Since we're a mere 6 days until the start of Hokie Football, I thought I would fire up this annual thread to discuss your drink of choice for this year, as well as any new tailgating foods that you will be serving up.
4VPISU Choices
1.) Bourbon
2018 will be deserving of a bourbon that is much like the anticipated season for VT: something that may be a tad new/fresh on the block, but returns a name that we are familiar with and have faith in. The bourbon for this year for me will be John J Bowman Bourbon
2.) Beer
For my beer choice, this year I went with something that is tried and true, something that delivers year in and year out, similar to Bud Foster. Outside of the random assortment of recently traded for beer, you will find 'Dale's Pale Ale' in my fridge this year as the go-to, the pioneer of the can revolution in craft beer.
3.) Food
For food this year, I have really fine tuned my Brisket recipe in the offseason. I've hit the books hard, watched countless hours of film, and have paid attention to every detail along the way, with one small hiccup that set me back briefly before I over-exceeded expectations on my return. Similar to Josh Jackson, I expect my briskets for the fall to outperform the competition, and take home multiple W's along the way.
Let's hear it, TKP - for 2018-2019, what is your choice for:
1) Bourbon
2) Beer
3) Food
Comments
1) I have always been partial to Bulleit but I prefer Rye.
2) Y'all already know
3) Bring on the meats. HokieEnginerd does it up well!
If you're a rye guy, try High West Double Rye.
Sagamore Rye is good stuff too
Just had this Friday - it is very good and not too pricey.
I think Sagamore is a bit high in price for what it is...
I agree. I had Sagamore Rye following Catoctin Creek Rye and it was much more harsh than the CCR.
I was replying to Granville's comment about High West Double Rye. I have no clue about Sagamore.
The current smoking menu for me is turkey legs and a whole chicken. The chicken is going to be for tacos with my smoked salsa.
For the W&M game...
How long does it take to smoke a turkey leg or 4? Never done them and want to try this fall.
Usually a couple of hours. HokieEnginerd usually does about 18 or so at games.
Cool, thanks.
Sure. You'd have to ask him for all the specifics. I know he brines them the night before and smokes them using hickory wood.
I use the recipe below. And it has to be hickory wood to smoke them with. They just don't taste right to me if it is some type of fruit wood.
Recipe
have you ever tried using oak or pecan?
I use oak on pork butts and brisket all of the time. I like it a lot but hickory gives things a little bit of "bacony" flavor that I think goes really good on the turkey legs since they are cured with Prague powder 1 (a.k.a. pink salt. Not the Himalayan pink salt. That is something completely different). The combination of hickory smoke and being cured is what makes the turkey legs have that ham taste.
I have not used pecan because I get all of my wood from my parents house. They live in the woods and I chunks of whatever falls or gets cut down. I have gotten oak, hickory, cherry, apple, sugar maple, and beech wood that way.
Thanks for the tip on wood and the recipe. I may give this a try this weekend.
Leg for Dale's. Just visited the Oskar Blues location in Austin and had a great time.
1) Woodford. Always.
2) I've been on a Stella kick lately. Surprisingly great tailgate beer for a lot of reasons. That'll be my beer of choice when I go up to Happy Valley this weekend for their opener.
3) NC-style BBQ with loads and loads of vinegar sauce and spicy chili for the colder games.
Smoked brisket/sausage all the way
Bourbon: Agree with OP I went with Bowman last year, probably stick to it this year. If things get going well I always mix a game of Wild Turkey 101 in, it always goes downhill quick.
Beer:
Food: Really I have no idea, I overlook food every tailgate.
Edit: I just remembered the Traeger brisket pizza I had last year that was phenomenal. Also Brisket Biscuit(TM) for the early games, you'll thank me later.
1. Just tried Redemption High Rye Bourbon. I'm a fan and I'll probably continue to consume this season
2. Warm Day - Bells Two Hearted
Cold Day - Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
3. Whatever has been grilled, smoked, broiled, baked, or put in front of me
For opening weekend, I'll probably hit the following:
1. Wild Turkey - just because and very sparingly.
2. I love the mountains and I'll be heading there often throughout the season. I'll throw in a Budweiser and Fosters mix prior to Hokies kickoff at times.
3. Probably do some chicken thighs on the wood grill and maybe some wing bites and fried pickles in the fryer. Lots of spice and salt to keep the cold refreshing beer going down.
LETS GO!!!!
1. Jack Daniels - I know, its not bourbon, but its cheap and easy to drink. I love good bourbon but I like to drink it to relax, not to scream and act like an idiot.
2. Coors Light - shotgunning anything else is like shotgunning a turkey sandwich
3. I always tend to skip food on game day and end up in rough shape as a result.
I made my best brisket yet this past weekend. Salt and coarse ground black pepper rubbed down 36 hours prior to cooking. Did the smoke with about a third each cherry, pecan, and hickory chips. 7.5 lb flat with the fat trimmed to about 1/4 inch along the cap. Pit barrel cooker came through again.
I really like the turkey-shaped bottle of Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit for watching the Hokies. It's a little expensive ($55-60) so I normally only have 2 or 3 or 4 or maybe 5 before switching over to WT101 as my taste buds stop working and my football-related anxiety rises to a point where I no longer care about savoring my drink and only care about raising my BAC.
Oh, I am going to have to find this - thanks for posting man!
Its good stuff.
1. I like Bulleit Rye
2. It's seasonal, but Rolling Rock for cheap and Foothills Hoppyum for craft.
3. Eastern NC BBQ sandwiches.
1. Prob no bourbon this weekend. Too much beer.
2 & 3. Gonna recreate this picture...
The beer will switch each week. And there will be whole chickens smoked at some point. As well as some pork shoulder and wings. Gotta ease into the season, and no better way than a bushel of crabs.
and if I do go bourbon when it's colder...
Eagle Rare is one of my absolute favorites and comes from the same place. I find it to be just a tiny bit sweeter than Buffalo Trace.
Something I just didn't like about Eagle Rare. Oh well. It's hard enough to find Buffalo Trace so I get a big bottle when I can find it.
I agree with you on the Eagle Rare - it has a little bit of harshness like there's some distilled spirits blended into it. I am having a hard time finding handles of Buffalo Trace, can usually get a 5th, though.
1) Wild Turkey is my gameday go to. Not my favorite, but it's cheap, gets the job done, and you can't go wrong with the the Turkey when you're watching the Hokies. I'm pretty sure this will make an appearance while I still have it.
2) I don't typically do beer on gamedays because it takes up valuable bourbon space.
3) A simple but delicious gameday staple of mine is grilled chicken breasts marinated for about 30 mins in WT with a little help from my friend Mr. Stubbs.
Love Stubb's Rubs. Also, their Sweet Heat is good on just about anything.
1- I don't really do liquor while tailgating. Last time I did that I passed out by the bushes next to the creek.
2- This year I'm going to start off the season with a Busch Light. Hopefully by 9am in Lot 18
3- Whatever delicious meat Hokienginerd gives me.
Actually per Busch Beer themselves, you will be drinking a Busch Latte in Lot 18 to start the season.
You just drink 3 Rails before a Thursday night game...
No, no he doesn't. Zero rails. Okay, maybe just one. Definitely not three.
I know for a fact that he and my husband each had 2+ rails before Miami '16... I didn't say it was a smart idea that ended well...
And they vomited in the bush I like to pee in.
It served them right for texting me pictures of being at TOTS at 2 in the afternoon while I was stuck in a classroom full of kindergartners.
At least they made it to the bushes.
I'm going to send you pictures from TOTS at 2pm on the day of the GT game. Just a heads up.
I thought you were my friend... :-(
I am. But a rail will make you do things against your better judgement.
If you want rails on a game day someone could just pull water out of the duck pond and mix five liquors with it. I doubt anyone could tell the difference.
Sober me wants nothing to do with a rail. Drunk me will probably say otherwise, but drunk me is not to be trusted. In fact, drunk me should be put in time out if the suggestion of a rail comes up. Better for everyone that way.
1. McKenna if on on the rocks. Wild Turkey for whiskey gingers
2. Used to be farmhouse Tank 7 or Lagunitas undercover shutdown but law school has made me broke so it's back to the old faithful Yeungling
3. Anything bbq is good for me
Hey I know where you can get some free Yuengling, probably.
Unfortunately looks like I'm not going to make it down for a game this year 😞
Which version McKenna you drinking? The original is my everday cheap bourbon and ginger drink. For straight sipping, I prefer Four Roses.
The original. In my mind nothing better for the price
1. Four Roses yellow label for whiskey gingers. Otherwise I have Filibuster Dual Cask rye at home that I should probably work on a bit.
2. Normally it's some sort of homebrew. I start with a baseline of an easier drinking beer and will change it up with some specialty stuff to share. The baseline beer in warmer months will be a lighter beer like a hoppy saison so it's bright and easy to drink on a hot day. As it gets colder I transition to something that's still low ABV but darker - like a Czech dark lager or a sessionable porter. Special beers include bourbon barrel stouts, my Belgian Tripel and Quad, and any special craft beers I've acquired.
3. I wish I had a smoker to do something amazing like so many of you. For now I settle for something I can grill. At best I'm making my own burgers or I'll have beer boiled brats.
Bourbon- Unsure. Haven't been to the store yet to decide
Beer- I mean, is there any other than Yeungling for Hokie games?
Food- I had time off at the start of summer, so I screwed around with recipes for several dry rubs for my wings. My favorite so far has been a spicy tropical barebecue. Name to be determined. If they work the win magic, they'll keep gettin made. We'll find out Monday.
1) Liquor---Rum
2) No beer.... Beer is only for making bread and fish..
3) HokieEnginerd's amazing meat.... Chicken, turkey legs for the home games. Brisket, pulled pork, ribs, whatever else he decides to throw on the grill or smoker
You can make fish out of beer?!?
The old saying was wrong all along:
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
teach a man to fishgive him a case of beer and you feed him fora lifetimeabout a week, depending on how much of the beer he drinks."Yes!!!
Seriously I do beer battered fish and chips.
Bourbon: Bulleit is my go-to, but I probably won't be tailgating with it. Probably.
Beer: My beer of choice right now is Aviator Mad Beach, but I'll probably settle for Yeungling. Or whatever Danny Coale is my Spirit Animal picks up the night before the game.
Food: I like food.
So Bud Light Platinum then?
I hope not. Especially if he wants me to chip in.
Depends on what kind of bad decisions he plans on making at this first tailgate. We all have a history of that. Like me thinking I can drink 3 rails and make it to the Miami game ok.
This was good till Sunday
I dunno, I usually regret the last beverage that results in a two day hangover-fest. But not much else.
I don't think he is that desperate anymore.... Bud Light Platinum leads to bologna suitcases...
I don't think he is that desperate anymore.... Bud Light Platinum leads to bologna suitcases...
Ok. It's been a long day people. I didn't realize I double posted.
You can say that again.
Drink!
I don't think she needs that much encouragement to do that after the last two days. She is a kindergarten teacher after all.
I am a kindergarten teacher who has the spawn of Satan in my class who puts Mariah Carey to shame with her screaming.... I thought my ears were going to bleed from the high pitched screaming yesterday. I needed RAILS last night. And yes I meant to make it plural... Hell, I would have taken rails, Everclear, and $2 champagne... Any or all of it.I would have even settled for hand sanitizer.
That's a serious ice ball.
Bourbon: I tend to stay away from the hard liquors during games and stick with beer. I usually have to be somewhat productive after the games. If i have any it'll probably be Makers.
Beer: Much like Cam'Ron Kelly I can't stick with one commitment all season. I'll start with something crafty and then switch over to the blue mountains
Food: I've honed in my butt recipe so that will be the staple. I plan to try some briskets and see how I do.
So you are all in at coors light.... BUSCH.
Currently I'm 110% committed to Coors Light.
Ohh, you mean Shenandoah Valleys finest well water in a can, with a little flavor thrown in.
Sure.
If Kirkland Signature Light Beer ever makes a comeback to my Costco I'll be 800% committed to it instead.
1) Elijah Craig
2) The exquisite Busch Light
3) My buddy won the ultimate fan experience thing from I think 105.3 so whatever food they prepare for us!
You guys are going to be seeing an unusually sober Reese this season.
As for food:
Pulled bbq chicken
spicy chili
buffalo chicken dip.
To be honest, it's just not my thing anymore. The wife and I drank alllllll day on New Years. I woke up feeling like shit and realized that I just don't enjoy it anymore. I still have a beer or two, but I'm pretty much done with liquor.
Beer of choice this season until I run out. Easy drinking and low ABV, gluten removed (for my dad), Hokie-colored can art, and brewed in a Hokie-owned RVA brewery.
Bourbon: Turkey before and during games. While it lasts, I have I.W. Harper 15 year for after wins.
Beer: We'll see who looks best in practice and reevaluate throughout the season, but day 1 starter is Sierra Nevada/Weihenstephaner Oktoberfest.
Food: TBD.
Bourbon - Four Roses Single Barrel, since Buffalo Trace is never in stock near me any more
Beer - Shiner Bock
Food - I'm a sucker for marketing and enjoy a Chick-Fil-A sandwich and Dr Pepper (with bourbon) before most kickoffs. I'll start doing chili later on in the season.
Four Roses Single Barrel is probably my favorite everyday bourbon. And it's on sale fairly often. I try to always have a bottle. I'll definitely be drinking it during some games this year.
You got deep pockets if Four Roses Single Barrel is an everyday bourbon! Cheers!
By "everyday" I just mean I'm sipping on it on weeknights. As opposed to drinking like half a fifth on Saturday night. But I can't afford to drink that every day. Also my body probably doesn't want me to drink that every day.
Hard Stuff:
Easy Stuff: (until it sells out)
Food Stuff: SoCal livin.
The owner of McCauley's was my home inspector. Good guy and a Hokie alum to boot. I really wanted his bourbon to be better than it is though. It's not bad, but not what I hoped.
1 Coke (Zero Sugar)
2 Pepsi (Zero Sugar)
3 could be just popcorn...or maybe waffles...i love waffles...if i have to choose a last meal, it might be a waffle and a diet coke...or i could smoke something on the egg...like chunks of a pig...or get into Cajun mode...shrimp etouffe...or maybe just a bunch of boiled or fried shrimp. so definitely a diet cola and then something else to eat. maybe mrs dave will make her incomparable scratch chocolate cake...yeah, diet coke and chocolate cake...with bluebell homemade vanilla gold band...
Bourbon is whatever I have on the shelf. Right now that's Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Elijah Craig, Four Roses Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch.
Beer - why would I drink beer with all that great bourbon?
Food - some kind of smoked meat.
I'm with you and AssPocketFullOWhiskey. Beer just fills me up and makes me tired. I tend to rely on meat and whiskey.
Bourbon: Bulleit Rye
Beer: For tailgates it's All Day IPA, as the name suggest you can drink it all day. At home, whatever I'm drinking when we are doing good/winning I will stick with all game unless we start doing bad/losing then I will switch, then repeat as necessary.
Food: Smoked meats (pulled pork, brisket, pastrami, sausage, wings)
Bourbon: Elijah Craig. Going to try the barrel proof this weekend.
Beer: Fat Tire and Coors Light or any Oktoberfest releases.
Food: Korean style short ribs, pig shots, burgers. Crab dip Saturday for the tailgate at FedEx field UMD vs Texas.
Wow, those three are definitely on different parts of the beer taste spectrum.
I'll do Coors light if I just want to pound beers. Fat Tire if I want to enjoy a few as it's one of my favorite beers. Oktoberfest bc tis the season. I'm not usually mixing that many beers. And I let whiskey do the heavy lifting.
False, its fucking August and I'm tired of pumpkin beers and Octoberfest ruining my god damn summer.
Oktoberfest starts the middle of September. Save the pumpkin for October, but please don't save me any.
Right. One week before Oktoberfest everyone can put their beers out. In august they're taking up the shelf space of beers I want to drink right now because its 105 degrees out.
Drink: I've been asked to keep up the Irish coffee tradition. I'm up to bringing 1 gallon of coffee for 4-6 oz per glass. Bourbon: I have not selected my bourbon yet but I'm leaning towards Bulleit.
Food: It changes throughout the year with the weather and kickoff time. This Monday it'll start with various smoked meats and snack trays. Smoked wings for lunch, brisket burnt ends for late snack and probably homemade sausage and pork for dinner.
The Friday game against UVA will be steak sandwiches from leftover Prime Rib from Thanksgiving.
Beer: It varies but will be mostly centered around Chaos Mountain beers due to proximity.
Shine Runner lager, Squatch Scottish Wee Heavy and Mad Hopper IPA.
Buffalo Trace or Sazarac Rye for the brown water. I stock up in Tennessee when I visit the folks. Amazing what the VABC model does to availability, Other states have this stuff by the case on the shelves.
Planning to bring growlers of "whats on tap" to the tailgates, which rotates. Right now we have (Ballast Point) Fathom and SourWench, but the normal fare is Mango Even Keel..
Food will vary by time and weather, the only thing planned right now is chicory coffee and beignets for the ECU (noon) game.