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The Football Party Game Plan
Fall is for football. Whether you're a fan of the NFL, NCAA or CFL (or all three), enjoy our suggestions for drinks, food and fun during any friendly get-togethers you may host during the football season.
Beer and Beer Cocktails
Let's face it -- when it comes to drinks and football, the first thing that comes to mind is beer. It's the number one drink among football enthusiasts, many of whom bring some serious man-sized appetites to any gridiron gathering.
Pale ale, full fruity dark ale or amber ale go well with beef, lamb and game. There is no better pairing of food and beer than a roast beef or steak with an English bitter. Hearty beers for hearty meats. The heavier body and bitterness of these beers just seems to blend wonderfully with beef.
Malty dry beers like domestic lagers and brown ales go great with pizza. Brown ale tends to be lighter in body and sweeter than pale ales, and more delicate in flavor.
Mexican gold and amber lagers and Chinese beer pair up well with Mexican and southwestern flavors such as those found in tacos and chili. It is no accident that most Mexican beer is in the Vienna lager style. They are rich malty, roasty beers that absorb the heat and provide a great counterpart to burritos.
More about beer and food, beer cocktails and beer trivia »
Cocktails and Punch
Complementary cocktails are a good idea for those who dislike the taste of beer but do want a drink with some oomph.
But it might be a good idea to keep it simple and stick to only a couple of spirits, which will keep your guests from mixing and potentially becoming a little rough around the edges. Plus, it keeps you from having to make too many different cocktails and stock and endless supply of mixers and garnishes. For example, make this Sunday a daiquiri dust-up, while next weekend becomes your margarita matchup. You get the idea.
An even simpler way of providing cocktails for a crowd is to make a large bowl of punch. It promises you a better chance to watch the next immaculate reception or fourth quarter comeback instead of being in the kitchen whipping up another batch of Bloody Marys.
Slow Cooker
When it comes to food, we remain of the opinion that the most important part of a football party is football. So a slow cooker is especially handy for preparing some delicious food while leaving the host with as much free time as possible to watch the game. You don't want to be neck-deep in the kitchen and miss that game-changing interception do you?
30 slow cooker recipes to try on game day »
Dips and Spreads
Any dip or spread makes for a simple and classic addition to any game day party. Easy to prepare, simply set out the goods and let your friends help themselves through the game. But you'll want to offer more than just potato and tortilla chips.
Offer up a variety of veggies such as cucumber slices, julienned green and red peppers, carrot and celery sticks, etc. And don't forget bread and crackers like pita triangles, sourdough slices, dark rye rounds and melba toasts. If you really want to spice things up, throw in some shrimp or sausage rolls.
Dip and spread recipes for your football party »
