The key, says Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver, is to focus on caramelization. Says Oliver: “It’s the caramelized flavors of the turkey skin, the gravy and many other elements of the meal that tie the whole thing together.”

So what to buy? Oliver suggests citrusy white ales to go with holiday spices; creamy and chocolaty stouts for brown-sugar ham and pecan pie; or a nice brown ale to accent your turkey.

Take a look at the final bracket.

As the chairman, president, CEO, COO, vice president and janitor of the BCS, I offer congratulations to Marshall for its win. And I congratulate beer fans here in Oklahoma and around the country and world who took part in the contest. This little Beer Championship Series certainly has come a long way since last year, when the entire competition resulted in a whopping total of about 300 or 400 votes. Hopefully this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship between The Thirsty Beagle blog and beer fans everywhere. But enough about me, let’s talk more about our winning beer. I gave the news of the win to Marshall brewmaster Eric Marshall, and this is what he had to say:

“We are very excited and incredibly honored to have our McNellie’s Pub Ale voted Oklahoma’s favorite beer! This is tremendous validation in our vision at Marshall Brewing Company. Bringing local craft beer to Oklahoma is our passion and the support we have been shown is truly overwhelming. We would like to thank everyone who voted for us, especially loyal local beer drinkers. We would also like to thank our fellow Oklahoma brewing brethren for all their efforts in helping the Oklahoma brewing scene grow and prosper. Cheers and thanks for supporting your local breweries!”

Well said, Eric. I’m certain Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale will be back next year to try and defend its title. And speaking of next year, I do plan to bring the BCS back for the third annual version. But like Mike Gundy once said, we may have an interesting twist at the quarterback position. If I mentioned the phrases “beer conferences” and “beer regular season,” would that pique your interest?

Stay tuned. Cheers!

It all comes down to this, folks. Two beers going head to head for the title of Oklahoma’s favorite beer. Your votes have sent 62 beers packing. So who are our competitors? Here’s how Monday’s Final Four voting went:

-Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale- 88 percent vs. Modelo Negra – 12 percent

-Fat Tire – 57 percent vs. Guinness – 43 percent

Modelo Negra’s improbable George Mason-like run finally comes to an end at the hands of Tulsa’s own McNellie’s Pub Ale, while the upstart Fat Tire knocks off the traditional power Guinness.

Here is the updated bracket.

And now we’re down to two: Oklahoma Region champion McNellie’s Pub Ale vs. the USA Region’s champ, New Belgium’s Fat Tire. Who will win the title? That’s up to you. To spice things up a little bit, I’ll hide the voting results today. The winner will be revealed Wednesday morning. Good luck to both beers!

(Note: If you’re looking for the Beer Championship Series, see the post below this one.)

1. Colorado (3-7, 2-4, lost to Iowa State 17-10; next, at Oklahoma State) Can someone please bring the Dan Hawkins era to an end! Wait, what am I talking about? I love it when Big 12 teams other than Oklahoma State suck. Save Dan Hawkins, save Dan Hawkins!

2. Kansas (5-5, 1-5, lost to Nebraska 31-17; next, at Texas) Who among us saw this one coming? Kansas returns its leading quarterback, two leading wide receivers and starting running back, and the offense completely falls apart? A bounce-back year will be tough next season with all those guys gone. Or maybe they’ll actually be better off.

3. Baylor (4-6, 1-5, lost to Texas 47-17; next, at Texas A&M) Baylor has seen a lot of demoralization this year, but I think being down 40-0 in the first half, at home, on senior day, has to be about the lowest point.

4. Texas A&M (5-5, 2-4, lost to Oklahoma 65-10; next, vs. Baylor) It’s fitting that Texas A&M and Baylor square off this Saturday. Battle for the Big 12 South Basement 2009! Be there!

5. Iowa State (6-5, 3-4, beat Colorado 17-10; next, at Missouri) Not much to say about Iowa State, so I’ll say this: Has the Big 12 North ever been this bad? You pretty much have to go undefeated in conference to win the south; in the north, three losses and you still got a chance. Are you kidding me?

6. Kansas State (6-5, 4-3, lost to Missouri 38-12; next, at Nebraska) So much for Bill Snyder as coach of the year. Although by some stroke of magic — or by some stroke of everyone in the Big 12 North being awful this year — KSU can still put itself into the title game with a win Saturday.

7. Missouri (6-4, 2-4, beat Kansas State 38-12; next, vs. Iowa State) How unremarkable is Missouri’s football team this year? The video playlist on the Missouri football homepage on ESPN.com has two videos: Highlights from the season opener against Illinois and a college basketball preview.

8. Texas Tech (6-4, 3-3, lost to Oklahoma State 24-17; next, vs. Oklahoma) Isn’t it great how Texas Tech players were so loose on Saturday against Oklahoma State? Jumping around on the sideline, jumping around on the field. They sure looked like they didn’t have a care in the world. Especially not stopping the run.

9. Oklahoma (6-4, 4-2, beat Texas A&M 65-10; next, at Texas Tech) Heading into Saturday’s game, OU played the part of the mountain climber trapped in the Swiss Alps; Texas A&M played the part of the St. Bernard with the mini-keg strapped around its neck. The Sooners seemed to like that medicine.

10. Nebraska (7-3, 4-2, beat Kansas 31-17; next, vs. Kansas State) Your uninspiring 7-3 team of the week, ladies and gentlemen! Is it possible that of Nebraska’s seven wins, only one can really even be considered a good win? Why yes. Yes it is.

11. Oklahoma State (8-2, 5-1, beat Texas Tech 24-17; next, vs. Colorado) The Cowboys keep doing enough to win conference games, mainly thanks to their defense, which is now ranked 32nd in total defense, 25th in scoring defense and No. 7 against the rush. Whatever the award for assistant coach of the year is, if Bill Young doesn’t get it, it’s a total traveshamockery.

12. Texas (10-0, 6-0, beat Baylor 47-14; next, vs. Kansas) Texas reminded Baylor it is still a minor league Big 12 affiliate, throwing down a 40-spot in the first half. Now the Longhorns have three simple steps before claiming a spot in the national title game: Beat an imploding Kansas at home, beat a terrible Texas A&M on the road and beat (insert below-average Big 12 North team here) in the conference title game.

Take a look at the bracket.

And without further delay, let’s get on to the voting:

-Oklahoma Region: Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale – 73 percent vs. Mustang Golden Ale – 27 percent

-International Region: Modelo Negra – 57 percent vs. Red Stripe – 43 percent

-USA Region: Fat Tire – 60 percent vs. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 40 percent

-Europe Region: Guinness – 55 percent vs. Newcastle Brown Ale – 45 percent

Here is the latest bracket.

So our Final Four match-ups are McNellie’s Pub Ale vs. Modelo Negra and Fat Tire vs. Guinness. Come back Monday for voting to see who will make the finals.

(Note: If you’re looking for the Beer Championship Series, see the post below this one.)

-No joke, a headline in today’s Tulsa World says “Flu kills 7 more Sooners.” I mean, broken bones and ruptured tendons are bad enough, but if this keeps up, OU will have to start Jimmy Stevens at right tackle.

-Speaking of the Sooners and kickers, did anyone consider that when you’re depending on a football player named Tress, things probably are not going to work out for you?

-And one more OU note: People may or may not like the new Nike uniform the Sooners will wear at Texas Tech, but they should all be glad they won’t be wearing the gear Nike put together for TCU. Horned frog skin print pants and helmet? Yikes.

-My hometown Toronto Raptors are scuffling along at 4-4. My guilt level for canceling NBA League Pass after three years: holding steady at 3 out of 10.

-One-time metro-area resident Byron Scott was fired from the New Orleans Hornets, who are getting out of the gate rather slowly this year. Sure they’ve got Chris Paul, but if you could pick either the Hornets or Thunder, which one would you take now? One look at Paul’s surrounding cast, and I’d best most in this area would rather have the Thunder.

-I get that nationally televised games are great for exposure and recruiting and all that good stuff, but OSU’s night games in mid-November are pushing it. This Saturday’s forecast calls for a low of 47 and a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. OSU better win if fans are going to have to sit through those conditions.

-I know who is the winner of the Jay Cutler-Kyle Orton trade: Every team in the NFL except the Broncos and Bears.

-Oklahoma Region: Mustang Golden Ale – 53 percent vs. COOP DNR – 47 percent

-International Region: Modelo Negra – 66 percent vs. Sapporo – 34 percent

-USA Region: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 64 percent vs. Shiner Bock – 36 percent

-Europe Region: Guinness - 70 percent vs. Pilsner Urquell – 30 percent

-Oklahoma Region: Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale – 57 percent vs. Marshall Sundown Wheat  – 43 percent

-International Region: Red Stripe- 75 percent vs. Molson Canadian – 25 percent

-USA Region: Fat Tire – 63 percent vs. Anchor Steam – 37 percent

-Europe Region: Newcastle Brown Ale- 51 percent vs. Chimay Red – 49 percent

Take a look at the updated bracket.

And now, here are your Elite Eight match-ups. Who’ll go to the Final Four? Your vote will decide:

Oklahoma Region: Mustang Golden Ale - 59 percent vs. COOP Gran Sport Porter - 41 percent

International Region: Sapporo- 62 percent vs. Moosehead - 38 percent

USA Region: Shiner Bock- 56 percent vs. Leinenkugel Summer Shandy - 44 percent

Europe Region: Pilsner Urquell - 57 percent vs. St. Pauli Girl - 43 percent

Oklahoma Region: Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale - 58 percent vs. Marshall Atlas IPA - 42 percent

International Region: Molson Canadian - 52 percent vs. Taj Mahal Lager - 48 percent

USA Region: Anchor Steam – 54 percent vs. Boulevard Wheat - 46 percent

Europe Region: Newcastle Brown Ale- 67 percent vs. Moretti - 33 percent

 Here is the updated bracket.

And now, it’s your vote to decide who goes to the Elite Eight!

(Note: If you’re looking for the Beer Championship Series, see the post below this one.)

-Edmond Discount Liquors, 1125 S Broadway, is hosting a beer tasting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday. Featured beers are Mustang Golden Ale and Amber Lager and Sam Adams Coastal Wheat. RSVP by calling 341-0362.

-Speaking of Mustang Amber Lager, Mustang is holding a pint night featuring its Amber Lager on Monday at McNellie’s in OKC. 5 p.m. start.

-A London restaurant is trying to figure out what to do with a 12-liter bottle of beer worth more than $1,100 U.S.

-Former Oklahoma chef Rick Bayless has teamed up with Mexican beer Bohemia to introduce a Web site to help people with holiday party ideas.

-A fire-damaged bottle of beer found in the wreckage of the doomed Hindenburg airship is being put up for auction.

That’s it for the beer news today. Just a reminder, you can follow The Thirsty Beagle and get updates on new blog posts at www.twitter.com/thirstybeagle.

And if you’re a local liquor store owner or bar manager and you’ve got a beer-related event coming up for which you’d like some publicity, drop me  a line at thethirstybeagle@yahoo.com.

Here’s what the bracket looks like right now.

And now, hopefully without any further disturbances, here are today’s Sweet 16 hopefuls:

I’m going to re-format and re-post today’s match-ups on Wednesday morning. That has been deemed by myself and my technical gurus to be the fairest way to determine who should move on in the BCS bracket.

If you were able to vote today, many thanks. Hopefully you can find a minute Wednesday to vote again. What do you have going Wednesday, anyway? Nothing. So there.

See you tomorrow,

TTB.

Oklahoma Region: COOP DNR – 61 percent vs. Choc Basement Batch – 39 percent

International Region: Modelo Negra- 64 percent vs. Dos Equis 36 percent

USA Region: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 54 percent vs. Sam Adams Boston Lager – 46 percent

Europe Region: Guinness- 63 percent vs. Hoegaarden – 37 percent

Oklahoma Region: Marshall Sundown Wheat – 53 percent vs. COOP Native Amber – 47 percent

International Region: Red Stripe – 74 percent vs. Fosters – 26 percent

USA Region: Fat Tire – 74 percent vs. Blue Moon – 26 percent

Europe Region: Chimay Red- 60 percent vs. Stella Artois – 40 percent

You can see the updated bracket here.

And let’s see who will round out the Sweet 16:

(Note: If you’re looking to vote in the Beer Championship Series, see the post below this one.)

1. Missouri (5-4, 1-4, lost to Baylor 40-32; next, at Kansas State) Losing to Baylor? Bad. Losing to Baylor at home? Very bad. Losing to Baylor after twice blowing an 11-point lead? Really bad. Losing to Baylor and allowing the Bears to drop a 40-spot on you? Can someone tell Gary Pinkel where he can rent a U-Haul?

2. Kansas (5-4, 1-4, lost to Kansas State 17-10; next, vs. Kansas) Yes, these are the same Jayhawks many touted as pre-season north division favorites. If you look in a dictionary under the definition of “Wheels are falling off,” you’d see a picture of the 2009 Jayhawks.

3. Baylor (4-5, 1-4, beat Missouri 40-32; next, vs. Texas) I’m sure the Bears are feeling fine and dandy about beating Missouri, but they’ve still got games against Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, and I don’t see two wins and a bowl berth in that group.

4. Texas A&M (5-4, 2-3, lost to Colorado 35-34; next, at Oklahoma) Texas A&M claims the award for top split-personality team. They roar through Lubbock and destroy Texas Tech, but then fall to the Lower Buffs at home. And now they have an angry OU, a desperate Baylor and a confident Texas on their schedule. They’ve got a shot at six wins, but it’s no sure thing.

5. Colorado (3-6, 2-3, beat Texas A&M 35-34; next, at Iowa State) It was nice for Dan “Short Timer” Hawkins to get a win under his belt.

6. Iowa State (5-5, 2-4, lost to Oklahoma State 34-8; next, vs. Colorado) Paul “I am so proud to be your coach” Rhoads thought he was living large after winning in Lincoln; now two straight conference losses have brought the Cyclones back down to Earth. Have I mentioned before that when Iowa State won in Lincoln, they were the recipients of eight turnovers but only managed nine points? I may even petition the Big 12 to have that game counted as a loss for Nebraska and Iowa State.

7. Oklahoma (5-4, 3-2, lost to Nebraska 10-3; next, vs. Texas A&M) Whoa. Where to even start here? The Sooners were done in by Landry “Too Tall” Jones. As in, those passes were too tall for his receivers, but just right for Nebraska’s defenders. Come on Sooners, even Iowa State managed a touchdown against Nebraska!

8. Nebraska (6-3, 3-2, beat Okahoma 10-3; next, at Kansas) The Huskers really have no place being ranked fifth least lacking in power in the conference, but I couldn’t very well say OU was less lacking in power. Nebraska has scored 37 points in its past four games — they’re no superstars offensively, I’ll say that much.

9. Texas Tech (6-3, 3-2, bye; next, at Oklahoma State) How many times on the Texas Tech-OSU broadcast will they mention that “last time Texas Tech was in Stillwater, it was the Mike Gundy rant?”

10. Kansas State (6-4, 4-2, beat Kansas 17-10; next, vs. Missouri) Can I hand the coach of the year award to a team that’s 6-4, lost to Louisiana-Lafayette and features two of its wins against average Division II teams? You’re damn right I can! Wait, Kansas State scheduled three games against D-II teams this year? Maybe I’ll take that award back.

11. Oklahoma State (7-2, 4-1, beat Iowa State 34-8; next, vs. Texas Tech) Somewhere along the way, Oklahoma State got to be ranked 35th in the country in total defense. Where did that come from? They’re 33rd in the nation in scoring defense and ninth against the rush. The problem? They’re 87th against the pass. And sure enough, here comes Texas Tech to town on Saturday. Tech is second in the country in passing. Guess who’s first? Houston. We know how that went. Is trouble ahead for OSU?

12. Texas (9-0, 5-0, beat UCF 35-3; next, at Baylor) Not much to say here. Texas appears to be hitting its stride on both sides of the ball. All their competition in the conference is dropping off week-by-week. I’m not sure if there could be a less exciting drive to a perfect season.

Here’s how the bracket looks right now.

And now, on to the round of 32:

Here’s how the bracket shapes up now.

Are here are Friday’s results:

-Oklahoma Region: Mustang Golden Ale – 64 percent vs. Choc 1919 – 36 percent

-International Region: Taj Mahal Lager – 52 percent vs. Corona – 48 percent

-USA Region: Shiner Bock – 85 percent vs. Coors Light – 15 percent

-Europe Region: St. Pauli Girl- 59 percent vs. Amstel – 41 percent

-Oklahoma Region: COOP Native Amber – 72 percent vs. Belle’s Blond – 28 percent

-USA Region: Anchor Steam – 77 percent vs. Miller Lite – 23 percent

-Europe Region: Newcastle Brown Ale- 81 percent vs. Carlsberg 19 percent

Cheers!

(Note: If you’re looking to vote in today’s Beer Championship Series match-ups, see the post below this one.)

Oklahoma Region: Choc Basement Batch – 72 percent vs. Belle Isle Power House Porter - 28 percent

International Region: Sapporo – 54 percent vs. Coopers Lager – 46 percent

USA Region: Fat Tire – 62 percent vs. Sam Adams Boston Ale – 38 percent

Europe Region: Hoegaarden – 70 percent vs. Becks – 30 percent

Oklahoma Region: Marshall Atlas IPA- 82 percent vs. Bricktown Copperhead Amber Ale – 18 percent

International Region: Fosters- 56 percent vs. Tsing Tao – 44 percent

Europe Region: Stella Artois- 52 percent vs. Weihenstephaner Lager – 48 percent

For your enjoyment, the updated bracket.

And how about Friday’s match-ups:

-Oklahoma Region: COOP Gran Sport Porter- 72 percent vs. Bricktown Land Run Lager – 28 percent

-International Region: Moosehead- 72 percent vs. James Boag – 28 percent

-USA Region: Leinenkugel Summer Shandy – 75 percent vs. Michelob Ultra – 25 percent

-Europe Region: Pilsner Urquell – 56 percent vs. Harp – 44 percent

-Europe Region: Chimay Red – 55 percent vs. Bass – 45 percent

-USA Region: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – 79 percent vs. Budweiser – 21 percent

-International Region: Dos Equis – 64 percent vs. Kirin - 36 percent

Here’s the updated bracket.

And here are today’s match-ups:

-Oklahoma Region: Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale – 69 percent vs. Mustang Amber Lager – 31 percent

-International Region: Molson Canadian – 74 percent vs. Lhasa Beer – 26 percent

-USA Region: Boulevard Wheat- 63 percent vs. Leinenkugel Original – 37 percent

-Europe Region: Moretti – 62 percent vs. Heineken – 38 percent

-Oklahoma Region: Marshall Sundown Wheat – 77 percent vs. Choc Miner Mishap – 23 percent

-International Region: Red Stripe- 53 percent vs. Tecate – 47 percent

-USA Region: Blue Moon – 76 percent vs. Bud Light Lime – 24 percent

Here’s the updated bracket.

And let’s see the next round of match-ups:

(Note: If you’re looking for the Beer Championship Series, see the post below this one.)

1. The Thirsty Beagle: First off, you guys are still relatively new in the business; how has it been starting your own brewery?

Eric Marshall: It has definitely been a learning experience! I don’t think a lot of people understand all of the work that is involved just to get it up and running. Since we are regulated by every level possible there is a lot of applications and waiting on those to get processed. There are a lot of reports that are dependent on keeping very detailed records for everything you do. Many people think…oh I do this in my garage all the time, how hard can it be… well it is a completely different monster. Of course, I knew all of this getting into it, because of my prior experience in the industry, but still it is completely different when you are running the show. It has also been a very gratifying experience, we have been fortunate to have overwhelmingly positive support and feedback and that really makes it all worthwhile.

2. TTB: I see your 22 oz. bottles are available at beer stores now. Are you guys selling six packs as well and I just haven’t seen them anywhere?

EM: We have been selling 22 oz. bottles since last December and we should be releasing six packs very soon. We have begun bottling, we are just trying to build up some inventory before we put them out the door. We will be releasing them in waves, Atlas IPA and McNellie’s Pub Ale first and then Sundown Wheat and Old Pavilion Pilsner to follow. Since kegs and 22 oz. bottles have gone so well it has been hard to get the six packs going. We are going to have to do a little expansion very soon, so we have enough tanks full of product to fill demand.

3. TTB:You guys were the first keg tapped at Tulsa’s Oktoberfest, right? Did that mean a lot to you?

EM: Yes, we tapped the first keg at Oktoberfest and it was awesome! I have been going to that festival forever and we tried to get beer out there last year but it just didn’t happen. So, this year we started making contacts early and Oktoberfest was very receptive of having us there and doing the official tapping. Having German roots and having studied so much over there, it was very important to me.  Oktoberfest liked the idea for the local aspect of it and it didn’t hurt that I have a few German casks where you actually hammer the spigot into the cask. They loved it and want to do it again!

4. TTB: You spent a lot of time studying the craft in Germany. Do you miss being in the middle of a place steeped with such beer tradition and history?

EM: I really do miss Germany! I had such a wonderful experience there and yeah the beer tradition and history is top notch. But I am glad I came back to Tulsa and started the brewery here. I love Oklahoma even more than I love Germany. If I would have stayed over there I would never have met my wife or been where I am now. However, I wish I were in a position where I could visit Germany a bit more, I still have “family” there and love it. Hopefully my wife and I will be going this summer and then once the brewery gets a bit more steady I will get to take some business trips there every year!

5. TTB: Oklahoma seems to be in the middle of a beer boom, with several breweries getting into the mix. Do you get the sense that Oklahoma’s beer community is really starting to grow right now?

EM: Yes, Oklahoma is in the middle of a beer boom and it is great! Forever, Oklahoma has been viewed as a beer wasteland, but now we are starting to make some waves and get a little respect. It is great for the guys who have been around for a while like, Choc. They have been doing some cool things for a while but no one wanted to listen to them because they were from Oklahoma. Now as more breweries pop up people are taking note. It also doesn’t hurt that they won a gold medal in a popular category at the beer fest, but that also helps us all. It gives Oklahoma a bit more street cred!

Oklahoma Region: COOP DNR - 68 percent vs. Bricktown Red Brick Ale - 32 percent

International Region: Modelo Negra- 74 percent vs. Labatt Blue – 26 percent

USA Region: Sam Adams Boston Lager – 87 percent vs. Pyramid Apricot Ale - 13 percent

Europe Region: Guinness- 63 percent vs. Peroni – 37 percent.

I’m a little sad to see one of my Canadian beers go down so early, but hey, it’s a cut-throat world in beer bracket competitions.

Here’s the updated bracket.

And here are the match-ups for today (Note: I’m expanding to seven picks a day for the next four days so we can get round one completed by the end of the week. Also, voting will close each day at 10 p.m.)

(Note: If you’re looking for the Beer Championship Series, you can vote in the post below this one)

1. Baylor (3-5, 0-4, lost to Nebraska 20-10; next, at Missouri) The Baylor Bears: Giving Big 12 North teams hope since 1996.

2. Colorado (2-6, 1-3, lost to Missouri 36-17; next, vs. Texas A&M) The Lower Buffs put on a great show for the home faithful on Saturday: Four turnovers, only 23 minutes with the ball, a mere 176 yards of offense. Maybe the players have forgotten that IT’S THE BIG 12! Maybe they should GO PLAY INTRAMURALS, BROTHER!

3. Kansas (5-3, 1-3, lost to Texas Tech 42-21; next, at Kansas State) Oh how the once-kind-of-mighty have fallen. Let’s remember that the Jayhawks only made it to the Orange Bowl a couple years back because they didn’t face OU or Texas that year.

4. Nebraska (5-3, 2-2, beat Baylor 20-10; next, vs. Oklahoma) If Nebraska thinks it’s a whole mess of fun scoring 20 points against Baylor and the week before netting only 7 points against Iowa State at home, the Lincoln faithful will really enjoy it when OU’s defense comes to town. Nebraska gets 10 points, max.

5. Iowa State (5-4, 2-3, lost to Texas A&M 35-10; next, vs. Oklahoma State) That speech Paul Rhoads gave after the Cylcones win at Nebraska, the one about how proud he was to be Iowa State’s coach… can he take that back now?

6. Missouri (5-3, 1-3, beat Colorado 36-17; next, vs. Baylor) I don’t really have anything to say about Missouri, so let’s take a short beer detour. I tried Bud Light Golden Wheat at my tailgate on Saturday; I was actually mildly surprised. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was great, but it was, you know, not terrible. And it was free. So that was nice, too.

7. Texas A&M (5-3, 2-2, beat Iowa State 35-10; next, at Colorado) A few weeks ago, the Aggies were being touted as the worst team in the conference; now they have winnable games left against Colorado and Baylor and are looking at a possible seven-win season. Definitely an upgrade.

8. Texas Tech (6-3, 3-2, beat Kansas 42-21; next, bye) Apparently Texas Tech players were sufficiently angry that their coach called their girlfriends fat; how else to explain their uprising against the Jayhawks? Except that the Jayhawks are terrible. That could also explain it.

9. Kansas State (5-4, 3-2, lost to Oklahoma 42-30; next, vs. Kansas) Somehow Kansas is a 2.5-point favorite on the road for Saturday’s game, but mark my words, the Jayhawks will be sorry they crossed Old Man Snider this weekend.

10. Oklahoma State (6-2, 3-1, lost to Texas 41-14; next, at Iowa State) I wrote on the blog last week that I found it hard to believe how one BCS computer didn’t have OSU ranked in its top 25. After Saturday, I see how that could happen.

11. Oklahoma (5-3, 3-1, beat Kansas State 42-30; next, at Nebraska) Kansas State exposed some cracks in OU’s defensive armor, but Sooners seem to be picking up momentum as the season rolls along. They’ll have a chance to play themselves into the Cotton Bowl.

12. Texas (8-0, 5-0, beat Oklahoma State 41-17; next, vs. UCF) Somewhere along the way, Texas developed one of the best defenses in the country. The secondary, which unfortunately for the rest of the league, is very young, is also pretty freakin’ good. OSU receivers pretty much had to fight off interceptions to even make a catch.

 
The

The collection includes three beers:

-New World Tripel, described as “Pale gold in color, this ale is big, flavorful and complex. A special Belgian yeast strain adds tropical fruit and spice notes to the crisp dry ale, while Saaz hops add a subtle herbal note. (~10% ABV)”

-American Kriek, described as follows: “The intense black cherry character in this beer comes from Balaton cherries, which were discovered in Hungary and are now grown in Michigan. These special cherries are prized for their depth of flavor. The tartness from the cherries is balanced by a rich, malty character with toasted oak notes added from the barrel aging. (~7% ABV)”

-Stony Brook Red, described like this: “This unique brew defies traditional beer style definition. The rich, malty brew combines notes of tart fruit from the yeast with a toasty oak character from the barrel aging. The long dry finish is almost wine-like. This is a beer that is satisfying on its own and also pairs well with many foods such as braised or roasted meats, beef stews and strong salty cheeses. (~9% ABV)”

The beers are only available in select states as of right now, SA officials said, with the closest to Oklahoma being Colorado. I’ll keep you updated if they become available in-state.

If you’re interested in a beer you can find a little more readily, Mustang Brewing Co. reports bottles of its Mustang Amber Lager will arrive in Oklahoma tomorrow (Friday).

And on a couple Thirsty Beagle notes, remember you can follow my blog and get updates about new posts at twitter.com/thirstybeagle; and stay tuned tomorrow for the release of my Beer Championship Series bracket. Check out the match-ups and get ready for voting to start Monday.

-Team A is 6-1. Its one loss came against a team that is also 6-1 and is ranked within the top 20 of the current BCS. The loss came in week two of the season, theoretically giving Team A plenty of time to climb up the polls by reeling off five straight wins. Two of the teams Team A has faced now have losing records, compared with five opponents with winning records. Combined, the record of Team A’s opponents is 25-25.

-Team B also is 6-1. Its one loss came against a team that is now 3-5 and not ranked in the BCS. Clearly a worse loss than Team A’s one loss. Team B’s loss came in week three of the season, theoretically giving Team B less time than Team A to climb back up the polls by winning four straight games. Three of the teams Team B has faced now have losing records, compared with four opponents with winning records. Combined, the record of Team B’s opponents is 25-25, the same as that of Team A’s opponents.

So which team is which, and more importantly, which team is ranked higher in the current BCS standings? You’d probably guess it would be Team A. After all, Team A’s one loss was against a far tougher opponent, Team A has had more time to climb back up the polls after its loss and Team A has played more teams with winning records. And since both teams have played teams with a combined record that is equal, it should seem quite obvious that Team A would be ranked higher in the BCS standings, shouldn’t it?

Well, if you thought that, you’d be dead wrong. Team A is Oklahoma State, and it is ranked 14th in the BCS. Team B is USC, which is ranked fifth. Even more unbelievable, one of the computers has USC ranked seventh in its formula and doesn’t even have OSU in its top 25! How does that happen? How does a team that’s 6-1 and boasts four of its six wins over major conference opponents not even sniff the top 25 of any ranking?

Now I get that there are arguments for why USC should be fifth and OSU should be 14th, like how you can’t technically compare their opponents’ records on an even field because what if one team’s opponents have played tougher opponents than the other team’s opponents? But isn’t the fact that that is one of the arguments for putting USC so far ahead of OSU just plain crazy in and of itself?!

Like Bill Simmons would say: Ladies and gentlemen, your BCS system! It’s arbitrary, it favors traditional powers who annually start higher in the rankings, it is generally not understood by the teams and fans that it is supposed to serve, and of course, it’s two-thirds decided by people who may or may not even watch football games on a weekly basis. The answer, as always, is a playoff. The Thirsty Beagle prefers a 16-team bracket, with automatic entry granted to the top two teams in each of the six BCS conferences and four wild-card spots for the Boises, Utahs and TCUs of the world. Any chance that’ll happen sometime soon? Probably not. But guess what? You’re in my world now, grandma!

Here at The Thirsty Beagle, we don’t need no stinkin’ Bowl Championship Series. That’s because we’ve got our own BCS: The Beer Championship Series! By the end of the week, I’ll unveil the 64-beer bracket. And next week, voting will open for the match-ups. You the reader will decide which beers survive and advance through the playoff. And like any good 64-competitor bracket, we’ve got regions: The International Region; the USA Region; the Europe Region; and the Oklahoma Region.

So stay tuned for the bracket-unveiling blog post and come back Monday to vote for Oklahoma’s favorite beer!

-Tibet will boost U.S. shipments of its Lhasa Beer because of strong demand.

- Beer-maker Carlsberg said Russia’s plan to triple beer taxes may result in the loss of 100,000 jobs.

-Another warning is being issued about the connection between swine flu and beer pong.

-A nice analysis of stout beers here, courtesy of The New York Times.

-A former Anheuser-Busch executive has sued the company, saying women receive less pay in salary and bonuses.

-Very interesting read here. Water makes up most of beer, so you can understand why craft brewers are deeply concerned about the future of the country’s water supply.

1. Nebraska (4-3, 1-2, lost to Iowa State 9-7; next, at Baylor) The Thirsty Beagle is not afraid to hand the bottom/top spot in this poll to a team with the history and tradition of the Corndroppers, I mean Cornhuskers. Let’s just say that when you’re Nebraska and you lose 9-7 at home to Iowa State, that deserves some recognition. Nebraska’s challenge for this week’s game at Baylor: More points than turnovers.

2. Baylor (3-4, 0-3, lost to Oklahoma State 34-7; next, vs. Nebraska) Poor Baylor. After all the high hopes they had of finally getting to a bowl this year. Well you know who didn’t have high hopes? This guy! I predicted Baylor would be Baylor this year, and voila, Baylor is Baylor this year. Baylor making a resurgence in football? Let’s keep the natural order of the universe in line, thank you very much.

3. Colorado (2-5, 1-2, lost to Kansas State 20-6; next, vs. Missouri) The Lower Buffs thought they had perhaps turned a corner by beating Kansas last week. No soup for you, Buffs fan! And now with Kansas looking thoroughly exposed as a contender, that win doesn’t look so good either.

4. (tie) Kansas (5-2, 1-2, lost to Oklahoma 35-13; next, at Texas Tech) I struggled mightily on the order I would rank Kansas, Missouri, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, so I called it a draw. I present my analysis in alphabetical order, starting with Kansas: Did you see the throw in the first half that OU intercepted and ran in for a touchdown? Absolutely terrible. It’s like Reesing took a lesson last week at the Cody Hawkins School of Lazy Passes That Any Cornerback Will Jump on and Return for a Touchdown.

4. (tie) Missouri (4-3, 0-3, lost to Texas 41-7; next, at Colorado) Tigers look more like kittens in conference play. Looking bad against Texas and not-so-good against Oklahoma State are two things, but looking atrocious against Nebraska in their conference opener? That only looks worse now.

4. (tie) Texas A&M (4-3, 1-2, beat Texas Tech 52-30; next, vs. Iowa State) Texas A&M avoided an all-out disastrous start to conference play by whipping Tech in Lubbock. I did not see that one coming.

4. (tie) Texas Tech (5-3, 2-2, lost to Texas A&M 52-30; next, vs. Kansas) This loss was so bad, Mike Leach made a post-game reference to coaching the Swedish bikini team and called his quarterback “slow and statue-like.” Ouch if your Taylor Potts. And on the bikini team, get in line Mike, I signed up for that job several  years ago. Still waiting by the phone.

8. Iowa State (5-3, 2-2, beat Nebraska 9-7; next, at Texas A&M) If you open up the dictionary and look for the definition of “being handed a game,” you’d find a picture of Iowa State players celebrating on Nebraska’s field on Saturday. Seems like if your opponent commits eight turnovers and you only score nine points, you should actually be credited with a loss. That being said, I had to rank Iowa State in this spot based on how terrible all the other teams are.

9. Kansas State (5-3, 3-1, beat Colorado 20-6; next, at Oklahoma) What kind of ancient wizardry is Bill Snider practicing? I wasn’t even sure if Snider would live through the season, with the old age and all. When Kansas State lost to Louisiana-Lafayette, I thought he might keel over. Then when KSU opened the conference schedule by losing 66-14 to Texas Tech, I was pretty sure he’d croak. But somehow, that old codger not only hasn’t died, he’s actually got the team thriving!

10. Oklahoma (4-3, 2-1, beat Kansas 35-13; next, vs. Kansas State) Is the Sooners defense really amazing, or is the Kansas offense really terrible? While I think OU’s defense is solid, I’m going to lean more toward Kansas being terrible. Did I mention earlier that the interception return for touchdown in the first half was a terrible throw. Repeat: terrible. Still, OU appears to be fortune’s least-favorite son this season.

11. Oklahoma State (6-1, 3-0, beat Baylor 34-7; next, vs. Texas) Zac Robinson’s increase in efficiency is likely tied to his rediscovering how to throw the ball in a spiral. Good stuff. Maybe if OSU can do what it hasn’t done since 1997 — beat Texas — the Cowboys can crack the top 25 in that one computer poll they’re unranked in.

12. Texas (7-0, 4-0, beat Missouri 41-7; next, at Oklahoma State) After a couple scuffling results in conference, Texas put together a solid game against Missouri. Have they rounded into form as the dominating team in the conference? If they can beat OSU on Saturday, it looks like an easy ride to an undefeated season.