Stagecoach 2022: 7 alcoholic beverages that pair well with the top Mane Stage acts

Nothing goes together like a cold beer and live country music. And yes, I know this from personal experience (I may or may not have once grabbed a Bud Light Lime at Country Thunder while watching a rainstorm destroy my tent).

But do you really want to stick to your average domestic beer the whole time you’re at Stagecoach? I challenge you to switch things up and consider trying these seven drinks at the festival, which each happen to pair perfectly with one of the Mane Stage artists.

Jordan Davis: A craft IPA

Available at: Beer Barn

Catch Jordan Davis’ set at: 6:05 p.m. Friday on the Mane Stage

We get it. Many in the Stagecoach crowd might turn their nose at the sight of a craft beer, but we’re here to tell you you’ll like it. Jordan Davis’ feel-good party hit “Good Beer” inspires everyone who’s “got no stock in Tesla” to enjoy the simple joys in life, and what better way to do that than with a small-batch brew made right here in the U.S.? As Davis says, “a good beer is a cold one,” and especially in the desert heat, you can rest assured your bartender will serve you something cool.

Maren Morris: A glass of red wine

Available at: Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wine Lounge

Catch Maren Morris’ set at: 8:30 p.m. Friday on the Mane Stage

It might seem like wine would be the last thing you’d want at a country music festival, but in honor of this progressive country songstress, why not go against the norm? Morris references her go-to drink in several songs, including the adorable line “You come over when your wine's all gone” in the duet “Chasing After You” with husband and fellow festival performer Ryan Hurd. As far as we know, there’s nowhere on the festival grounds to “mix your liquor with Crystal Light,” so we’ll opt for Morris’ other move.

Fun fact: Fellow Stagecoach artist Smokey Robinson has his own Cabernet Sauvignon, so if you opt for vino instead of a brew, you can toast to both the Motown legend and Morris.

Thomas Rhett: Mango Cart

Available at: Golden Road Saloon

Catch Thomas Rhett’s set at: 9:50 p.m. Friday on the Mane Stage

Although we know he’s the son of a country star and grew up in rural Georgia “crushing on that Busch light,” Thomas Rhett loves a tropical moment. As evidenced by his song “Vacation,” this father of four loves the occasional beach getaway (real or imagined), so why not toast to him with some of the most sunwashed flavors available at Stagecoach? While we’re getting our fruity wheat on, we hope there’s someone backstage who will be putting “a little liquor in my [Rhett’s] coconut water.”

Alternative pick: Thomas Rhett has been known to sing about “a strong shot of whiskey straight out the flask,” but flasks aren’t allowed at Stagecoach, so we recommend heading to any of the full bars around the grounds, or the Jameson tent, to take a whiskey shot in his honor.

Lee Brice: Bud Light Seltzer

Available at: Bud Light Seltzer Sessions Stage

Catch Lee Brice’s set at: 7:10 p.m. Saturday on the Mane Stage

OK, I know Brice would likely opt for a traditional Bud himself -- especially because he mentions the brand in several of his songs, including the Stagecoach-appropriate “Parking Lot Party” with the line “Tailgate Buds just a sippin' on suds” -- but we have a theory. Brice’s most popular song at the moment, “One of Them Girls,” mentions trying to attract the type of girl “that peels off the Bud-Light label,” but there wouldn’t be a reason to be ashamed of your label if you take your traditional domestic brew experience to the next level, right? Push yourself to try something other than the classic Bud, even just for the sake of conversation with another festivalgoer you have your eyes on.

Carrie Underwood: Angry Orchard

Available at: Angry Orchard Treehouse

Catch Carrie Underwood’s set at: 9:50 p.m. Saturday on the Mane Stage

Saturday’s headliner has been known to write songs about (rightfully) enraged women ready to get back at men -- threatening to “take a Louisville slugger to both headlights” or, even worse, slip “something in his Tennessee whiskey … how he died is still a mystery” -- so we’re tipping our hats to the queen of revenge with a crisp Angry Orchard that’s just as cold as the heart of every heroine in Underwood’s songs.

Alternative Pick: If you’re not a cider fan, grab a margarita at any of the bars on the festival grounds and pretend it’s one of the “redneck margaritas [that] are two for one at that old marina” in Underwood’s “Southbound.”

The Black Crowes: A mezcal cocktail

Available at: The Cabin

Catch The Black Crowes’ set at: 7:40 p.m. Sunday on the Mane Stage

The Black Crowes are one of the few bands playing Stagecoach that don’t really fall into the country category, but the group’s status as a successful Southern rock band from Atlanta makes it a welcome addition to the lineup. That classic rock edge deserves an equally edgy beverage pairing, and because Gilded Magazine reported that the group was kicked off its arena tour with ZZ Top in 1991 for criticizing the tour affiliation with Miller Beer, we decided to avoid beer altogether. Instead, try a smoky, gritty mezcal cocktail at The Cabin before or after this performance to get in the mood to head bang.

Luke Combs: Espresso martini

Available at: Sonny’s, curated by New York City-based cocktail bar Attaboy

Catch Luke Combs’ set at: 9:15 p.m. Sunday on the Mane Stage

I know, you weren’t expecting this one. But to be honest, this drink pairing is really inspired by Combs’ wife, Nicole (Hocking) Combs, who is so beloved by the country community, she has her own fan pages on Instagram. Combs’ two most popular songs are about his love with Nicole, and in “Beautiful Crazy,” he says “her day starts with a coffee and ends with a wine.” What better way to end an exhausting weekend on a high note than getting a pick-me-up with a coffee-infused alcoholic beverage?

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Stagecoach 2022: What to drink while you listen to the Mane Stage acts