Themed parties are always a great way to get people involved and highlight one of your favorite things. In this case, it's beer. These beer-themed party ideas cater to different groups, sizes and ages--21 or older, of course.
Beer Tasting
Decide on a particular theme of beers to taste. Choose from different styles such as pale ales or stouts or brewers such as Alaskan or Pyramid. Then pick out at least four beers from your theme and, depending on how many guests you're inviting, make sure to get a six-pack or more of each beer. Food is important to have when tasting beer because it cleanses the palate. Small snacks such as nuts, cheese, crackers and dried fruit work well with beer. Start with lighter or weaker beers, and work your way up. Describe the beer you're serving, and give each person a small amount in his glass, about 2 ounces per person. Have your guests discuss the flavors beyond whether they like it. Continue with the remainder of your beer selections. Once you're finished, invite your guests to grab a full bottle of the beer they most enjoyed.
Beer Making
This requires having home-brewing equipment but can be a lot of fun and informative. This is best with smaller groups because much of the demonstration will be in a kitchen. Brewing a batch of beer takes about three hours and doesn't produce a drinkable product for a few weeks. Make sure your guests are aware of this, and you provide other drinks for them. Demonstrate the beer-making process, inviting people to take part at different steps along the way. You can adjust the recipe to the tastes of your guests, asking whether they prefer a beer that is bitter, sweet, dark or flavored. There are large intervals of free time during the process in which you and your guests can decide on a name for the beer and draw up labels. A few weeks later, when the beer has fermented, you can invite your guests back for a tasting or deliver a few to each person.
Beer-Pairing Dinner
Like wine, beer can be paired excellently with different types of food. First, choose a menu with several courses. For each course of the meal, choose one beer with which to pair. If you're experienced in beer pairing, you can make the selections; otherwise consult a pairing guide. Serve a small amount with each course, about 2 to 6 ounces per person per course. Don't serve full beers with each course, except perhaps the main course. Encourage your guests to finish their beer from each course before going on to the next. During each course, talk about the pairings, and get your guests to discuss how the beer and food complement each other.
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