Happy Friday Panthers Fans! 

Sir Pour had to hibernate over the off-season, but he's back! If you're new to this series I basically pair my love of Carolina Panthers football with my love of craft beer. Each week I'll give you my pick for the weekend, and what I'll be drinking. 

This week I decided to pick a brew I've been waiting a long time to feature, but could never quite find the right time. Most of our viewing area should be able to pick this one up as I'm told it's available throughout the Carolinas. 

So without further ado, our brew of the week...

Highland Oatmeal Porter

The Brewery: Located in Asheville, NC the Highland Brewing Company has been one of the pre-eminent breweries in the Carolinas since 1994. Now brewing twice daily the folks at Highland create approximately 6 different styles of beer available commercially, with more available on draft in the Asheville area.

The Brew: This is a porter, so you're getting something fairly heavy here. However, don't let that turn you away. This is a smooth, creamy porter with a good amount of sweetness to it. This is coupled with a roasted, almost coffee flavor that makes this just an absolutely brilliant brew. It comes in at 5.80% ABV, so it's one you can sit and drink for a while on Sundays.

How it relates to the game: It's everything we think the Carolina Panthers will be under this new coaching staff- heavy, aggressive and powerful, but also nuanced and varied. Like the Panthers will be on offense and defense this is a multi-faceted brew which everyone can find something appealing in.

Price Point: $7-8 per 6-pack

Where to find: Can be found in grocery stores throughout the Carolinas that have an extensive beer section. You can also find Highland beers at boutique stores throughout  Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.