March Madness: Complete couch-potato viewing checklist

Libations and Elixirs

The first rule of watching and drinking is, be responsible. Don’t overdo it. Enjoy the games and allow any adult beverages you choose to consume enhance the viewing experience.

Water – keep plenty of water on hand and make this the go-to drink over the course of the tournament. Staying hydrated and keeping your body clean is still important, even when spending an extended amount of time as a couch slug. It’s always best to eat your calories rather than drink them.

Soda – Your choice. There are no bad decisions here.

Beer – Here’s where things get tricky. For the fan who takes their beer-drinking seriously, March Madness is the time to set that snobbiness aside. Keep it simple and light. Dark heavy beers, IPAs, and other spice and fruit filled craft brews aren’t going to be your friend. American lagers, pilsners and white wheat beers are best. They drink easily and mix well with any food choice.

Buy in bulk, preferably in cans to keep possible broken glass episodes out of the mix, and keep it cold. All-temperature mugs like the Yeti or Cäk are perfect for cold beer consumption during the tournament.

Wine – There’s nothing wrong with drinking some wine during the tournament, regardless of gender. In fact, it can be a great compliment to certain foods you’ll eat (chinese for example). Like soda, wine is a very personal choice, so whatever you like is fine. If serving wine to party guests, I’d recommend an easy to drink wine like a Moscato, Sangria or Riesling. Whatever wine you choose, I’d highly recommend the Swig stemless wine glass for a drinking container.

Mixed Drinks – Pick your liquor, everyone has a favorite, but mix it up right with some great mixology choices from Stirrings. This makes preparing mixed drinks for yourself or guests easy. Just add the booze you choose to the flavor you love, and you’re set to go.

Next: Ranking Every Team In The 2018 NCAA Tournament

There you have it. No need to spend a fortune on game tickets. March Madness for the couch potato can be a fun and exciting experience. You can even keep a bottle of champagne on hand for when your perfect bracket is completed on April 2.