Your Favorite Orlando City Players as Craft Beers: 2021 Edition

Note: We at The Mane Land believe in the responsible consumption of alcohol. If, as an adult of legal drinking age, you decide to drink alcohol, we urge you to please ensure you do so in a safe manner, and never drink and drive.

It’s that time of the year, Mane Landers! Each season I look at the roster and pair players (or at least those I haven’t included before) with a craft beer. I base the pairings on what is funny, punny, or whatever else I like. I make no promises that you will be able to find these beers locally. I also encourage you to share your thoughts whether you agree, disagree, or have your own suggestions for beers or players not mentioned.

Second note: This article is strictly for the purpose of having fun. If you would like to take it too seriously, you are kindly invited to go read one of the many other serious articles available on The Mane Land. Thanks.

Last year, I paired Pedro Gallese, Mauricio Pereyra, Robin Jansson, and Junior Urso with an appropriate selection craft beers. I don’t want to repeat myself, so if you want to know which beers I chose please go check it out. Here are this year’s pairings.

Alexandre Pato — Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale, Duck-Rabbit Brewery

Pato was heralded when he was younger as potentially one of the best Brazil had produced. While he showed flashes of that potential, he’s been through rough times with injuries at various clubs. Now he’s back and ready to make an impact for Orlando City. To me, that’s a little like the place a brown ale holds for many craft beer drinkers. We start light, graduate to brown ales, before moving on to stouts, and then IPAs. However, once the palate has been refined, we once again find the joy in a good brown ale. I think both Pato and Orlando City supporters will find joy in his addition.

According to the brewery:

“The Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale is an American brown brewed with loads of hops from start to finish (it’s hoppy and beautifully bitter). Amarillo boil hops provide a spicy citrusy bitterness. Saaz dry hops offer a refined flowery aroma. These hops are supported by seven varieties of malt. The Duck-Rabbit Brown Ale is a great choice for anyone who appreciates assertive hops and nutty toasted malt flavors – oh yeah!”

Oh, and you just know that I had to go with a Duck-Rabbit beer for “The Duck.”

Kyle Smith — All Day IPA, Founder’s Brewing Co.

Kyle isn’t your first-choice starter. He’s not very flashy, but he can get the job done, and does so without complaint. You even find yourself enjoying his workmanlike effort whenever he’s on the pitch. He’s there for you when the regular starter is not. Session IPAs are similar. A full-blown IPA would be your choice, but sometimes that just isn’t possible. Maybe you have to keep your head at a business party, or you simply don’t have a regular IPA in your fridge. That’s when the session IPA is essential.

According to the brewery:

“The beer you’ve been waiting for. Keeps your taste satisfied while keeping your senses sharp. An all-day IPA naturally brewed with a complex array of malts, grains and hops. Balanced for optimal aromatics and a clean finish. The perfect reward for an honest day’s work and the ultimate companion to celebrate life’s simple pleasures.”

If Kyle isn’t the “ultimate companion” player for the Lions, I don’t know who is.

Daryl Dike — Barnsley Bitter, Acorn Brewery

Normally I wouldn’t include Dike, as he is underage until June. However, he is currently on loan to Barnsley in England and the drinking age there is 18 years old. So, assuming that his trainers at both Barnsley and Orlando City would allow it, Dike could try Acorn’s award-winning bitter. Bitters are a staple of English brewing, and a go-to beer when in the U.K., much like Dike became the go-to striker for Orlando City last season.

According to the brewery:

“Our award winning Barnsley Bitter is brewed using the finest quality Maris Otter malt and English hops. Chestnut in colour, having a well rounded, rich flavour, it retains a lasting bitter finish. Brewed using yeast strains used in the 1850’s to brew ‘Barnsley Bitter.”

Here’s hoping that Dike’s stay in Barnsley makes him a more well-rounded player.

Rodrigo Schlegel — Emergency Drinking Beer, Wild Heaven Beer

Following Schlegel’s heroics in the playoffs last season, there’s really no other player quite like him, is there? Sometimes an emergency situation calls for something completely off the wall, something never seen before. Wild Heaven’s Emergency Drinking Beer meets that description as a Pils-style session ale. Putting your backup center back in goal during penalty kicks to decide your fate in the playoffs also meets that description. Like Schlegel, Emergency Drinking Beer surprises and delights you at the end.

According to the brewery:

“A one-of-a-kind session beer reminiscent of a crisp pilsner married with a traditional gose. Brightness and complexity come from additions of citrus zest, Portuguese sea salt and lemongrass.”

Schlegel’s one-of-a-kind stint as Orlando City’s emergency keeper made this choice a no-brainer.

Another year, and another few beers. I hope you enjoy these selections (the ones you can get), and let me know your own pairings in the comment section below.