Beer of the Week: SweetWater's traditional brown ale is better than its new danky, Sticky Nugs pale ale

Welcome back to FTW's Beverage of the Week series. Here, we mostly chronicle and review beers, but happily expand that scope to any beverage that pairs well with sports. Yes, even cookie dough whiskey.

SweetWater is one of my trusted national brands. Sure, it’s no longer a scrappy regional brewery, but its longevity and consistency has always made it an oasis against a desert of boring tap lines. If I’m at an airport and I’m staring down Sam Adams, Coors Light, Blue Moon, Michelob Ultra, Stella Artois and 420 Pale Ale, I’m going with the Georgia beer every time.

SweetWater, of course, would like to be more than that. That’s led to an expansion beyond new grocery stores in foreign states and into a diverse lineup of classic and experimental brews. Today, we’re gonna hit both sides of that spectrum. Fresh Sticky Nugs is a double hazy pale ale from the company’s Dank Tank series that promises enough floral hops to make your house smell like Snoop Dogg by simply cracking a can. Georgia Brown is a classic brown ale — not especially bold or trendy, but a style with plenty of utility in a well-stocked beer fridge.

We’re also going to dive into fellow Tilray Brands acquisition Montauk Brewing Company, New York City’s fastest growing craft brewer. Let’s see what we’ve got.