National Football League

Obama goes with Wisconsin beer

Published Feb. 5, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

A dispute that was brewing over what beer will be served at President Barack Obama's White House Super Bowl party has left a Pittsburgh microbrewer crying in his suds.

Yes, Obama will host singer and "American Idol" judge Jennifer Lopez and her singer husband Marc Anthony for Sunday's big game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers. And yes, assorted government officials and cabinet members will also join the Obama family.

But for some foodies, the real question is what brewski will the president and his guests be popping.

According to the blog Obama Foodorama, cases of Hinterland Brewery's beer from Green Bay already have been ordered for the festivities, prompting Scott Smith, owner of Pittsburgh's artisan microbrewery East End Brewing Company, to attempt to get his beer inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as well.

Alas, it was not to be, Smith reported in a Facebook posting Saturday.

"What it ultimately came down to was timing. We didn't have enough time to get the approvals in place," he reported.

Smith said that the office of Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.) advised him, "Our staff was able to forward your email to the WH, but apparently there is a tough protocol when it comes to food and beverage at the WH. In fact, in 09', when the senator brought smiley cookies to the WH to watch the game, they were confiscated! "

But Smith is not deterred. In the same posting he announced that while he would not be able to deliver beer to Obama's White House, he would deliver some to "a" white house and invited readers to send in photos of themselves standing in front of their white home, with "white" loosely defined as anything from a front door to snow on the roof.

And entrants need to be in the Pittsburgh area because" I'll drive to DC for the President, but for you, I'm staying a little more locally focused."

As for the football fanatics in that more famous white house, Politico reported that in addition to beer, they will be served hamburgers, hot dogs and cookies as they watch the game on the state floor, possibly in the 40-seat family theater.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League