<p>If I picked three–Sams (not seasonal), Stella, Heineken Light.</p>
<p>Annie–what’s wrong with a beverage choice of millions of people?</p>
<p>My husband and I prefer beer to wine, and I think gouf is giving you great advice. A lot of beers are acquired tastes. I think you want some that are broadly appealing including a smooth lager and a light beer. I am a big light beer drinker, and I would probably go with Corona or Amstel light. Both very easy drinking though you need lime for the Corona. Stella Artois is a great suggestion for a regular beer. </p>
<p>We aren’t huge drinkers or aficionados but just enjoy a beer when we do drink. At a wedding, I would expect to be able to get a familiar brand so that would be my thinking as a host.</p>
<p>Beer isn’t ok at a wedding? Who knew! Why wouldn’t it be? Not refined enough?</p>
<p>My H is in the other room shaking his head over Corona, Amstel Light and Heinekin being suggested as good beers. If you want a light beer or a typical lager, mirco breweries make those too, and they are fresher and have more flavor, while still being lower in alcohol. There are ratings for beer, just as with wine-take a look at your local options and go from there. You can do so much better than the national bottled stuff. I can’t even drink it any more.</p>
<p>Guinness is very popular but heavier (just depends on taste)–more of an acquired taste. But if the groom likes it then it’s probably on the short list! As it should be!
Amstel Light is another good choice. I’ve seen that offered at a lot of venues also as the “light choice”. I just happen to go for Heineken because it has a clean taste that most people go for. and goes with most foods.</p>
<p>Lol, good does not necessarily equate with mainstream. There is a lot better coffee in the world than Starbucks, but people’s palates are accustomed to it. For a small party with friends I love the idea of more adventurous choices. For a wedding, I think people order things in their comfort zone. Kendall Jackson chardonnay, Diet Coke, etc. Obviously just one person’s not very important opinion though! Just the direction I would go. </p>
<p>We had the venue’s mix of beers, (I’m imagining some lite beer, some other beer beer, an IPA, something Sam Adams-ish?), but, as a matter of conscience, the important thing was they subbed in, by our request, a couple cases of Guinness.</p>
<p>@gouf78 Yeah, tons of people drink beer. But when I’m at weddings, they seem to be upscale settings-- settings in which you wouldn’t get a beer. I would imagine more people wanting to indulge in a nice glass of Pinot. To each his own :)</p>
<p>Well, yeah. Why someone thinks a wedding should be “upscale” in their own terms of what’s acceptable or not is, frankly, puzzling.</p>
<p>I’m a wine drinker myself, but I don’t kid myself that that makes me classier than someone who drinks beer. Just two different kinds of booze.</p>
<p>@garland It’s not in my own terms. Wine is generally regarded as something you have when you are in upscale settings (i.e. A wedding). I’m not trying to come across as pretentious, the reason why you drink wine at weddings is the reason why you don’t show up in sweats and sneakers. It’s not the right setting. It’s just my opinion I don’t see the need to start an argument over it.</p>
<p>I agree. I would not have started an argument about it, either.</p>
<p>Gouf, in post #20, named my 3 favorites. I’d prefer Pinot Grigio (Coppola makes a nice, inexpensive bottle).</p>
<p>At Starbucks, I order an iced drink; their coffee is too strong. I prefer Dunkin Donut coffee.</p>
<p>Has anyone tasted Ginger Beer? It is delicious alone, or mixed with vodka. I prefer it to root beer or ginger ale.</p>
<p>@frazzled1 where in Virginia? I can recommend some options if it’s NoVA/DC area</p>
<p>I would say that a lot of the beers people drink today are more “upscale” than the wine many people are drinking. At S’s wedding this past summer we had a selection of beers, including a local brew from his wife’s (left coast) home state and some from New England, where they were married. A lot of young people prefer beer and , I admit, I had one at the reception. 
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<p>One note-- we host a few largish work-related parties every year. Because DH and I are somewhat picky drinkers we hang on to receipts so we can return unopened bottles of wine and try to buy beer we know our son will enjoy. </p>
<p>@soccergurl7988 - the Charlottesville area. The groom and several attendees play rugby and seem to enjoy their Guinness quite a bit on game days. Any suggestions for something local most welcome - we could have a case available. We will also provide various liquors, two different kinds of red wine, and two different kinds of white (probably something local as well). The catering company has a list of how many bottles of what for a typical wedding, based on number of guests. We’ll tweak that to accommodate what we know our guests like. </p>
<p>The most elegant wedding I’ve recently attended was at the Four Seasons in DC. Beer was served, and while I don’t know what kind of bar package that wedding included, these are the beers in the hotel’s current top-level package: Imported Beer – Heineken, Red Stripe & Amstel Light; Micro Brew – Dogfish Head, 60 Minute IPA & Fat Tire Amber Ale <a href=“Washington DC Weddings | Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC”>Washington DC Weddings | Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC;
<p>It depends on the food right? If you have ribs and BBQ then beer, otherwise wine is appropriate.
We had the open bar for 1 hour, people can have beer or alcoholic beverages. Then we had wine with the main course.</p>
<p>I must hang out in different social circles then some of you. Every wedding that I have attended has had wine, beer and mixed drinks served throughout the entire reception. I am not a fan of most craft beers especially since the alcohol content is so high. One 6 or 7% beer and I would be quite drunk. Attended a wedding yesterday at a winery and beer was served. I saw Heineken, Stella, Corona Light and Dogfishhead(craft). I found it to be a nice selection, something for everyone.
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<p>What sort of wedding are you having? A casual party calls for beer. Formal wedding…not so much. Think: formal gowns and carrying a bottle of beer. Perhaps not the best look. </p>
<p>Just saying! First and foremost have a great wedding and a ton of fun!
As to your original question: Beer drinkers (for the most part and at least all the ones I’ve run in to) are more forgiving and adventurous than their wine counterparts. Do not stress over what beer! Pick something else to stress over.
So pick something in your economic comfort zone. Have a “light” version. “Regular” version. Something light tasting and then something with a “heavier” taste. Scale up or down from that.<br>
If you stay with name brands that everyone knows–it’s just easier. You’ll just please more people unless you really know your audience and beer is the focus. Unlikely at a wedding. The bride and groom are the focus.</p>
<p>Foreign beers (familiar names)–more upscale. Most European beers are just better tasting with more flavor and most are better tasting if you are actually in Europe… Really, over in Europe they are locally produced without all the additives that need to be in our imported US products (so they have the local brew taste). but that ain’t happening here.</p>
<p>Heineken prides itself on tasting the same all over the world–no matter what country. One reason I suggest it. Very safe recommendation. Regular or light. Clean and light with distinctive taste that blends well with many foods.</p>
<p>Many of our domestic brands started out as “microbrews”. So there. Sam Adams does “micro brews” all year long. One reason it is on my list. Not to mention I like it! Consistent “crowd pleasing” taste. Not too light nor too dark. Just about as “Middle” as you can get in light, dark and taste also.</p>
<p>Stella is just my default. In all the countries I’ve visited. When I don’t know anything else on a weird list of beers they usually have had Stella. Just my default.</p>
<p>Bud gets dissed on a regular basis. Unfortunately our “American” beer has been bought and no longer American. It’s a great beer. Light, crisp. Goes with a huge variety of foods. Say ribs…guess foreign companies see that better. Although I understand the taste may be less in the past few years since the company was sold.</p>
<p>Foreign names that are great and unknown–party time. Belgium has 650 different brews. To die for. Probably where Bud went to rest…</p>
<p>Microbrews–gotta know your party!</p>