Wedding Beer Box Ceremony

Actually just saw this with wine at a wedding for the first time and thought beer would be a great idea...

Guessing where you're located would help people know whats distributed in your area and they can make some recomendations from there.

 

Assuming you can keep the box in a dry dark place with a constant temperature, you should be okay if it is not too warm. Think cool basement if possible (you are in Michigan, so perhaps) or in the coolest closet in the house.

As for beers...well that is a doozy of a question...and I hope you get some feedback from others, but here is my nickel's worth of advice:

I like the Belgian styles. They store well and are full of flavor. They prefer cooler storage but will survive at room temperature. Look at the pages on styles, and look at the storage tips for each style. You will also find information on glassware that accompanies various style of beer, and that may make things more interesting for you.

Like I said, my opinion only...take it for what it is worth.

 

Without knowing any specifics (what type of beer your partner likes, how much you're looking to spend, if you're willing to trade or purchase online rather than at a bottle shop), I'd say you'll have some good options in Michigan. Beers with higher ABV (9% and above) will often age well, or at least won't decline too much. Also lambics/sours and Belgian styles can work.

I know that Founder's and Bell's are available in Michigan, so I'd start there. Bell's Expedition Stout is a popular beer to age, and you should be able to find it without too much trouble. This comes in 12 oz bottles. Bell's also is rumored to be releasing Black Note Stout in the near future. This will be harder to find, but still a local distribution. Founder's also makes an Imperial Stout and a Breakfast Stout that could be good candidates. The Breakfast stout has some attributes (i.e. coffee flavors) that will fade over time, but the beer will still hold up. Kentucky Breakfast Stout is an extremely popular beer that many people age. This is scheduled for release on April 1st, but can be difficult to find depending on your area. All of these are 12 oz bottles.

If you're looking for a larger bottle (22 oz or 750 ml), Founder's also has some limited release bottles you may be able to find. They released a Wheat Wine aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels last year called Sweet Repute. This might be available still (I just bought a bottle in Chicago last week).

If you're on this site, you can also look up some of the top rated beers. If they aren't available in Michigan, you might be able to find websites that will ship them to you. I know a couple of liquor stores in my area that sell beer on their websites (The Beer Temple and West Lakeview Liquors, both located in Chicago). I've also heard of a website called Belgium In A Box. Just be aware, the prices will definitely be higher than purchasing in person, if for no other reason than shipping. There also may be minimum purchases required.

Also, reading through the forums will give you other ideas.

Good Luck!