The beer: Berkshire Raspberry Barleywine-Style Ale Henniker Working Man’s Porter
The commentary: It came during the bye week so the media didn’t pick up on it, but after five (regular) beer-and-football seasons I finally called an audible. The BBC barleywine was a gift to the Christmas hosts and I cracked it open Saturday night while coming to terms with the Ravens defeat of the Steelers. It poured an odd pinkish orange that made me cringe.

I tried to keep an open mind after the first sip but I still had like twenty-one ounces left. Could I handle it? A. sometimes likes fruity beers, could she even handle it? Probably not. Drag. Instead of re-capping it like Ty Webb (“Whoa!”) and re-gifting it to someone with a better appreciation I dumped it down the drain. What a waste. What an asshole.

It’s all for the best. After my date with the sink and the recycling bin there were two bombers, one ongoing football weekend and an additional guaranteed football weekend for me and the Patriots. Had the barleywine qualified for the bye I would have had a bomber each for the divisional round and the presumed conference championship. Was I so bold? Didn’t this almost happen last year? No thanks, just drink the damn porter. If/when the good guys win—and I expect them to in a close one—I’ll buy a single bomber next week. In this scenario, should they defeat the Broncos or the suddenly sexy-pick Colts next Sunday, I’ll buy two more to fill out the season. The one reserved for XLIX is the same stout I talked about a year ago—it’s sort of a package deal and I look forward to writing about it. Unless Brady and company get rolled by the Seahawks. Then I’ll just bitch about my smartphone or something.

Up next: The Ravens try to beat the Patriots at home for the fifteenth straight time, apparently. I don’t know, I’m almost convinced. Cheers!