U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are making this weekend’s AFC Championship game between their respective home state’s Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots a little more interesting with friendly bets.
Putting local beverages on the line, if the Patriots win this Sunday, Senator Toomey will pay his debt with a case of Penn Pilsner beer from Pittsburgh, whereas Senator Warren will part with a case of Massachusetts-own Sam Adams beer if the Steelers prevail.
“Sunday’s game will be a thrilling match-up of two of the all-time great franchises in the NFL,” said Sen. Toomey. “While it’s hard to play in Foxborough in January, Coach Tomlin has the Steelers on a roll and they are prepared to exact revenge on their AFC nemesis. I am confident that a resurgent Steelers defense can pressure Tom Brady, and on offense, the Killer Bs can carve up the Pats D. Pittsburgh is primed to climb the stairway to seven.”
“The Patriots will get the job done this weekend in their record sixth consecutive AFC championship game appearance,” said Sen. Warren. “Coach Tomlin’s smack talk is just that: all talk–the Pats are a bunch of champions through and through, and I’m looking forward to celebrating another trip to the Super Bowl with all of Patriots Nation.”
Beer and football go hand in hand, so it’s the perfect time for Samuel Adams to introduce their newest seasonal ales, Hopscape and Fresh as Helles. Hopscape is described as citrus and piney hop flavors with a nice lingering bitter finish and Fresh as Helles has a honey malt aroma and orange blossom notes.
Samuel Adams Hopscape will be available nationwide from January through February 2017. Samuel Adams Fresh as Helles will be available nationwide from March through April 2017. Both brews will be available in six-packs for a suggested retail price of $7.99-$9.99, 12-packs (bottles and cans) for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99, 16 oz. single serve cans for a suggested retail price of $1.99-$2.49, and on draft. From January through April, both beers will also be available in the Samuel Adams Spring Variety 12-Pack for a suggested retail price of $14.99-$17.99, and 24-packs for a suggested retail price of $22.99-$24.99. Price for each package varies by market.
It’s long standing tradition for senators to put something on the line when their hometown team is either in the playoffs or the Super Bowl.
For example, if you can recall the last time the New York Giants were in the Super Bowl, waaaay back in 2012, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry made a friendly, food bet on Twitter ahead of the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl game. Kerry said that he would send New England clam chowder from his favorite restaurant, Legal Seafood, to Gillibrand if Tom Brady and the Patriots lost to the Giants (they did).
Gillibrand put up some New York-style cheesecake.
The Green Bay Packers and Falcons won’t be left out of the action either. According to a report, there will be Coke, chili dogs, beer, chocolate and cheese on the line. Georgia’s Gov. Nathan Deal’s office made friendly bets with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. According to the Gwinnett Daily Post, if the Falcons lose, Deal has to send Walker ice-cold Coke, chili dogs from the Varsity, peach pies from Dickey Farms, Georgia peanuts and two six packs of Creature Comforts’ Tropicalia.
“Given the Atlanta Falcons’ stellar season under the leadership of Coach Dan Quinn and soon-to-be MVP and Pro Bowler Matt Ryan, I’m confident Falcons’ fans will be celebrating another win on Sunday,” Deal said in a statement. “The additional five Falcons named to the 2017 Pro Bowl roster — Vic Beasley Jr., Matt Bryant, Devonta Freeman, Julio Jones and Alex Mack — will help ensure a strong victory, bringing the Packers’ winning streak and season to an end.
If you want to place some of your own bets on this Sunday’s games, check out Adam Greene’s articles on Get More Sports. The link can be found here. Adam breaks down the games and gives his predictions on the winners.
