NFL Draft Beer List: Day 3

 

(I'll probably drink one or two of these tonight)

Beer List Day 2 Update: Drank two beers on the list last night. Steal My Sunshine and CBS. Just wasn't in the mood for anything else to be honest. Draft was disappointing and I wasn't in the mood for beer.

   I don't plan to watch the draft today. I'm not expecting anything exciting from Washington today, just mostly back ups and rotational players who may start in a year or two. That seems to be their trend. I don't fully understand the methodology of this for a team that has gone 7-9 and 7-10 in the past two season and has been looking at depth (which is important) but not possible starting upgrades.

Anyway, here's 2 beers to help you get up this morning for the draft and one beer to enjoy in the waning hours of the day. This will be quite brief compared to the previous lists I've done.

Breakfast Stout, Founders

ABV: 8.3%

Beer Advocate Grade: 100, World  Class

   It's hard to believe that Breakfast Stout is a all around year beer. An oatmeal stout combined with chocolate and two types of coffee to create one of the best beers in the world. This is the base beer for Founders KBS and CBS. Honestly, you're solid by just sticking to Breakfast Stout.

Rise Up Coffee Stout, Evolution Craft Brewing Company 

ABV: 6.7%

Beer Advocate Grade: 92 Outstanding

   I honestly think this is one of the better beers to drink if you're going to be outside for an event (say a tailgate), you're not going to have to drive for a while and it's a little chilly. Rise Up provides the alcohol and caffeine kick you need to get you going. A caribbean style stout infused with Rise-Up Coffee that provides a nice hefty beer to go with your breakfast. There is also a Russian Imperial version and a Oak-aged RIS version as well. I highly recommend the RIS if you can find it (I think I own about 10 bottles).

Barrel Roll No.3, Pugachev's Cobra, Hangar 24

ABV: 15%

Beer Advocate Grade: 97, World Class

   Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Maple syrup and aged in Bourbon barrels. I'm generally not a fan of  Russian Imperials aged in Bourbon barrels. Old Rasputin BA is a perfect example. I really don't like it and the Bourbon makes it almost a sickening sugary sweet, that takes away the espresso and roasted malt notes. Now I personally expect from a RIS the flavors of dried fruits mingling with the darker, bitter malts/hops and some coffee notes and I'm hoping the maple sugar and Bourbon barrel aging doesn't over take those flavors. That said, I have heard nothing but high praise for Pugachev's Cobra so I picked one up to try it. We'll see how this goes.

Draft update coming Sunday (probably) if Washington hasn't pissed me off or makes me scratch my head with confusion even more.

2022 NFL Draft Beer List: Day 2

 

(No, Guinness is actually not on the list tonight.)

Some quick updates and housekeeping items:

- I will do a breakdown of all the draft stuff eventually after the draft concludes. I'll probably start working on it Saturday night maybe with a general take on all the picks, trades and how it addressed the teams needs. After that I think I'll do a breakdown of each player and what to expect from them in 2022. This is a little different than what I normally do (see my 2020 Draft Evaluations as a classic example), but I think it'll be easier for me to get everything done and easier for you, the reader, to not feel like you're reading a book.

- Beer List Day 1 update:  Got through 2.5 beers. Turtle Dreams, Black Butte Porter and 1/2 of a bottle St. Klippenstein. I hope to do a bit better today.

- Quick Thoughts on Jahan Dotson: I think Washington really needed to trade back at some point and the best time to do so and get a pick in the 3rd was by trading back in the 1st. At the time of the trade, the team had quite a few options at WR and S Kyle Hamilton. By the time Washington got to 16, they were all mostly gone. Dotson was a surprise to me b/c most analysts and draftniks had him as a late 1st round (starting in the 20s) to a very early 2nd round pick if he fell a bit.

   But not everybody felt that way. Some had Dotson graded above Jameson Williams, while others had him in the top 6 of 1st round caliber WRs (Wilson, London, Burks, Olave, Dotson, Williams). He landed in the 1st, I'm fine with it. It makes the Washington O more dangerous and the team picked up 2 more players that could be future starters or at worst early contributors. The only downside to Dotson appears to be his size but Washington has had some good success with smaller skill players over the years (Santana Moss and Darrell Green come to mind). 

Ok, so onto the thing you're here for, the beer list.

Steal My Sunshine, Burgundy Ghost Brewing*

Description: Steal My Sunshine is a light bodied ale that is crisp with hints of honey and lemon (made with actual honey and lemon) that is perfect for a hot summer day or even a cold winter evening.

ABV: 5%

Dumb me, I never wrote the recipe down as it was mostly an experimental beer that I cooked up one day because I wanted to attempt to try an summer shandy for my wife. It's kind of a pale ale/mead monster. I found one bottle left and figured either this thing will be skunky as hell or it could still be a decent opener.

Endeavour, Burgundy Ghost Brewing*

Description: Named after Inspector Endeavour Morse from the British TV Series Endeavour and Inspector Morse, this Dark Mild ale would be the perfect beer to find in a British Pub or in a great pot of chili. With a notes of toasted grains, nuts and some mild malty sweetness, this is not an ideal beer for a hop head but a nice beer to drink while watching a game.

ABV: 3.2%

Grains Used: Maris Otter, Crystal Malt, Caramel Malt, English Black Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt

Hops Used: East Kent Goldings

I felt like going very light early and working my way up as we're going through two rounds tonight. I also felt this would go well with the Buffalo Wings we're having tonight.

Siracusa Nera, Dogfish Head

Description: Combining a roasty Imperial Stout with a jammy Syrah wine, this beer is bold and complex. Notes of coffee, dark chocolate and anise from a blend of roasted malts meld with flavors of plums, cherries and stewed fruits from Syrah grape must in this jet black stout. Aged on American oak to add some light toasty vanilla to the mix.

ABV: 10%

Beer Advocate Grade: 90 (out of 100) - Outstanding

Didn't realize that I had any of this left in my stash and found a bottle while looking for my box of World Wide Stout. This is an amazing Imperial Stout that is somewhat boozy but has many dried fruit and grape flavors. Boozy and fruity.

CBS (Canadian Breakfast Stout), Founders

Description:  Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) is the epitome of why we launched the Backstage Series: to bring some of our most sought-after beers, which have been available primarily at the taproom or at a few select events, to a much larger audience.

Canadian Breakfast Stout is an Imperial Stout brewed with a blend of coffees and imported chocolates, then aged in spent bourbon barrels that have most recently been aging pure Michigan maple syrup.

ABV: 11.3%

Beer Advocate Grade: 100 (out of 100) - World Class

Founders no longer makes CBS as it takes a pretty long time to age this beer, even more so than their KBS (which is highly popular). I have had multiple 12 oz and 750ml bottles stored away and I figured now would be as good a time than ever to crack one open.

Bourbon County Stout (2019), Goose Island

Description: The Original Bourbon Barrel aged Imperial Stout. Our primary focus every year is to make this beer the best that it’s ever been, with the best ingredients, which includes the finest of bourbon whiskey barrels. This year’s Bourbon County Stout is aged in a mix of bourbon barrels from a variety of whiskey distilleries. Barrel-aged for a year to develop the complexity that only time can provide, Bourbon County Stout boasts a unique blend of flavors such as fudge, vanilla and caramel — topped off with a rich, complex mouthfeel.

ABV: 14.7%

Beer Advocate Grade: 100 (out of 100) - World Class

And I'll finish off tonight with a little Bourbon..... County that is. We'll see if I can get this far.

* Picture will be posted on Twitter when I pour said beers.

Draft Thoughts: Weekend Before The Draft Edition

 

    By this time next week, we'll know who Washington took at #11 barring a trade back. So here's a look at the most likely six candidates that fit the bill. 

   It's pretty much the same list I've been floating around in my head for about a week now, but I figured I would use Matt's Tweet since he put it out there before I did. I really don't think Wilson and Gardner will still be on the board at #11. Hamilton is a 50/50 depending on what Houston and the Jets do prior to Washington's pick. I don't see Hamilton getting past #13 if he falls however. Stingley seems to be the BPA choice if everybody is off the board. I say this because I just don't see Washington going OL, DL or QB here.

   Obviously, a trade back would probably be the best option. Washington is missing their 3rd, 5th and most likely their 2023 2nd round pick. To move back and regain some of those picks would be an ideal situation. If that doesn't happen though I see either Hamilton, London or Olave as the most likely options to be selected by the front office.

   Personally, I would go with Hamilton if he's there. The reasons are simple. Hamilton is considered a top 5 prospect with some saying he's the best player in the draft. The team needs a replacement at the Buffalo Nickle position after the release of Landon Collins when they run their 4-2-5, which seems to have become Washington's base formation. Hamilton could also rotate as a SS or FS when needed as well. While McCain and Curl have seemed to have jelled at the end of the 2021 season, Washington could continue to bolster the secondary with the addition of Hamilton.

   I wouldn't be upset in the least if London or Olave were to be taken at #11. I have some concerns about both however and with the WR class being so deep, I wonder if the team could trade back and still get talent of a similar/slightly lesser caliber later in the 1st round or in the 2nd round. You could also argue the same with Hamilton as Penn St.'s Jaquan Brisker or Baylor's Jalen Pitre could also fit a Viper or Buffalo Nickle role as well in the Jack Del Rio scheme.

It's a toss up for fans though. I ran a poll on Twitter of who they wanted at #11 if there was no trade back and the results weren't that surprising:

I do expect Washington to try and trade back. Maybe they'll do a trade with Pittsburgh if Willis is still on the board or a trade with the Chargers for a defensive player. Hard to tell. We know Ron really likes the OSU WRs in Wilson and Olave and I can see why. They, much like Terry McLaurin, have great separation skills and route running. Why it probably wouldn't be my pick at #11, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if Ron pulls the trigger for Chris Olave.

The Position Few Are Discussing That Should be Addressed in the Draft

   One of the main reasons wide receiver is a big topic in the Burgundy and Gold's fanbase is because fans want to see Carson Wentz given as much opportunity to succeed (or fail) in 2022. The explanation is simple, the team needs to know if they made the right choice in Wentz and should keep him under contract through the 2024 season. If the answer is no, then 2023 does offer a potentially good QB class to try to choose a replacement.

   Wide receiver is important as there really isn't a currently established compliment to Terry McLaurin on the roster and who knows if Curtis Samuel will be healthy and can contribute. That said, there are some concerns at the tight end position. Logan Thomas is coming off a late season ACL injury. Will he be able to be ready by the start of the season? If so, will he be back at the form that made him a success here in DC? John Bates had an impressive rookie season, but is more of a traditional blocking TE who can go out for passes. Sammis Reyes is still an unknown factor. We saw him a little last season, but he was mostly on special teams with only playing in 5% of the offensive snaps.

   Carson Wentz has had a good deal of success with pass catching TEs with the Eagles and Colts. It might not be a bad idea to consider drafting one in either day 2 or day 3 of the draft. The good news, according to Burgundy Burner is that the team has met with quite a few TEs during the draft process. Here's a link to every player the team met with prior to the draft and when they met with them. 

My Seven Round Mock Simulation

Finally, I'll end with a simulation that I did on Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator. Is it realistic? I doubt it as I don't see Drake London getting out of the top 20 but here it goes:

Notes: 

- Got Arizona's 2nd round 2023 pick along with #23 and #55 in the trade for #11.

- Lost 2023 7th and #240 in trade with the Chargers for #254 and #255.

- Here's a link to the thread I did on this mock on Twitter. It goes into more detail on why I made the trades, what I was looking for and how I addressed needs. 

If I have time this weekend, I might try and do a few Meaningless Mock Drafts with my 1st round attempt and another 7 round Washington Mock.

Love it? Hate it? Let me know your thoughts below or drop me a line on Twitter @HmBrewer72.

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