Need one more S.D. beer for my wedding...

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by mithrascruor, Sep 4, 2013.

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  1. mithrascruor

    mithrascruor Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2005 California

    So, my wedding is at the end of the month and I'm planning to have 4x 5-gal kegs of local, San Diego beer. (It is outdoors up near Lake Arrowhead, so being served out of a couple of jockey boxes.)

    So far, I have these lined up:
    Ballast Point Sculpin
    AleSmith Nautical Nut Brown
    Green Flash Double Stout

    For the fourth beer, I was hoping to have Mother Earth's Cream Ale, but turns out they don't sell kegs to the public. Thought it would also be a good option which would hopefully please both the "uninitiated" and those who already enjoy craft beer.

    So, I'm stuck in a bit of a rut trying to find a 4th beer to fit in with that tap list. Only other requirements are that it be local and be available in 5-gal kegs. And be tasty. ;-) I considered AleSmith's XPA, but would prefer to include a fourth brewery, and it may still be too hoppy for some.

    Also, if anyone has a source for jokey box rentals, I'm all ears. I know AleSmith can do it, but only one per keg. I've been in touch with Beer King in Escondido (a friend used them for his wedding), but the communication has been a bit lacking and I'm feeling a bit nervous.
     
    #1 mithrascruor, Sep 4, 2013
  2. e34john

    e34john Devotee (399) Jul 22, 2013 California

    Not sure how their distribution is, but if you can Grazias Vienna cream ale from Hess. Awesome stuff. I think they should be able to help with a reasonable timeframe. I remember reading that they will even brew custom batches if planned in advance

    Great list by the way, sure to please a lot of people. My friend had 2 of those at his wedding.
     
    #2 e34john, Sep 4, 2013
  3. Saxmusik45

    Saxmusik45 Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2011 California

    AleSmith X probably wouldn't be a bad choice for a good pale ale, as that seems to be the category you're missing.
     
    #3 Saxmusik45, Sep 4, 2013
  4. mrkrispy

    mrkrispy Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2006 California

    If you are in North County, call Rip Current for their Bonzer Pale....it is really fresh and a great hoppy but not bitter (like X that you mentioned). I think they are in 5gal kegs.

    You could also get a 5gal of Victory at Sea or Ruination heh heh
     
    #4 mrkrispy, Sep 4, 2013
  5. thatinvisibo

    thatinvisibo Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2005 California

    Modern Times Fortunate Islands might be another good choice. Big citra flavor, but still fairly low on bitterness. Plus, people will be more likely to try it for the first time since its a wheat beer.
     
    #5 thatinvisibo, Sep 4, 2013
  6. 01Ryan10

    01Ryan10 Initiate (0) Sep 10, 2011 California

    Blasphemy incoming...

    It's a wedding. Unless you know everyone is a craft drinker, you may want to make your 4th keg a B,M, or C. If you only limit the beer options to craft, you may end up with a lot of half drank cups and wasted beer.

    Now if you've already got a BMC and you're looking for a 4th craft keg, then I'd look at a pale ale.
     
    #6 01Ryan10, Sep 4, 2013
  7. lincolnbeard

    lincolnbeard Initiate (0) Dec 12, 2010 California

    get PBR and randal it!
     
    #7 lincolnbeard, Sep 4, 2013
  8. Sebowski

    Sebowski Zealot (613) Jan 11, 2010 California

    Fuck that. Craft breweries make great alternatives to BMC and will help the conversion process.
    If you want a lager: Ballast Longfin Lager
    Pilsner-esque typer beer: Mission Blonde
     
    #8 Sebowski, Sep 4, 2013
    Jgrody, mike_v_sardina and nanobrew like this.
  9. DrtyBvrJuce

    DrtyBvrJuce Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2013 California

    One of the 8 kegs I had at my wedding was Lightning Elemental Pils. Was a huge hit. I also second Rip Current beers.
     
    #9 DrtyBvrJuce, Sep 4, 2013
  10. HeavySpeedway

    HeavySpeedway Initiate (0) Jul 8, 2013 California


    It's too bad they aren't selling kegs of their cream ale yet, as I think that would be exactly what OP would want.
     
    #10 HeavySpeedway, Sep 4, 2013
  11. HopHead84

    HopHead84 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,268) Nov 29, 2006 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was recently in a similar situation. Tap That Keg in Oceanside is a great spot for jockey box rentals. I used them for a couple double tap boxes.

    http://www.tapthatkegnow.com/jockeybox.html

    For beer, I went with Rip Current Lupulin Lust Double IPA, Alesmith X, a fruited sour, and a single IPA. The beer was well received by all, and Alesmith X was appreciated by my macro lager drinking relatives and my craft beer drinking friends alike. Rip Current's Bonzer is a good choice if it's fresh when your wedding takes place. I'd do that or fresh Alesmith X.
     
    #11 HopHead84, Sep 4, 2013
  12. drewzline

    drewzline Initiate (0) Dec 12, 2006 California

    Iron fist Renegade Blonde would be a nice addition to that lineup.
     
    #12 drewzline, Sep 5, 2013
  13. mithrascruor

    mithrascruor Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2005 California

    Thanks, everyone! Some great suggestions, and cool to read what some of you have had at your weddings! Yeah, a cream ale or more mildly hopped pale ale is the sort of thing I am looking for, but a blonde or wheat could possibly fit too.

    This would fit the bill, and I'm familiar with it too! (Didn't realize it was now a regular Hess offering.) If I can't make this happen, I'll check out some of the others that folks have mentioned (a few of which I've tried, others I haven't). Actually, I'll probably end up checking them out either way, at some point!

    Haha, but I would certainly keep the Victory at Sea all to myself! ;-)

    Perfect! Thank you - I'll try and get in touch with them tomorrow.
     
    #13 mithrascruor, Sep 5, 2013
  14. grrrah

    grrrah Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2009 California

    Definitely something light and BMCish craft alternative. Even a pale might be too harsh as the "easiest drinking" pick.
    Had a full keg of a craft IPA, and got full keg of blue moon just so the IPA wouldn't be wasted by those not into craft. The Blue moon kicked a lot earlier, and I would consider my wedding as having a higher percentage of craft drinkers than average.
     
    #14 grrrah, Sep 5, 2013
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