Beers and Brewhahas: Italian Americans vs. Columbus Day protestors

This Associated Press photo made brewers around the nation weep for joy.

​No big deal: Just four guys having a beer and settling a brewhaha. That's what Barry, Joe, Hank and Jim did last week (with Colorado's Blue Moon in a starring role). It's something that happens all over the world, millions of times a day.

In fact, it worked well enough at the White House that we'd like to see some of Colorado's bigger disputes settled with similar sudsy sit-downs. Picking the appropriate beer to pair with the problem is crucial, however. Here's our first beer/dispute suggestion.

Check back with Café Society for more pairings over the course of the week.

Dispute: Italian Americans vs. Columbus Day protesters
Beer: Left Hand Brewing Company's Deep Cover Brown Ale

​Like the issues involved with this yearly ruckus, Deep Cover is complex. Hailing from Boulder County (where student protesters feel at home), Left Hand was named for Chief Niwot, a Southern Arapahoe (which pays tribute to our Native American past). But the beer's malty, nutty flavors also pair well with pasta and red-sauce dishes, and its smooth finish hides the bitter, hoppy taste of hundreds of years of persecution.