Catch the big game around town
Where can you watch Super Bowl LVI in Black Mountain?
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
February 13, 2022
Lookout Brewing Co. will host a watch party, Feb. 13, as the Cincinnati Bengals and L.A. Rams face off in Super Bowl LVI. Customers are invited to bring their favorite snacks for a potluck meal. Lookout opens at 12 p.m. Photo courtesy of Lookout Brewing Co.
It’s been 34 years since Ickey Woods and Boomer Esiason led the Cincinnati Bengals to an appearance in the NFL championship game, and more than two decades since the then-St. Louis Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy as the “Greatest Show on Turf.”
As both organizations make their long-awaited returns to the Super Bowl, held Sunday, Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in the Rams’ current home of Los Angeles, football fans around the Swannanoa Valley can catch the big game in a variety of settings around town.
Super Bowl Sunday has held a special significance at the Black Mountain Kitchen + Ale House since 2011, when a crowd of locals packed the place for the first time to watch the Green Bay Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. With those two events forever intertwined, the Cherry Street restaurant and bar will celebrate its 11th anniversary on Sunday, in partnership with Pisgah Brewing Co. and Hi-Wire Brewing.
The Black Mountain Kitchen + Ale House will celebrate its 11th anniversary, Feb. 13, partnering with Pisgah Brewing Co. and Hi-Wire Brewing. The Cherry Street restaurant, which first opened the night of Super Bowl XLV, will serve chicken wings, as customers watch the Cincinnati Bengals take on the L.A. Rams for the Lombardi Trophy. Photo by Fred McCormick
“It’s always a great time,” said Black Mountain Kitchen + Ale House owner John Richardson. “We’re excited to be partnering with Pisgah and Hi-Wire, and we’ll have chicken wings and the game on TV. We’re looking forward to it.”
Black Mountain Kitchen + Ale House will open at noon, with televised pregame coverage of the game, which is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Lookout Brewing Co. will continue its annual gathering for the big game, but this year a new covered patio offers heated shelter from the elements. The brewery will open its doors at noon, and will carry the matchup on their indoor and outdoor televisions.
“We always get a good mix of a lot of locals, our regular customers and new faces,” said Lookout manager Tonya Engelbrecht. “It’s always a great time, and something we really look forward to here.”
Lookout is inviting customers to bring their favorite appetizers for a potluck watch party, with at least a dozen batches of microbrews on tap. The selection includes Floyd’s Humor Raspberry Wit, Sugar Hollow Orchard Ale, Black Mountain IPA and a guest tap serving Urban Orchard Cranberry Cider.
Football fans craving a classic burger or a cheesesteak can stop by Mac’s food truck truck, located just outside of Lookout’s patio.
The Bush Farmhouse, which “plays hopscotch with South African flavors, cuisine and drink, is hosting its Valentine’s Day Love Brunch from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Feb. 13. The bar will remain open when the Cincinnati Bengals and L.A. Rams kick off Super Bowl LVI at 6:30 p.m., with the game appearing on the Bush’s big screen. Photo by Fred McCormick
At the other end of South Ridgeway Boulevard, The Bush Farmhouse will host its first watch party for the event. Super Bowl Sunday at the South African-inspired eatery will begin with a Valentine’s Day Love Brunch, which will feature a DJ and drink specials. The kitchen will be open from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., but the bar will remain open as the game is shown on the big screen.
“We’ll have a few cool surprises this weekend,” founder and chef Mark Henegan said. “We have a great space for hosting a watch party, and we’re inviting everyone to come watch it with us.”