Kansas Gov Gets His Own Brew…Who’s Next?

Welcome to the governorship, Sam Brownback: Now here’s a pint of something cold, frosty, and named just for you, and we’re not talking about a strawberry smoothie.

A microbrewery in Kansas' capital city is toasting Governor-elect Sam Brownback's upcoming inauguration with a wheat beer created in his honor. After getting the go-ahead from the soon-to-be-governor's transition team, the Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant in Topeka brewed up 430 gallons of Brownback Wheat Beer for its restaurant, with additional plans to sell the beer at the upcoming inaugural dinner and ball January 8, two days before Brownback takes office.

Brownback gave the new brew his imprimatur after a sampling session Tuesday, to which the press was invited.

"I do like a good beer, and they've done a nice job here with the wheat beer," Brownback told reporters, according to the Associated Press. "I'm partial to wheat beer, being a Kansan."

Now that the Kansas keg party has officially begun, why stop with Brownback Wheat?

May we suggest a pint of Mark Zuckerberg Ale to salute the Facebook founder and Time magazine’s Person of the Year? Ales tend to be hoppy with a bitter, dry flavor (consider that irksome lawsuit from the Winklevoss twins) that is counterbalanced by the sweetness of malt. “Zuck,” as he is nicknamed, is a multibillionaire. How sweet that is.

Then there’s Groupon founder Andrew Mason, known for his sense of humor and his famous snubbing of the $6 billion buyout offer from Google. The 30-year-old entrepreneur seems like someone who would appreciate a full-flavored, dark beer without bitterness (and hopefully without regrets). May we suggest the Andrew Mason Porter? But be warned: The price could be steep.

Michelle Obama’s husband certainly believes in the power of bonding over a beer. (Remember the 2009 beer summit aimed at smoothing racial tensions between black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. and white police Sgt. James Crowley?) The first lady ought to get a prime seating at the bar too.

Since she is taking aim at childhood obesity with her program Let’s Move, her beer would have to be on the lighter side. But given Michelle Obama’s fondness for on-the-rise fashion labels, it would also have to have taste, style, and a touch of the exotic. An India Pale Ale—we’ll call it Michelle Obama’s IPA—would fit the criteria.

Perhaps she should sit down for a cold one with Sarah Palin, who took a swipe at the first lady’s obesity-battling efforts during a s’more-making session on her reality show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska. If this happened, Sarah Palin's American Lager would be the ideal beverage for Joe Six-pack-type spectators.

On the other side of the weight issue is New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who took a lot of heat for carrying some extra pounds during the election. Given the cringe-worthy state of New Jersey’s finances and the pounding he’s been taking for battling the unions over benefits, the Garden State governor could use a pint of something full-flavored and on the stronger side: A Chris Christie Imperial Stout, coming right up.

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Teresa Novellino writes for Portfolio.com