Beer and football XIV — week five

The game: Saints at Patriots The beer: Von Trapp Bohemian-Style Pilsner The result: Loss, 34–0 The method: Live via CBS The record: 1–4 The headline: “Where do we go? Where do we go? Where do we go from here?” – UFO, “Rock Bottom” The commentary: Say what you will about Scott Zolak—I know I have—but […]

Beer and football XIV — training camp

The beer: SingleCut Frequency Lager The headline: “Don’t you know that I’ll always be true?” – Iron Butterfly, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” The commentary: Three generations of Halfenhalfs returned to Patriots training camp after a year’s hiatus and it’s just as well we missed Matt Patricia’s failure to sit up straight and build a functional NFL offense. Good […]

Far too many notes for my taste

Scene: it’s autumn. Route 1 along the North Shore (title case) of Massachusetts—rather, “Old Route 1,” to distinguish it from the stretch with strip clubs and furniture outlets and orange dinosaurs. The scenic portion with private schools and shuttered restaurants and blind intersections that almost kill you (truth). Radio: on. “Fire” by the Crazy World […]

Beer and football XIII — week twelve

The game: Patriots at Vikings The beer: Berkshire Turkey Trotter Brown Ale The result: Loss, 33–26 The method: NFL+ The headline: “Who could imagine that they would freak out in Minnesota? Who could imagine?” – Mothers of Invention, “Help, I’m a Rock” The commentary: I got no time to write this, baby. But Mike Reiss, […]

Beer and football XIII — week eleven

The game: Jets at Patriots The beer: Ipswich Brown Square English-Style Brown Ale The result: Win, 10–3 The method: NFL+ The headline: “No one makes me close my eyes.” – Pink Floyd, “Echoes” The commentary: The less said about this one, the better. They should have! They should have made me close my eyes! Rhamondre […]

Beer and football XIII — week eight

The game: Patriots at Jets The beer: Ommegang All Hallows Treat Imperial Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout The result: Win, 22–17 The method: Live via CBS The headline: “I like to act the part of being tough.” – Yo La Tengo, “Sugarcube” The commentary: Sometimes the universe just wants blog-makers to quote a particular goddamn song […]

Beer and football XII — playoffs, week one

The game: Patriots at Bills The beer: Idle Hands 34 Porter The result: Fuuuuuuck The method: Live via Paramount+ The headline: “You took my arm and you broke my will.” – Stooges, “Ann” The commentary: Look, everyone! It’s one of those posts where I wait several months to “analyze” the final game of the season […]