Play beer!

The only thing worse than wishing I was sitting in Safeco Field right now for the Seattle Mariners home opener is wishing I was sitting there sipping a Black Raven Trickster IPA. Or a Silver City Ridgetop Red, or a 7 Seas Port Royal Stout, or whatever happens to be pouring on cask.

Safeco, often touted as the ballpark with the best beer in the majors, has expanded its selections again this year. Here’s a rundown of some highlights, thanks to the annual research by the Washington Beer Blog:

– The opening roster includes more than three dozen different craft beers spread across some 50 locations throughout the ballpark.

– Seven of the eight taps in right field’s Hit it Here Café will rotate monthly during the season with offerings from two dozen breweries around the city, region (including Spokane’s No-Li Brewhouse) and beyond. You also can choose from among 14 bottled bombers.

– A rotating selection of naturally carbonated cask ales from 10 breweries (again including No-Li) will be served regularly at stations outside sections 129 and 330. In addition, a cask ale from a local brewery will be tapped firkin-style every Friday in The ‘Pen, next to the Mariners bullpen in center field.      

In other opening-day action, down in California, Marin Brewing today released its latest Orange and Black Congrats Ale – a black ale brewed with orange zest – in honor of last year’s World Series win by the San Francisco Giants.  

So will some Seattle brewery be doing something like that for the M’s this time next year? Like they say, hops spring eternal …