No longer is curling the beer league of ice sports — i.e. a sport played on a sheet of ice that should be done with a dart in the mouth and a brew in one hand, rock or broom in the other.
Nope. It’s a legit sporting endeavour, where the participants are as athletic if not more so than any other past-time turned Olympic pursuit.
Yet. They still drink beer. And so do their fans.
Oh, my, do they.
Bonspiels are notoriously memorable in how forgettable they are due to the copious amounts of alcohol consumed. “Hurry hard” is as much a call to chug as it is to whatever else it means in curling.
While this year, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts will take place in a bubble in Calgary at the The Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park, Feb. 19 to 28, meaning no beer gardens or brier patch, the event is still encouraging those tuning into the televised event to also appreciate the suds that this city has to offer while watching at home.
To mark the tournament, local craft breweries O.T. Brewing, Elite Brewing and Zero Issue Brewing, led by Tourism Calgary, have each created curling-themed beverages that you can enjoy while you rock.
Here are the descriptions of those frosty beverages:
- Calgary’s O.T. Brewing is all about sport, and curling is no exception. All of O.T.’s brews are reflective of sports terms, and the Draw Weight Stout and the 2020 Barrel Aged Hack Weight Imperial Stout are destined to be curling fans’ signature drink while Calgary reigns curling supreme as the 2021 hub city!
- Elite Brewing has also whipped up something special for this momentous curling occasion. For those who prefer cider, or are looking to switch things up between craft beers, the Brier Berry Cider offers the perfect raspberry, cranberry combo for anyone looking for a signature Curling Hub drink!
- Zero Issue Brewing has created a sour New England Pale Ale, Cyber Hack. This brew is a take on the ultimate curling simulation, think Cyberpunk meets curling. To be released on March 11.
Um. Yum?
And, as a bonus, all of the breweries “are offering free and paid delivery … (to fans) for their virtual curling viewing parties.
And Tourism Calgary is taking it even further on their website: “A great list of breweries and dining options available for delivery can be viewed through (Tourism Calgary’s) how to support local guide, making it easy for Calgarians to support our remarkable tourism and hospitality industry while enjoying all the curling action.”
Hurry.
