Villaraigosa bets on Kings with Sriracha, local beers and Langer’s pastrami

There’s more than pride and the Stanley Cup on the line as the reigning champion Los Angeles Kings defend their title against the Chicago Blackhawks -- this year, the customary wager between mayors includes local craft beer.

It is a long-standing tradition for the mayors of each city involved in a sports championship to wager some signature items from their cities on the outcome, and this year Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel staked dozens of Italian beef sandwiches and slices of cheesecake, and three cases of local Chicago brewery Goose Island’s 312 Lager on the Blackhawks.

Lame-duck L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa responded to the wager via his Facebook page with a lengthy list of Los Angeles favorites like Langer’s No. 19 pastrami sandwiches, French dips from Phillipe the Original, burritos from El Tepeyac, and bottles of Huy Fong Sriracha chili sauce. Villaraigosa didn’t forget the hometown brews, and promised to send “One case of beer each from our very own Golden Road and Eagle Rock Breweries” to Emanuel should the Blackhawks take the cup.

Just a few years ago the mayor would have a hard time coming up with local Los Angeles brews -- especially craft brews -- to risk. But with the explosion of craft breweries in Los Angeles there are more options now than ever before to lay on the line.

The Kings trail the Blackhawks in the seven game series, 2-1, but even if they relinquish the Stanley Cup, at least Angelenos can take some pride in the beer that the mayor’s office will have to send to Chicago.

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