The UK’s leading importer of specialist beer has been left in a pickle this weekend with two of their US Brands facing off in a Super Bowl wager.
Super Bowl 47, the highlight of the sporting calendar in the United States, is being contested by the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens. San Francisco‘s Anchor Brewing Company, accepted a wager from Baltimore’s Flying Dog Brewery with the loser adorning the opposing team’s colours for a week and stocking their products in the brewery tap-room.
Both breweries have rich brewing traditions and are usually complimentary about each other’s beers. As is often the case, the red mist has descended in the name of sport. A spokesperson for Anchor Brewing Company has said of the bet, “an (unlikely) Ravens victory would involve tearful Anchor taproom staff dressing up in Ravens purple jersey’s and obliterating guest’s palates with Flying Dog Beers. Go 49ers!”.
Flying Dog CEO, Jim Caruso, was said to be buying up Raven’s shirts and pricing overnight courier costs to ensure the Anchor Brewery would have the shirts as quickly as possible following a Baltimore Ravens win. Matt Brophy of Flying Dog says, “Always bet on the underdog …and a historically bone-crushing defence.”
Specialist Beer distributor James Clay are inviting British drinkers to show support for their favourite brewery by tweeting good luck messages using the twitter hashtags #FlyingDogRavens and #Anchor49ers.
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James Clay are the UK’s leading importer of Craft and Specialist beers from the United States, Europe and beyond. James Clay, based in West Yorkshire, distribute to the trade nationally. www.jamesclay.co.uk
Anchor Brewing Company is one of the United States of America’s oldest breweries. Based in San Francisco, Anchor have been brewing beer since 1896 and are most famous for their Anchor Steam beer. Anchor Steam is available from Majestic wines, independent off-licences and bars nationwide. www.anchorbrewing.com
Flying Dog Brewery has been brewing it’s ales for over two decades now. Based near Baltimore in Maryland, Flying Dog is known for its controversial beer names and bottle artwork designed by British artist Ralph Steadman. “Good People drink Good Beer”.