The Pint & the Pitch is a blog pairing English Premier League footballers with the craft beer they most resemble. Cheers!

Wayne Rooney & Magic Hat #9

TLDR: Wayne Rooney introduced the English Premier League to a generation of American fans. Magic Hat #9’s accessibility to the young palate, was a fine introduction to American craft beer to an army of teens and twenty-somethings. Both Rooney & #9 lost their luster with time.

At 23 years old, Wayne Rooney hoisted the Champions League Trophy high above his head after his Manchester United side defeated Chelsea Football Club in penalty kicks in Moscow. The 2007-2008 triumph was followed by the 2008-2009 campaign in which Rooney scored 20 goals in all competitions, while leading United to their second consecutive Champions League final, albeit a 2-0 loss to Barcelona. With Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the club that summer, Rooney picked up the proverbial load for club and country. He scored a whooping 40 goals that year; 32 of which came in the Premier League.

The pinnacle of Wayne Rooney’s career coincided with the expansion of TV rights in the USA. Fox Soccer Channel, while not showing every game, amped up its coverage and gave unprecedented access to the Premier League to American fans. In any given week, supporters could view roughly 4 to 6 of the 10 matches on the slate. This was massive, like Stay Puft Marshmallow Man huge, for the American fanbase. It was even better if you were a United supporter. It seemed that whether it was Arsenal F.C., or relegation bound football club X, United matches would be aired.

So early on there was an American affinity for Wayne Rooney. He played football with a mentality that wasn’t so different from what viewers were familiar with concerning sports in the U.S. Hard into tackle, hot headed and red with rage, long shot procurer; he was a player who would work his tail off, play unselfishly, but still have the tact and quality to be a superstar. Wayne Rooney was the perfect entry to European Football for a generation of American fans.

And that is why we are pairing him with Magic Hat’s ubiquitous #9 Ale. Like Wayne Rooney and world football, #9 was the on-boarding selection for many a young person into the world of craft beer. Neither hoppy, bitter, nor heavy, the ale was a perfect introduction into how beer could be different, without ostracizing burgeoning palates.

It was, for a time, goddamned delicious. In a universe of watered down, face scrunch inducing options; the medium bodied, delightfully sweet ale was a Siamese Fighting Fish hunting in a Goldfish’s bowl. But then we aged, time passed, maybe we paid a bit more attention to the craft beer scene, and #9 began to lose its luster. As did Wayne Rooney. Before City’s rise to prominence, before the rows with Sir Alex, before the underwhelming performances in the 2010 & 2014 World Cups, Roon-Dogg was it for awhile— until he wasn’t. Call it what you like, but Rooney isn’t the same player he was 6 years ago and neither is drinking a #9. Serviceable and nostalgic, the beer and the player are far down the queue in preference, but viable in a pinch.

Alternative Pairings: Fat Tire, Sam Adams Boston Lager, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.