30 for 30: A Beer Recommendation for Every Week Before 2012 CFB Season

In case you are counting down the number of weeks like I am, we are only 30 more weekends away from the start of the 2012 college football season.

So, what can make the offseason go by that much quicker?

Recommending something to do outside of watching sports for the remaining 30 weeks should be exciting since the time will fly by after learning and or trying these 30 under the radar beers.

Note: This list will not be the popular ones since anybody could list that, so instead I suggest some really underrated choices.

Week 1: Batch 19

One of the more underrated beers out there as it is becoming more popular seemingly by the day. Despite only being held only by 16 different cities, a close bartending friend of mine recently told me this is a must have.

Week 2: Moose Drool Brown Ale

Big Sky Brewing Co. has a few must taste beers, and Moose Drool Brown Ale is as legit as it gets.

"The name sounds a little iffy, but it's really the best brown ale you'll ever taste. That's why Moose Drool is far and away the best-selling beer brewed in Montana."

"It has an original gravity of 13 degrees Plato and is 4.2 percent alcohol by weight, 5.3 percent by volume."

This too is another beer you may have never heard about since it is only distributed in a few areas in your state. 

Week 3: Alaskan Winter Ale

"Perfect winter warmer by the fireside or an accompaniment to holiday fare. Serve with roast goose, turkey, ham or lamb. A nice compliment to holiday breads, pound cake or apple pie."

Does that get you going? 

It won an award (Silver Medal) in the 2010 North American Beer Awards for herb/spiced beer.

Week 4: Big Sky I.P.A.

Another one of your beers from Big Sky Brewing Co. as it has "65 IBU's, 5 percent alcohol by weight and 6.2 percent alcohol by volume."

Hey, it is just March (during Week 4) and there is nothing else to do during weekend nights other than watch the end of the college basketball season.

Week 5: Torpedo

Torpedo is "full of flavor highlighting the complex citrus, pine and herbal character of whole-cone American hops."

Plus, Torpedo is just one of many beers that Sierra Nevada has to offer.

Week 6: Tire Bite

Flying Dog Brewery has a nice selection, but Tire Bite "is a clean, crisp beer that allows the flavors of your food to shine through."

Week 7: Honey Brown Ale

"Honey Brown Ale pours deep brown with a foamy tan head. This beer is dry and full of malt flavors with a decent amount of hops to round it out."

Week 8: Stone Pale Ale

Stone Pale Ale may only be in select areas, but it is worth it once you get a taste of any beer from Stone Brewing Co.

Week 9: Alaskan IPA

Alaskan Brewing Co. has five year-round beers, and Alaskan IPA is not a bad choice.

"India Pale Ales are characterized by intense hop flavor and aroma accompanied by higher alcohol content. This style possesses medium maltiness and body while also being crisp and dry. Citrus flavors and aromas are moderate to very strong."

Week 10: Porter

"Dark and rich, Sierra Nevada Porter is a delicious, medium-bodied ale with a creamy head. The Porter’s smooth flavor (malty with hints of caramel) comes from a blend of deep-roasted barley malts."

Anyway you sum it up, Sierra Nevada has several must taste beers.

Week 11: Scape Goat

Big Sky Brewing Co. is Pale Ale's award-winning beer and "it is a very smooth brew, refreshing and well-balanced."

Week 12: In-Heat Wheat Hefeweizen

Flying Dog offers some unusual and odd names for their beers, but the only thing that should matter is the pure taste.

Week 13: Hoppy Boy

One of Twisted Pine's year-round beers is summed up best as an "American IPA brewed with medium caramel malts that play off the citrus and orange-rind hop flavors to make this beer most enjoyable."

Week 14: Stone India Pale Ale

"If you're a hop-head like us, then you'll love our Stone India Pale Ale! Medium malt character with a heavy dose of over the top hops! Generous "dry hopping" gives this beer its abundant hop aroma and crisp hop flavor."

Count me in!

Week 15: Trout Slayer

Trout Slayer "is a filtered wheat ale, fermented at cool temperatures, making it a smooth drinkable session beer."

"Montana Trout Slayer is the beer to drink when you're knockin' back a couple cold ones and tellin' fish stories."

Well, I am going to pretend those fish stories are about past Saturdays during the fall.

Week 16: Midas Touch

This Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ale is "somewhere between wine and mead, Midas will please the chardonnay and beer drinker alike."

Luckily, we have several months before the season kicks off with this laundry list of beers.

Week 17: Bigfoot

Just try it based off the goofy name, though it actually has won a few awards in the past.

"Its big maltiness is superbly balanced by a wonderfully bittersweet hoppiness." 

Week 18: Alaskan Summer

"The straw-gold color and easy drinkability are an enjoyable way to celebrate summer."

It will be summertime before you know it and this isn't a bad option to go with. Plus, that whale is somewhat tempting and enticing. Outside of maybe the Pacific Holiday Bowl, thinking of a random whale would be just that, random.

Week 19: Burton Baton

"This oak-aged gentle giant has been gaining popularity over the past few years and is now available year-round."

Another choice from Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales is yet another must taste during the offseason of college football.

Week 20: Stout

"Caramel and black malts give the Stout its deep, dark color and pronounced roasted flavor."

Maybe you won't enjoy it depending on your personal selection, but now and all the way through the summer is your chance to try something new.

There is nothing worse than having a beverage you're not a fan of when your team is losing, but at least during the offseason it will not seem nearly as bad.

Week 21: American Amber Ale

Another year-round beer from Twisted Pine is something you cannot go wrong with.

Week 22: Stone Levitation Ale

Stone Brewing Co. has got it going on clearly, but until you try every type you cannot judge. I compare some of these beers to some of the teams in the recent Big Ten conference. 

There were not any dominating teams per se, but there were a nice amount of different options (10 bowl teams, went 4-6).

Week 23: Kellerweis

Sierra Nevada is featured in case you haven't noticed, but is it okay if I throw an SEC comparison in here?

Adding A&M and Missouri will only add more depth to the best college football conference in America. The same can be said for all of these different beers that I have included and Kellerweis is just one of the boatload of beers to choose from.

Week 24: Stone Ruination IPA

Stone Brewing Co. has a few different selections of their own, and this one is your solid type of beer if you enjoy that "bitter flavor."

Week 25: Alaskan White

"Alaskan White Ale has a soft, slightly sweet base with the unique spice aroma of coriander and crisp, citrus finish of orange peel."

If that polar cannot get you going then, well sorry.

Week 26: Porter

"Dark and rich, Sierra Nevada Porter is a delicious, medium-bodied ale with a creamy head."

Plus, by this time we will be in August, which means less than a month away from the season opener between Michigan State and Boise State!

Week 27: 60 Minute IPA

"60 Minute IPA is continuously hopped—more than 60 hop additions over a 60-minute boil."

This is served year round as well, so even when college football is in their offseason, you can always count on this drink waiting for you.

Week 28: Tsing-Tao of China

"In the summer of 2006, this stylish new beer was introduced in select metro areas of the U.S. including Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle. Currently Pure Draft is now available nationwide."

Hopefully, you live in or near these popular cities, and if not, maybe you should take a weekend off. Or just come up with something on your own since that usually works for me.

Week 29: Corona Extra

"There's something about drinking a Corona Extra that's different from drinking any other beer. Nothing else seems to set the same mood. Nothing else lets the conversation flow so easily between friends. Nothing else brings such a natural energy to an occasion."

That sounds like a typical tailgating game-day experience. After all, tailgating is one of the hundreds of reasons why college football is as good as it gets.

Week 30: Coors Light

Time for a beer that likely everybody of the legal age has tried a few times. Maybe it tastes too much like water, but the simple game-day traditional beer should always be the choice.

Plus, with all of the commercials and advertisements, it is almost impossible to not buy it every few weeks.

I almost forgot, the season will be less than a week away which means it is finally time to rejoice.

Cheers to every fan regardless of your conference or team affiliation and remember to always drink responsibly. 

Follow Dan Vasta on Twitter.