It’s inescapable, immovable and just around the proverbial corner. Yes, folks, holiday season approaches, and with it seemingly endless opportunities to entertain and be entertained. If you prefer the former to the latter, you’ll want to make certain that your beer fridge is well stocked, but with what?
Of course that last question was rhetorical, because as the designated Beer Guy, it would be a conspicuous failure on my part if I didn’t have some suggestions to offer. So before that first guests arrives at your door, consider stocking up with at least a few bottles each of the following:
Pale Lager – Fer crying out loud, of course you need to have some plain, ordinary, quaffable lagers around. They might not be the most seasonally appropriate tipples available, but they’re all some people drink. Do those poor unimaginative folk a favour, though, and buy something more flavourful than the basic mass market brands. Think Pilsner Urquell, Samuel Adams, J.R. Brickman…
Wheat Beer – Again, not a wonderful seasonal choice, but a good refresher for timid beer drinkers. Blanche de Chambly and Hacker-Pschorr Weisse or, better still, Konig Ludwig Weisse.
Dark Lager – One should suffice, for the Rickard’s drinker in the crowd. Try Warsteiner Dunkel or King Dark Lager, or even a schwartzbier like Kostritzer.
Pale Ale – By all means, stock a pale ale or two, but not something super-hoppy from the States (that comes later). Remember that a lot of people think that Alexander Keith’s from Labatt is a true IPA! St. Ambroise Pale Ale is a good one, or Marston Pedigree from the birthplace of pale ale, Burton-on-Trent, England.
India pale ale – Have some fun here, since the guest who reaches for an IPA is likely to be a bit of a beer geek anyway. (Or the aforementioned Keith’s drinker, who must be caught and gently guided towards something considerably less challenging, like lemonade.) Try stocking R&B’s Hop Goblin, if you can get it, or Propeller Brewing’s excellent IPA, or a balanced hop monster from the States, like Victory’s Hop Devil or Three Floyds Alpha King.
Winter/Christmas beers – A must have, for certain! Choose from rich and rounded ales like Wychwood’s Bah Humbug or Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome, or whatever creative delights your local breweries might be turning out.
Barleywines, Belgian abbey-style ales, doppelbocks, etc. – All wonderful fits for the season, but unwise additions to the beer selection at a large party, since people may not realize how strong they are until it’s too late. Unless you will be able to closely monitor what everyone is drinking – ie: as host, you open and pour every beer served – it’s probably best to save these for yourself to sip while cleaning up at the end of the night.
