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Jandy said...
Hey all.
So, I am extremely uneducated when it comes to craft beers, but the best man for my wedding is into it and suggested I study up and have a few available at my reception. I would work with him more but he lives out of state and our work schedules clash almost perfectly so that we have a hard time communicating.
I honestly don't even know where to start. I am an absolute patsy when it comes to beer and tend to prefer beers that I'm guessing might make you guys cringe. My summer favorite is Summer Shandy, which used to be relatively unknown (in my eyes) but now everyone and their brother seems to know about it, which takes away some of it's allure, honestly. I enjoy Killians and used to also like Heineken (honestly haven't had it in a long time). I enjoy the first 1 or 2 Smithwick's every St. Patty's, but find myself going away from it after those first couple. The IPA's that I've tried (can't remember names) have generally been too strong for my liking (am I speaking heresy?). I am generally able to enjoy and be interested in the first 5/6 of a bottle, but end up choking down the rest and promptly switching to another beer. I do enjoy Blue Moon - Belgian White and Oberon, and don't object to the orange slice. I very much like Strongbow, and am not a fan of Woodchuck.
Does my lighter palette screw me with craft beers, or can I still hope to hunt for beers that I haven't discovered yet and add them to my reception? If so, prescribe me some beers to test, and tell me what to expect with each of them (i.e. - try Moccasin Bend's 'Red Headed Stepchild', it's like a more flavorful Killians that's a bit redder in color and a little lighter [I made that up, but I should get bonus points if it's right]. Or whatever, just please be sure an ale-challenged person such as myself can understand what you're saying). As this is for wedding reception considerations, any price points would be useful, but whatever you offer will be appreciated.
Thanks!
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Klevin Torborg said...
Jandy, a couple of questions for you. First, when is the wedding? I am guessing a spring or summer wedding, but let us know because that will help. Second, are you talking about something that you can get in kegs or just cases of bottles? Are you looking to have several craft selections at the wedding, just one, etc.? Is the wedding here in Michigan?
This will help in our recommendations.
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Jandy
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Jandy said...
The wedding is on the sacred grounds of our East Lansing campus in June.
I would prefer a beer that I can get in a keg, but would rather make a quality selection than have it be convenient.
I am unsure if I'm going to have multiple selections or not. My father-in-law to be is pretty set on having a keg of Shandy, and I'm on board since I enjoy it so much. Here's what I'm currently thinking for my 300-320 person guest list:
1/2 Barrel of Shandy (very popular in my family)
1/4 Barrel of my best man's homemade beer (I'm unsure what type he is making, but he knows I'm not a huge IPA guy. I think he was considering trying a wheat beer).After the above, I'm thinking 2-3 more 1/4 Barrels, and am pretty open to what those might be. I am inclined to have one of those be Bud Light or something similar (just a standard beer for the unadventurous).
The suggestions I have thus far are:
1. Bell's Oberon
2. Three Floyd's Gumballhead
3. Oktoberfest
4. Michigan red ales
5. Bell's Amber
6. Goose Island 312
7. Goose Island Honker's Ale
8. Allagash WhiteI'm off to the store to see what I can find. I think I remember Plum Market having a pretty solid beer selection, so let's hope they've got some of the ones I haven't had before! I'll post my reviews...
This post was edited by Klevin Torborg on 3/7/2012 at 9:32 PM
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Klevin Torborg said...
Good info. I am unsure of the availability of many of these beers in kegs, but I do know that Bells tends to put out a decent number of beers in keg form for mass production. If you are going to have Shandy and your best man is home brewing a wheat beer I would say stay away from Oberon, 312 or Allegash White as it may seem a bit redundant. I suggest Bells Amber as a good craft that many at the party will enjoy. You would have to check on distribution, but I know that Short's does some good reds (and it sounds line you enjoy those). They have a beer called The Magician which is a tastier and smoother version of a Killian's type beer. I don't know about it's keg availability though.
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Jandy said...
Okay, any 'thou shalt nots' before I begin tonight's taste test? I was able to find many types of beers, some that I'm tasting for the wedding, others that were just too intriguing to not buy.
On the docket for tonight: 1. Goose Island 312 2. Goose Island Honker's Ale 3. Short's Soft Parade 4. Bell's Amber Ale
Up and coming that I have to look forward to (mostly just out of curiosity): 1. Founder's Breakfast Stout 2. Founder's Dirty Bastard 3. Short's Aorta Ale 4. Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale And a couple others that I'm too lazy to get up and look at. I found two types of Allagash, one grape and another type that wasn't the White I was hoping for. The attendant said that Allagash will no longer be made available in Michigan, so Plum Market bought as much as was allowed to have a nice little stash. Instead of the Allagash White, I was recommended a different type that I can't recall. Additionally, I was told Three Floyd's Gumballhead was unavailable in Michigan.
Am I "supposed" to drink these bad boys from the bottle or a glass? Cold, chilled, or room temperature?
I'm such a newb it's embarrassing...
All of those beers should be drinken cold from a glass. All beer should be drunk from a glass and as a general rule, darker beers should be drunk at a little warmer temperature...or allowed to warm as you drink them.
You will be able to get goose island kegs, bell's, and some shorts here in MI. Three Floyd's does not come to MI but you should definitely try some gumballhead if you get a chance.
Others you could try (sorry I didn't chime in the first time), are Shorts Pontius Road Pilsner (a pilsner), New Holland Full Cirlce (a kolsch), a fresh Founders All Day IPA (a milder IPA...make sure the bottle date is less than 2 weeks old), and maybe give a sour a shot just for the hell of it since you are being experimental...I recommend Jolly Pumpkin La Roja or Oro de Calabaza (these are big bottles and will set you back $12 a bottle).
Cheers!
(ps dont be fooled...that soft parade is 9%!) chpueblo22
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chpueblo22 said...
Others you could try (sorry I didn't chime in the first time), are Shorts Pontius Road Pilsner (a pilsner), New Holland Full Cirlce (a kolsch), a fresh Founders All Day IPA (a milder IPA...make sure the bottle date is less than 2 weeks old), and maybe give a sour a shot just for the hell of it since you are being experimental...I recommend Jolly Pumpkin La Roja or Oro de Calabaza (these are big bottles and will set you back $12 a bottle).
Cheers!
(ps dont be fooled...that soft parade is 9%!)
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Jandy said...
Just finished the Bell's Amber, and it was very good.
My initial reaction is that my Bud Light family would react negatively to it because it would be too bitter, but after a couple drinks I changed my mind. Maybe I'm crazy, but the initial bitterness of the beer seemed to fade as I edged my way through the glass. The opaque yellow-brown color makes it appear very rich, and I enjoyed it more and more as I continued to drink it.
Now for the next beer.
Eeny meeny miny moe, Goose Island Honker's Ale is next! (after a glass of water and crackers, of course)
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By-Tor said...
oy oy oy- Dont take this the wrong way. But you think Bells Amber is bitter? I guess a month long binge of Hopslam every year for the past 4 years will do that to the senses. I gotta vote for Bells Two Hearted as a must for your wedding. A beer that put Michigan craft brew on the map. One of the best American IPA's of all time.
This post was edited by Jandy on 3/7/2012 at 11:09 PM
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Jandy said...
Don't get me wrong, I quite enjoyed it. I'm trying to put myself back in the mindset of where I was as a 21 year old, because I swear that's the mentality of a lot of my family....
And I don't know how I feel about Bells Two Hearted being declared a 'must-have' for my wedding. I really don't know how I feel about having an IPA there, as it can be a very hit or miss drink I think.
In other news...I enjoyed the seemingly unique flavor of the Goose Island Honker's Ale. It would genuinely be a hard decision between that and the Bell's Amber. I think I'm at the point with the two that I like both and might just choose based on the cheaper price, whichever that might be.
Oh, and I'm drinking the 312 right now. Can you say, nailed it? I love this beer. It's honestly a combination that I've been searching for for a long time; a combination of a fruit-bearing beer that isn't a patsy. I'm not going to shove fruit on this beer, it's fine as is, but it could absolutely support an orange or lemon slice. All the while, it's got the smallest bite to it that maintains just a bit of weight.
Yes, I'm aware that the above paragraph likely makes no sense, but what I mean to say is that I love the beer.
Were I to pair this 312 with the Shandy and my best man's wheat brew, would just 1 quarter-barrel of darker beer balance it out? Or do you all think I would need 2 quarters? It just seems to me like the 312 is heavier than the Shandy to an extent that it won't taste redundant. Am I crazy?
This post was edited by ByTor20084 on 3/7/2012 at 11:31 PM
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Jandy said...
Don't get me wrong, I quite enjoyed it. I'm trying to put myself back in the mindset of where I was as a 21 year old, because I swear that's the mentality of a lot of my family....
And I don't know how I feel about Bells Two Hearted being declared a 'must-have' for my wedding. I really don't know how I feel about having an IPA there, as it can be a very hit or miss drink I think.
In other news...I enjoyed the seemingly unique flavor of the Goose Island Honker's Ale. It would genuinely be a hard decision between that and the Bell's Amber. I think I'm at the point with the two that I like both and might just choose based on the cheaper price, whichever that might be.
Oh, and I'm drinking the 312 right now. Can you say, nailed it? I love this beer. It's honestly a combination that I've been searching for for a long time; a combination of a fruit-bearing beer that isn't a patsy. I'm not going to shove fruit on this beer, it's fine as is, but it could absolutely support an orange or lemon slice. All the while, it's got the smallest bite to it that maintains just a bit of weight.
Yes, I'm aware that the above paragraph likely makes no sense, but what I mean to say is that I love the beer.
Were I to pair this 312 with the Shandy and my best man's wheat brew, would just 1 quarter-barrel of darker beer balance it out? Or do you all think I would need 2 quarters? It just seems to me like the 312 is heavier than the Shandy to an extent that it won't taste redundant. Am I crazy?
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By-Tor said...
oy oy oy- Dont take this the wrong way. But you think Bells Amber is bitter? I guess a month long binge of Hopslam every year for the past 4 years will do that to the senses. I gotta vote for Bells Two Hearted as a must for your wedding. A beer that put Michigan craft brew on the map. One of the best American IPA's of all time.
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Jandy said...
In response to many of the above posts...
1. I'm not ditching Shandy as much as many of you might hate it. It's my favorite beach beer (at the moment at least) and my fiance and her family love it, as do a vast majority of our friends/family. I'm sure that I'll eventually move past it, and might even hate it at some point, but right now it's just where I'm at. Do I have the taste buds of a 14 year old girl? Probably, except I don't much care for raspberry bubbleyum... 2. I like the idea of a keg of Bells Amber instead of a pony. 3. I'm definitely leaning towards taking the 312 over the Oberon after hearing what several of you have said about Oberon slipping recently. I haven't had Oberon in a long time, so I have no reason to believe otherwise.
This post was edited by Holden Spartan on 3/8/2012 at 8:35 PM
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Craft Beer