Well, the Green Bay Packers Week 4 matchup once again kept up tradition in effectively shedding time off our lives. For this PackersTalk writer, it came while having to watch the game on my phone about five rows up from an NHL Hockey Exhibition game. Fun fact about me, I’m also a big hockey fan. Milwaukee had its first NHL action in many years Sunday night, and I didn’t want to miss it. But I also wasn’t missing my Packers for anything. So, I had to make some game watching adjustments. All in all, it worked out.
For the Packers though, I’m sure they didn’t see this one coming from a mile away. After squeaking out a 27-24 victory in the final seconds of Overtime against the New England Patriots off a Mason Crosby Field Goal, I’m sure they’ll be taking a long look in the mirror. As for what they might be looking at, we’re going to talk about it in this week’s Packers Week 4: Toasts and Roasts.
Toasts:
I’m pretty sure before he goes to bed, the Boogie Man checks his closet for Rashan Gary. Many thought this would be Gary’s big breakout season. And boy has it ever been so far. Through four games Rashan Gary has five sacks and a forced fumble. Two of those sacks along with the forced fumble in a big moment, came in yesterday’s game against the Patriots. Gary has just become a monster. So, this week’s first toast is going to be an MKE Brewery Gin Barrel Aged-O-Gii. O-Gii was already a great unique beer. Infused with organic green tea and ginger make it a smooth and refreshing beer. I’ll say original O-Gii was Rashan Gary leading up to this year. But then, MKE Brewery decided to give it a monster kick in the pants from aging it in Rehorst Reserve Gin barrels. Now it’s a smooth, but monstrous beer that can kick you on your butt if you’re not careful. Sounds a lot like Rashan Gary this year. Plus there’s a monster on the label, so that helps.
Christian Watson has faced a bit of adversity to start his rookie season. Hurt all preseason, so didn’t take a snap until week 1. And when he did, he dropped a deep shot that would’ve started his career off with a 75-yard sure touchdown. He then didn’t play last week against the Buccaneers. He wasn’t huge yesterday vs the Patriots, but he finally got his first career touchdown. It came off a 15-yard handoff after he came in motion and turned on the jets to go un-touched to the endzone. With everything Christian Watson’s gone through so far, this was oh so sweet to see. For Watson, I’m toasting Leinenkugel’s Snow Drift Vanilla Porter. It’s been a little while since I’ve had this beer, but I was re-acquainted with it on Saturday at a friend’s son’s birthday party. I will say that it’s not super-impressive, but by God, the cocoa, caramel, and vanilla make it oh so sweet. Outside of the TD run, Watson only had one catch for 8 yards. So otherwise, not terribly impressive, but like Snowdrift, that TD run, made it oh so sweet.
The Kicking Game
Our last toast has to go to the Field Goal kicking game. On Friday I talked about how Special Teams has been pretty decent so far. They continued this on Sunday as Mason Crosby went 3 for 3 with extra points, and 2 for 2 with Field Goals including the game-winning 31-yard Field Goal in the final seconds of overtime to seal the win. For the kicking game, and that includes holder, Pat O’Donnell and long-snapper, Jack Coco, I’m toasting New Glarus Staghorn Oktoberfest. Staghorn was voted the best Oktoberfest beer on the beer rating app “Untappd” and also happens to be my go-to gametime beer. I always love the taste and it’s just reliable to always hit the spot and never let me down. That’s basically been the case for this kicking game so far. Hopefully, like Staghorn, the kicking game won’t let me down.
Roasts:
2nd Quarter Offense and 3rd Quarter Defense
I’m grouping these two together. They were both just, well, pathetic. The 2nd quarter for the Packers week 4 offense saw an embarrassing 31 total yards. 2 punts, one pick-six thrown by Aaron Rodgers. It was awful. We had a shot to put this game on ice possibly early, and we squandered it. I kept thinking that the Offense is trying their best to keep New England in the game.
The 3rd Quarter defense was embarrassing as well. They let a 3rd string Quarterback who’s one letter off from me questioning if he’s Frank Zappa’s son, Bailey Zappe help the Patriots stay in it. The 3rd quarter defense allowed 131 yards total offense and two touchdowns, against a third string QB. Granted they shut them down in the 4th quarter and OT, taking a quarter off, almost cost us the game.
For this group roast, I have to use Oskar Blues Brewery’s Guns ‘n Rose. This is an ale brewed with hibiscus and prickly pear. It boasts fruity flavors and the pinkish color of a rose wine. But it’s none of this, except for maybe the color. It’s just, there. The taste is dismal, and it doesn’t really have what it boasts. Like the 2nd quarter offense, and 3rd quarter defense, Guns ‘n Rose, is just there, and it’s not good. Not to mention the band Guns ‘N Roses sued the brewery over the name. Maybe if it weren’t a lackluster beer, that wouldn’t happen. Just saying.
We head to London next week to take on the Giants. Let’s hope in next week’s case, a warm lager in an English pub is a good thing.
Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to PackersTalk as well as CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter at @gmeinholz. for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings.
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