A. Great question Bryan. Rule #1 and the only rule is you must drink American beer. Drinking beer from any country we have been to war with is a big no-no. So no German, Mexican, Japanese, Korean, etc beers. Furthermore, drinking a British beer will get you charged with high treason! Bonus points for drinking Sam Adams or any can beer with the RED! WHITE! & BLUE! i.e. PBR, and Bud. Finally we at Drinkingweather.com, in true American spirit, support all homegrown craft beers that have been made by taking a dream adding what we call a little hard work and producing fermented goodness for all to enjoy. Drink your beer and light your fireworks responsibly.  Thank you and God Bless America!

However you do not have to be stuck drinking the traditional trite Manischewitz wine. This year feel free to switch it up with a plumb brandy or if you want your Passover Seder to really get wild try Agave 99 Tequila or Don Pilar Anejo.  Not all kosher tequilas are kosher-for-Passover, but these two are certified by the Orthodox Union for Passover. I approve them as a perfect addition to dinner. Plum brandies are a favorite among Eastern Europeans celebrating the Passover holiday. We recommend Mosby Slivovitz Plum Brandy. This brandy is produced from some of the best plums in the country. Harvested from an orchard in San Benito County, California, this delightful spirit is perfect for the occasion. As the website says, “Made from wild California plums, a noble end to a meal.” This award winning brandy can be purchased for $55.00 for 750ml, and it packs a bigger punch at 88.6% proof than your typical Manischewitz wine.

Finally, what about a brew? No way you can have beer for Passover. Everyone knows beer is made from the grains wheat or barely. Well there is one brewery in the U.S. that does brew a Kosher for Passover beer. Ramapo Valley Brewery in Hillburn, New York is the only brewery in the nation that makes this special brew. They make a Passover Honey Lagar that is honey-based and gluten free. This innovated brew is made wheat and barely free. The main fermented ingredient is amber honey. Molasses is added to add color, nutrients, and flavor. To add a little bitterness to this sweet delight, noble hops are the perfect addition.

Put that glass of sweet Manischewitz wine down and pick up one of our recommending alternatives and enjoy your family during this Passover holiday.

Lehayim!

TFH

The other focus of March is college basketball.  The tournament brings friends and alumni together to share the excitement of a winner take all game.  The drinks are ordered nervously before the tip off and depending on the outcome, the drink choices may change as the celebration begins or the agony of defeat ensues.

After 3 weeks of games, we are down to the Final Four:  University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Kansas University and Ohio State University. These schools have storied basketball programs and also connections to some awesome drinks and beers.  Drinkingweather.com offers you one more Final Four Bracket which will result with everyone being a winner.  The following are some suggestions that capture the “spirit” of the four remaining schools.  Hope your team wins.

Kansas University -  Lawrence, Kansas is home to the Jayhawks and the first legal brewery to open in the state since Prohibition.  Amazingly enough it is only 23 years old!  The Free State Brewery was open in 1989 (a year after Danny Manning lead his team to the championship in 1988).  If Kansas wins, knock back a beer brewed at the Free State Brewery.  Their lineup includes Cow Tippin Stout and Dubbel Trouble.

University of Louisville – The Cardinals are lead by Rick Pitino and are on an amazing winning streak that started with the Big East Tournament championship.  The city may have two parties in the next two months, a national championship in April and the party of all parties, the Kentucky Derby in May.  In honor of the first leg of the Triple Crown, we recommend a Mint Julep made with the local bourbon Early Times.

University of Kentucky – The basketball rich tradition at UK is legendary.  From Rupp to Pitino to Calipari, the coaches have lead the blue and white to multiple championships.  Wildcat fans are passionate for both the hard court and their drink of choice, bourbon.  The closest distilleries are Wild Turkey and Four Roses, but feel free to celebrate with a Makers Mark or Jim Beam served neat.  (No Early Times, that is for the Louisville fans.)

Ohio State University – The Buckeyes have the youngest team of the four with 4 of their 5 starters only sophomores.   However, the drink we recommend is an old favorite in the state simply named – The Ohio.  It is ¾ oz Rosso Vermouth, ¾ oz whiskey, 1 dash of bitters and 2 oz of champagne.  The champagne is a nice touch should they cut the nets down.

Enjoy the games and make sure to toast the winner on Monday night.

Cheers

South Florida

 Boston

 Chicago

 New York

 Kansas City

 Philly

 Dublin, Ohio

 San Francisco

 Savannah

Pacifico- this is a light refreshing beer that you can drink all day while you frolic in the sun, and you don’t need a lime.

Negra Modelo- if you are into darker beers, then this is your pick. Its bold yet light so you won’t feel bloated as you play away.

Dos Equis- he doesn’t always drink beer but when he does he drinks Dos Equis. This beer, like the Most Interesting Man in the World, is strong yet smooth. Plus we needed at least one green bottle beer.

 
-Florida Beaches: It’s important when visiting this hot humid sandy paradise to keep your pallette wet. With domestic water on tap you can expand your drink options unlike many foreign destinations. Women (and men comfortable enough with themselves) replenish your electrolytes with a strawberry daiquiri or pina colada or get wild and mix the 2 for a Miami Vice. If you are a vodka drinker I suggest a vodka soda with a lemon instead of lime. The lemon makes it a little more refreshing and mixing with soda will help you keep your bathing suit body you worked so hard to get the past few months. DANGER ALERT! Dude flavored vodka by Three Olives makes one dangerous drink that may have you covered in Sharpie ink and in interesting poses thanks to your buddies. This vodka mixed with water and sour mix taste just like lemon-lime Gatorade. It is unbelievably refreshing and delicious but packs a powerful punch. Rum drinkers let loose with rumrunners or my favorite rum in the sun drink a Captain and Sprite. At night let the tequila shots flow. Our beers of choice are Blue Moon (or any Belgium Style Wheat) or Sam Adams Alpine Spring. If you want to get really crazy grab a Corona and add a tequila shot as a floater. If you are looking to just maintain an already good buzz stick to our list of yard beers and grab a Coors Light or Bud Light.

 
-The Slopes: If you are going to Utah to ski BYOB! All other places should have plenty of good drinking establishments. We suggest you purchase a flask (If you are reading this you probably have one so bring it with you) and fill it with a dark liquor. I come from a Jack Daniels family and that would be my choice. If you are a bunny sloper and straight Jack is a little too tough for you I suggest you make an Apple Jack. Mix warm apple cider with your Jack Daniels for a nice sweet strong drink to help keep you warm on the slopes. If your Spring Break falls during St. Patrick’s Day then please switch to Jameson. After a long day on the mountain feel free to switch to a refreshing beer. I highly recommend one of God’s well not God’s but the German’s greatest creation, the radler. This German beer/lemonade concoction is amazing after a day on the slopes. Fill half your mug up with a German Weissbier (wheat beer) and top it off with lemonade and mix it together. This German version of an Arnold Palmer will have you thirsting for more.

Prost!-TFH