Wedding Beer Selection: MD

Discussion in 'New England' started by bpgpitt10, Apr 5, 2014.

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  1. bpgpitt10

    bpgpitt10 Pundit (849) May 12, 2008 District of Columbia

    I'm getting married in Maryland at the end of May. We are providing all the booze so we can choose any alcohol we want that is sold within Maryland (using a local MD shop).

    The basic outline of what I want is something along these guidelines:
    1. 5 total beers
    2. Basic beer that non-craft beer lovers will still enjoy (Yuengling?)
    3. Probably 2 IPAs... at least one that is lower ABV would be good
    4. 2 other beers... open to any ideas really
    5. Nothing over 8% alcohol will be served just so the alcohol doesn't sneak up on people.
    6. Bottle only. My fiance thinks it will feel classier that way so I'm not going to argue with her on this one. Maybe 1 non-bottle if it's a great option could be slid in there...
    7. For the night before the wedding we are getting a keg of something. Suggestions on this single beer as well (needs to have broad appeal... but is mostly a craft beer crowd).
    Sooo my question is, what should we serve? Thanks a ton for all the help!
     
    #1 bpgpitt10, Apr 5, 2014
  2. SBALDWIN

    SBALDWIN Zealot (602) Feb 27, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Heavy seas loose cannon IPA
    National bohemian for the non craft people "natty boh"
    Duclaw
     
    #2 SBALDWIN, Apr 5, 2014
  3. tkdchampxi

    tkdchampxi Pooh-Bah (2,473) Oct 19, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Although it's canned, Brewer's Art Resurrection is a great, affordable Dubbel brewed in Baltimore.

    I'm doing the same thing for my wedding in November, so I have a great list of beers. Here's my list so far:

    Victory Helios
    SN Torpedo
    SN Stout
    Victory Storm King
    Brewer's Art Resurrection
    Trader Joe's Vintage Ale 2013
    Goose Island Sixth Day 2013
    Mission Street Anniversary Ale
    Victory Golden Monkey
    Kasteel Rouge 2013
    Cricket Hill American Ale
    Cricket Hill East Coast Lager

    And either SN Kellerweis or a pilsner.
    I'm also doing Heady Topper if I can score two cases close to the wedding date

    Many of the beers are being specifically paired with certain food stations
     
    #3 tkdchampxi, Apr 6, 2014
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2014
  4. imbrue001

    imbrue001 Zealot (673) Aug 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Bro, you have to get some Stillwater. Everything I have ever had from them is great, plus the labels are classy. For wide appeal I would go Cellar Door and/or Stateside Saison. They also have a new can out called Brontide you should check out. I was going to suggest Half Acre Daisy Cutter cans (16oz, sessionable pale, flower graphic), but youll have to travel to PA for that.
     
    #4 imbrue001, Apr 6, 2014
  5. bpgpitt10

    bpgpitt10 Pundit (849) May 12, 2008 District of Columbia

    Uhh where can this be bought in PA? I lived in Chicago for a few years and absolutely love this beer. I would make that happen if I knew it'd be there for me to pick up.

    Stillwater is a solid idea. Only potential issue for that is the cost. Those 4 packs are pretty pricey when you think about buying a LOT of them... I'll have to think about that.
     
    #5 bpgpitt10, Apr 6, 2014
  6. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,191) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    For regards to #2, Yuengling is an easy popular choice among general beer drinkers around the DC area (and of course nearby PA). So many people around here drink it I see it everywhere, it's a very safe bet for a wedding.
     
    #6 Smakawhat, Apr 7, 2014
  7. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you're serious about the Half Acre, then you're in luck. Bella Vista is the SEPA distributor, and they're located right in Philly (very near the Italian market). Unlike some distributors in SEPA, they have a retail license as well, so you can go directly to the source to get your Daisy Cutter (where you'll get the best price and the freshest product). I'm assuming you know this, but Pa. is a "by the case" state, and that's the only size you'll be able to obtain at BV. From the sounds of your plans however, doesn't sound like that should be a problem.

    There are probably other places it's available as well, but if you have to go all the way up to Pa. anyway, and if you're buying a lot of it, then you might as well go to BV to get it.

    Just a last comment... I haven't been to Philly in a while, but in the past, finding Daisy Cutter was hit or miss. I don't think it's something that BV has in stock all the time, so I would definitely contact them to make sure they have it available before heading up to Philly. You can ask them about other stores and bottle shops that carry it as well (I'll bet some of the Wegmans and Whole Foods carry it), but you're unlikely to find any place with a better price than BV, or anyplace that is all that much closer to DC. Good luck.

    Lastly, unless your family and friends are from Baltimore and/or have a warped sense of humor, stick with Smakawhat's suggestion and get Yuengling for the non-craft beer fans (in other words, skip the natty boh).

    Good luck.
     
    #7 John_M, Apr 7, 2014
  8. BH712

    BH712 Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2014 District of Columbia

    Trying to keep it local(ish):

    +1 for Brewers Art Resurrection
    +1 for Natty Boh as the basic beer
    DC Brau Public (count that as one of your IPAs - it's close enough and much better than Corruption)
    Port City Porter (if available up in MD)
    Victory Hop Devil
     
    #8 BH712, Apr 7, 2014
  9. HopAttack3

    HopAttack3 Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2011 Virginia

    Troegs Perpetual
    Come to VA and get Bells 2 Hearted, and Oberon...

    If you're buying liquor, go to DC, cheaper in DC than VA and MD, I never buy liquor in VA...
     
    #9 HopAttack3, Apr 8, 2014
  10. jcos

    jcos Pundit (802) Nov 23, 2009 Maryland

    DC liquor is cheaper than Montgomery County liquor?

    Montgomery County - where beer is the most expensive, and liquor is cheap! Figure that one out.
     
    #10 jcos, Apr 8, 2014
  11. gengle

    gengle Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2011 Pennsylvania

    Troegs Sunshine Pils.
     
    #11 gengle, Apr 8, 2014
  12. bpgpitt10

    bpgpitt10 Pundit (849) May 12, 2008 District of Columbia

    I'll definitely look into this. If anyone has info on how often they get it, that'd be awesome to know!

    Thanks for all the recommendations. Right now I'm wondering about something that is a saison and won't cost me a fortune. Any ideas out there? I think I'll probably stay away from dark beers in general since it'll probably be warm outside and I'm guessing that stuff would go very slowly.
     
    #12 bpgpitt10, Apr 8, 2014
  13. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    :-) Don't mean to give you a hard time about this, but is there some reason you don't want to just call BV yourself and ask them? The folks there are friendly and helpful, and no one is going to have a better idea when (and how often) they get in Half Acre stuff than them. I'm just saying...
     
    #13 John_M, Apr 8, 2014
  14. bpgpitt10

    bpgpitt10 Pundit (849) May 12, 2008 District of Columbia

    Color me a skeptic, but most of my phone calls along this line end up with the answer, "very infrequently." That means lots of different things. However, I just called and pressed a bit. The guess was that it's only been in 2 times in the past year. Does that seem right to people here?
     
    #14 bpgpitt10, Apr 8, 2014
  15. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Bummer. That's how it was when I was living in Baltimore and driving up to SEPA all the time, but that was a couple years ago, and I thought maybe shipments were coming in more often now. There seems to be plenty of demand for things like daisy cutter and double daisey cutter (I love the stuff!), so it wouldn't have surprised me.

    BV does seem to usually get in a good supply just prior to Philly Beer Week (there are usually several half acre events), so the timing might work out for you (PBW starts the end of May). Not sure you want to wait that late in the game, however, to nail down your "provisions" for the big event.
     
    #15 John_M, Apr 8, 2014
  16. bpgpitt10

    bpgpitt10 Pundit (849) May 12, 2008 District of Columbia

    That's good to know. I will order other things but if I call in May and come across it, I'll probably just go grab it anyhow.
     
    #16 bpgpitt10, Apr 8, 2014
  17. HopAttack3

    HopAttack3 Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2011 Virginia

    Trading texts with a buddy now, and he recently picked some up...he got it at Cheap Cans, asking me if I want cases..daisy cutter that is...
     
    #17 HopAttack3, Apr 9, 2014
  18. imbrue001

    imbrue001 Zealot (673) Aug 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    If it was me:

    Brewers Art Resurrection - Keg
    1. Yuengling is the no brainer for BMC folks but if you want to have fun you could serve something like Otter Creek Citra Mantra and just cover up the tap handle with a handwritten "LAWGER" note
    2. IPA - Firestone Walker Union Jack, Lagunitas Maximus, lots of choices here
    3. Daisy Cutter
    4. Saison - If it HAS to be 6pack, Stone is coming out with one soon
    5. DC Brau Penn Quarter Porter (yeah its a can, but it has a Top Hat on it)
     
    #18 imbrue001, Apr 9, 2014
  19. imbrue001

    imbrue001 Zealot (673) Aug 6, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Now that I think of it, Citra Mantra may not be available in May. So another good option would be Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold. Id recommend their porter too but you may not want a label depicting an impending maritime disaster. :wink:
     
    #19 imbrue001, Apr 9, 2014
  20. TheEpeeist

    TheEpeeist Maven (1,434) Nov 5, 2008 Virginia
    Trader

    if cans are OK:

    Stillwater Classique
    Victory Prima Pils
    Dale's Pale Ale
    Maui Coconut Porter
    Stone IPA
     
    #20 TheEpeeist, Apr 10, 2014
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