A little friendly competition is coming to Pennsylvania’s craft beer scene as Coughlin’s Law Brewing and Mad Chef Craft Brewing join forces for a collaboration that puts more than just a new beer on the line.
The two Pennsylvania breweries have teamed up to create Bridges & Birds, a 6.8% DDH Hazy IPA brewed ahead of the Eagles-Steelers matchup. But there’s a catch. The game will determine which brewery gets bragging rights for the next year.
Bridges & Birds is double dry-hopped with Peacharine, Citra Cryo, Citra, Krush Cryo, and Eukanot Hyperboost. The beer’s label features an eagle flying above the Pittsburgh skyline, with the city’s bridges featured prominently. The tagline says it all: “Two Cities, One Beer. A Pennsylvania Collaboration.”
While both breweries get to share in the collaboration, only one will get to celebrate when the game is over.
What’s at Stake?
The breweries have put together a series of consequences for whichever side comes out on the losing end. The wager includes:
Flag of Shame: The losing brewery must prominently display the winning team’s NFL flag in its brewhouse or taproom until the next regular-season Eagles-Steelers matchup. A plaque will accompany it reading, “Lost the 2026 Pennsylvania Brewer’s Bet.”
The Rival Menu Item: The losing brewpub must run a food special honoring the winning city or team for one week. That could mean a Primanti-inspired sandwich or pierogi special at Mad Chef if Philadelphia wins, or a Philly cheesesteak-inspired item at Coughlin’s Law if Pittsburgh takes the game.
Social Media Humiliation: The losing head brewer must put on the winning team’s jersey and record a video congratulating the other brewery. That includes admitting the other side has the better football team.
Victory Beer: The winning brewer gets final naming rights for the next collaboration between the two breweries. The losing brewer still gets to help make the beer, but won’t have a say in what it’s called.
Game-Day Pour: The losing brewery must serve Bridges & Birds in the opponent’s colors and feature a tap board recognizing the winning city as the 2026 Pennsylvania Brewery Champions.
Two Cities, One Beer
At the end of the day, Bridges & Birds brings together two Pennsylvania breweries from opposite sides of the state’s football rivalry. Both get a collaboration beer out of the deal, but only one will get to spend the next year reminding the other who won.
And if the losing brewery has to hang the other team’s flag in its taproom all year, this could be a collaboration that neither side forgets anytime soon.
