Pride Pub: Orlando City vs. Sporting Kansas City

The Lions return home after a two-game road trip, as Orlando City hosts Sporting Kansas City in the friendly confines of Orlando City Stadium. It was a rough road trip, and we’re sure the lads are glad to be back in the friendly confines of the Purple Palace. So let’s raise a glass to being at home and wish the team the best.

Just a reminder on how this works: we choose a craft beer from the country/state/city of our opponent and we include an appropriate recipe to go along with it. Of course, we also choose a Florida craft beer to complement our other recipe and to represent our Orlando City Lions here in the beautiful Sunshine State.

From Kansas City: Tropical Pale Ale, Boulevard Brewing Co.

In 1984, Boulevard Brewing Co. founder John McDonald went on vacation in Europe where he discovered the wondrous variety of flavors that were sorely missing in the U.S. at that time. He was so taken by the idea of brewing beer that he sold his house to finance the idea. Five years later they sold the first keg. Now, Boulevard is the Largest craft brewer in the Midwest.

According to the brewery:

"Inspired by our collaboration with Florida’s famed Cigar City Brewing, Tropical Pale Ale marries our passion for balanced pale ales with the bright refreshing flavors of grapefruit and passion fruit accented by juicy, citrusy hops. Pack your bags and bring your taste buds.”

Pair with: Citrus-Soy Chicken Wings. With various fruit and citrus flavors in the pale ale, these citrus-soy chicken wings will pair perfectly to bring out the flavor of both the wings and the beer.

Dave’s Recommendations: Cheesy Garlic Bread. A little bread to soak up the wings and the beer.

From Florida: Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale, Cigar City Brewing

As one of the best known brewers in Florida, Cigar City has led the way when it comes to the craft beer scene. The Florida Cracker Belgian-style White Ale is just as good as any of their beers. It is a great beer for a warm Florida day.

According to the brewery:

"The Cracker Cowboys of Florida were colonial-era settlers, often of Scots-Irish descent, who arrived in Florida when Spain traded their territory of La Florida to the English. The term Cracker in Florida usage relates to the whip these “cow hunters” used to herd cattle in Florida’s Palmetto Prairies. Called Quaqueros by the Spanish, these hardy and hard working Cracker Cowboys helped to shape the history of Florida, the nation’s oldest cattle raising state. We brew Florida Cracker White Ale with unmalted wheat, orange peel and coriander and then ferment it with a Belgian yeast strain to give it a spicy and dry finish. Perfect for a warm day on the Palmetto Prairie."

Pair with: Fried Catfish. White ales, also known as witbiers are very flexible when it comes to food pairings. That being said, a simply prepared fish is perfect, and since we’re in the South, we’re going to fry it.

Dave’s Recommendations: French fries and hush puppies. Is there anything else you’d have with fried catfish? Of course not.

Well, Mane Landers, let us know which of these pairings you decided on for your tailgate or watch party. We thank you for stopping by and go City!