Giving Into Beer Pressure: Because Not Everyone Wants To Be WINED and Dined

Feb 16, 2017 11:16 AM Back

Your engagement likely started off with a De Beers diamond so, why not put beer on tap at your reception.

Sure …wine, champagne and mixed drinks are standards of “sophistication” but with a bevy of micro-breweries brewing up some specialty brews, you can add ale to your list of specialty drinks.

Think Craft Creations that are as inspired alternatives to traditional brews.

Here are a few refreshing options to tap into (Most available year round for your enjoyment):

1. Dogfish Head Midas Touch: This beer with a 9% alcohol content is THE quintessential brew to tap into for weddings. In fact, it’s often known as THE wedding beer (especially if you’re of Celtic decent) as it meets your need for mead (remember, in the Middle Ages mead or honey wine was given to the newlyweds both at and after the wedding in abundance…a full month’s supply…hence the term honeymoon). This beer-mead combination brew offers a champagn- like quality but is also sweet and dry.

2. Mother Earth Cali Creamin: If you loved cream soda as a kid…you’re in for a truly unique adult treat. This Vanilla Cream style ale has a 5.2 % alcohol content...but is cool, refreshing and sweet…and with a vanilla and honey malt kick the perfect pairing for your summer soiree.

3. Ale Smith Speedway Stout: A coffee lovers dream come true…especially if, like me, you happen to like dark beer/stouts too. This richly crafted beer has a 12% alcohol content and features bold notes of coffee, chocolate AND vanilla, hints of dark fruit and oak, making it the ideal winter brew. This creative concept comes in a host of other varieties including: Nutella Coffee Stout, Vietnamese Coffee Speedway, and, seasonally, Coconut Speedway Stout.

4. Dogfish Head Pumpkin Ale: Hosting a fall wedding? Give guests a seasonal beer that can really fall in love. This bodacious Delaware brown ale is brewed with real pumpkin, sugar and spices and has an alcohol content of 7%. It’s delicious pumpkin pie overtones (including hints of caramel, nutmeg and malt) are truly refreshingly heartwarming.

5. The Bruery Hottenroth: Although It Sounds like something that was brewed right out of the Harry Potter novel, this Berliner Weiss California creation straight out of Orange County is sensational for sipping at your spring celebration. Featuring a low alcohol content (3.1%) it is light and a bit tart and lends itself to being served with raspberry or woodruff syrup….a traditional way to sweeten this pungent brew.

6. Great Divide Heydey: A Belgian Style white ale this summer ale with a unique “kick” will quench the thirst that ails you. This tart and tangy brew boasts notes of lemon, tangerine, coriander, and plenty of zesty hops and spices; as well as a 5.2 alcohol content.

7. Ballast Point Sculpin: A traditional IPA style beer with a 7% alcohol content, this hoppy brew is a well balanced beer that offers wedding guests a “hoppy medium” when it comes to crafted “ales”. Smooth and fruity, it features hints of apricot, lemon and mango…and it scored an amazing 98/100 on Beer Advocate.

8. Belching Beaver Peanut Butter Milk Stout: Is this a dessert or a drink. Perhaps it offers the best of both. Plus, I personally think it’s kind of “cute” that the beaver pays homage (knowingly or not) to the Canada’s national symbol (my man is Canadian). This decadent brew is chock full of flavor including notes of cocoa, peanut butter, malt and coffee. It also boasts a 5.3% alcohol content and a pretty impressive score of 91/100 on Beer Advocate.

9. Firestone Pivo Hoppy Pilsner: I’m inclined to say…Come on get hoppy. Featuring traits of both a hoppy IPA and a light and invigorating Pilsner, this spring and summer boasts a 5.3% alcohol content and notes of lemongrass, bergamot zest and spice making this brew both robust and refreshing.

10. Cascade Strawberry: Fruity beers are NOT just for the ladies any more….and this sensational sour ale, with a 7.39 alcohol content proves it. Aged in oak barrels and infused with real strawberries, this fruity brew packs quite the pungent punch.