair well with Mexican fare like nachos, jalapeño poppers, or tacos. 

James Philbin believes that "'sport beers' generally lean toward the light lager styles," so he changes things up and recommends a lighter IPA instead: Mad Love's Liquid Love. Brewed in New York on Staten Island, Mad Love is a newer beer, having appeared on the scene only two years ago. 

Creator Ricky Boyance introduced Mad Love to the world in 2024 by releasing just two beers: Low Life Lager and Liquid Love. Today, you can choose from four beers, including a gose and a helles lager. But Philbin says the classic hazy New England IPA "is the beer you want to be drinking after 4 dogs and a burger while walking over to the stadium, no doubt."

The manager of Craft & Carry compliments Boyance, saying that the head brewer "does a phenomenal job packing this light, easy-drinking IPA (5%) with a ton of citrusy flavor." Philbin especially appreciates all the flavor in this can without the heaviness typically associated with an IPA.

Atomic Duck may be the only beer on our list named after a historical event. Able Baker Brewing is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the first atomic bombs, Able and Baker, were tested. 

That's where the brewery gets its name. As for the beer itself, the story goes that after the first atomic tests, the only animal to survive the blasts was a duck. After the bombs went off, the duck supposedly got up and waddled off, forever being known as the Atomic Duck. It seems only fitting that a brewery named after the original atomic bombs would name its flagship beer after the only animal to survive it. 

But that history isn't why Michael Shelter says it's a great tailgate option. He likes the 7% ABV beer for its tropical, citrus flavors and its balanced bitterness. He also thinks it pairs well with classic tailgate fare, from buffalo chicken dip to pizza or burgers.

If you're looking to party but don't want to tie one on, Michael Shelter recommends Best Day Brewing's Electro-Lime. What makes Best Day Brewing unusual is that while many breweries offer one or two non-alcoholic options, Best Day Brewing makes only non-alcoholic beers. Started in Northern California, Best Day Brewing was created with one thing in mind: brew the best-tasting craft beer they could without the alcohol. That way, people seeking adventure could enjoy a cold one without any of the effects. 

Believe it or not, Best Day brews its beers the same way other breweries do, using water, barley, hops, and yeast. The magic happens after the beer is made. After brewing, the brewers remove the alcohol using a special process that preserves the beer's flavors.

There are six options under the Best Day Brewing umbrella, but Shelter picks the Electro-Lime for his tailgate because of its light, refreshing lime flavor, saying the citrus pairs especially well with chips and salsa, elotes, or grilled chicken.