I always do my best thinking over a glass of beer. Two heads are better than one.
From the Best of Bridge
Now and then I like an icy cold beer. Not a whole icy cold beer, because it is never icy cold when I get to the bottom of the bottle or glass. I just like the first few icy cold ounces.
One of my son-in-laws, perhaps (but highly unlikely) thinking of his mother-in-law’s fondness for those first few cold ounces, devised an ingenious way to taste the beers of the world without having to drink an entire bottle of each. He hosts a Beer Tasting Party.
He invites lots of people, and assigns each couple a country. The guests buy a half dozen or so bottles of beer that represent that country. They pre-chill the beer, and when they arrive at the party the bottles are nestled into coolers of ice that are set out on a long table on the patio.
Each person is given a glass with his or her name on it and the tasting commences! A few ounces of this beer, then a few ounces of that beer. Icy cold, just the way I like it! Some munchies, then some more munchies!
There is an established protocol for a sophisticated Beer Tasting Party. This involves score sheets and detailed discussions. This isn’t that kind of party.
But it also isn’t the kind of party where the guests would have to be reminded to remove the bottles from the six pack carton before trying to read the bottom panel of the box!
24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not.
Stephen Wright
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My similar Drinking Story – Afternoon Tea in the Garden – a pair of very big tea pots!
She's a Maineiac
/ September 9, 2011Now THAT is a party I’d love to be invited to! What a great idea.
Margie
/ September 19, 2011Hi Maineiac – you’ll have to try hosting one. It is a great way to entertain!
Ronnie/Hurtled to 60
/ September 9, 2011Sounds an emminently sensible idea!
Margie
/ September 19, 2011Hi Ronnie – my son-in-law thought so, especially when there was so many unopened bottles left over to take to our cabin. We’re set for the rest of the season!
dribblingpensioner
/ September 9, 2011That is a very good idea, its the first time i have heard of it.
I’M sure he was thinking of you
Margie
/ September 19, 2011Hi pensioner – I had heard of wine tasting, but not beer tasting. Both are a lot of fun.
notquiteold
/ September 9, 2011That sounds great. I also love just the first couple of ice-cold sips.
Margie
/ September 19, 2011Hi notquiteold – many people don’t like icy cold beer, but it is how I like it best.
magsx2
/ September 9, 2011Hi,
What a fantastic idea, a great way for everyone to have a bit of fun.
Margie
/ September 19, 2011Hi Mags – it was a lot of fun – a good way to mix a group of people who don’t know one another very well.
Brown Road Chronicles
/ September 10, 2011That totally sounds like fun!
Margie
/ September 19, 2011Hi BRC – There is no more laid back kind of drink than beer!
Lorna's Voice
/ September 10, 2011I never cared for beer, but your post made beer seem like the most delicious thing to drink. Your pictures and words are brilliant!
Margie
/ September 13, 2011Thanks Lorna – there are so many interesting beers – a beer tasting party is a great way to find them!
timethief
/ September 10, 2011Gosh if it’s one thing that i despise the taste of it’s beer. The yeast taste makes me gag. So I’ll stick to tea parties. lol
Margie
/ September 13, 2011Hi timethief – We tasted quite a few beers that didn’t really taste much like beer. One was a Cabernet, and many people liked it.
Amanda Edwards
/ September 10, 2011There is nothing like a cold icy beer. Usually just one is all that is needed. I missed European beers often today I found one of my old favorites, Hoegaarden. It was yummy!
Good article, beer is unrated as a refreshing drink!
Margie
/ September 13, 2011Hi Amanda – when we lived overseas, Stella Artois was my favourite. I’m glad I can buy it here too.
hansi
/ September 11, 2011That’s a great idea for a party…I’ll drink to that.
Margie
/ September 19, 2011Hi Hansi – I’m looking forward to your post after you’ve hosted your first beer tasting party!
comingeast
/ September 12, 2011I wish I liked the taste of beer better. I like the first sip of my husband’s, but that’s about all. Actually, maybe it’s a good thing I don’t because I have a beer belly without even drinking any! My brother throws a very nice beer tasting party nearly every year, but he doesn’t assign countries to other people; he does it all himself. I like your idea better. I’ll suggest it to him and see how he likes the idea.
Margie
/ September 13, 2011Hi CE – One of the beers we tried was a grapefruit flavoured one. Many of the women liked it, even if they normally didn’t drink beer.
Hippie Cahier
/ April 2, 2012I’m glad you posted a link back to this. What an interesting party idea — one that can be dressed up or down, accordingly.
Margie
/ April 2, 2012It is always a great party. Many of the guests aren’t really beer drinkers, but they invariable find one that they like. There are some wonderful fruit beers available now and these appeal to the wine drinkers.