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Theatre Reviews
by Jeniva Berger

| BEER by Bill White

Choosing a Beer for Your Wedding

A journey through weddings and beer history

By Bill White, Brew Master
Did you know that beer has played such an important role in the act of marriage that common words associated with the festivities surrounding a wedding find their roots in beer?

For example, the word “Bridal” comes from brewing history? Before the Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom, all brewing was done by women. The brewing equipment was passed down from mother to daughter or aunt to niece for centuries. A lady who brewed beer was called “Brewster”. At this time water was unsafe to drink so beer became an essential part of the diet. The beer was fermented at room temperature so it was ale.

For important events, the Brewster would brew up a special beer for the occasion. This ale would be served at the bride’s shower and the festivities surrounding the wedding ceremony. It was called Bride’s Ale. Over time the two words merged to become the word Bridal. Thus the Bridal Shower and the Bridal Ceremony evolved from beer the special beverage prepared for that occasion.

Commercialization of the brewing industry has taken most of the brewing out of the home and brewing became a business. But, that does not stop us form having beer as part of a joyous bridal ceremony.

CHOOSING A THEME BEER

As you plan for the special day why not include a link to the past by including a Bride’s Ale to your shower plans, rehearsal evening, the reception and family gatherings.

How do we choose a beer? What beer should be part of your wedding? The answer is easy! Pick a beer or better yet a few beers that you and your guests like or pick a theme and choose beers that fit the theme.

White is the first colour that comes to mind when I think of weddings. So, let us begin with a white beer. The word “weisse” in German means “white”. A great beer to choose would be Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, pictured right. Weihenstephan is the oldest operating brewery in the world. Records show that the monastery received the rights to brew in 1040 AD. Finally, 968 years later it has arrived in Canada.

This Bavarian style Weissbier is unique and refreshing. It is a wheat beer. Wheat lightens the flavours and makes the beer easy to drink. The yeast used to brew Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier contributes a spicy clove-like character and provides a hint of banana. The beer is lightly hopped to balance the palate. Try one and test your sense of smell and taste. See if you can pick up the hint of clove and banana on the nose? On the taste you will find these flavours balanced nicely with the contribution of the malt. A different taste, it is a very easy drinking and refreshing on a warm day, at the bridal shower or the reception. The richness of flavours makes it an ideal companion all year round.

Note that the beer is “Hefe” which means it comes with yeast in the bottle. Don’t be alarmed. This the way it is meant to be. The yeast makes it cloudy but also adds flavour and B vitamins as a bonus. Healthy beer!

Speaking of Germany, did you know that the world’s largest fair began as a wedding celebration? Crown Prince Ludwig, Left, married Therese of Saxe-Hildburghhausen, right, on October 12, 1810. They decided to have a big celebration in the meadow, “die Wiesn”. It was the first time royalty had invited the common folk to come and celebrate their marriage together. This annual celebration has become known as Oktoberfest outside of Munich, but in Munich it is still referred to as “die Wiesn”, the meadow. Last year over ten million people visited Munich to join the celebration. To this day it is still held in the meadow known as “Theresienwiese”, in honour of the bride.

Another colour that has gained popularity in today’s world is green. For those planning a Green Wedding there are local organic beers available. Mill Street Brewery was first with its Organic Lager a light, refreshing golden lager, pictured left. If you are looking for more malt and hop character a Nickel Brook Organic Lager with its slightly amber colour is another option.

Beer is a wonderful compliment to food. It is more versatile than wine especially when matching with spicy, sweet or oily foods. Lighter lagers and ales compliment finger foods and snacks. With seafood, calamari and shrimp, the wheat beers like Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier, Mill Street Belgian Wit or Brussels White add a pleasant spicy and citrus note.

With chicken or beef satays a light amber or red beer with a hint of caramel character from the crystal malts blends nicely with the sweeter sauces of the satays. Cameron’s Auburn Ale or a Dos Equis Amber would be great choices.

With a beef carvery or lamb lollipops the richer flavours of a Black Oak Nut Brown or Neustadt’s 10W30 match the stronger character of the red meats.

At the assorted cheese tray more decisions have to be made. Don’t worry. It is easy and fun. Just remember lighter flavoured beer with the lighter cheese and more flavourful beer with the more intense flavoured cheese. Beer is a natural match for cheese. Unlike wine where the oils in the cheese can interfere with the subtleties of the wine, beer with its carbonation and low pH possesses a cleansing ability for the palate. The second sample of cheese or beer will be as flavourful as the first. Finding the best, or the worst, matches is an enjoyable adventure. A cheese and beer pairing can be a nice backdrop to a bridal shower.

When the sweet tray arrives with fruit and cakes the orange slices pair with a Great Lakes Orange Peel Ale, pictured right; the apple with a Nickel Brook Green Apple beer; peaches with a McAuslan Apricot Ale and the chocolate covered strawberries with Belgian Fruili, a wheat beer brewed with 30% strawberries provides a amazing match. Tiramisu can pair with a Mill Street Coffee Stout or a Black Forest Cake with a Black Oak Cherry Porter are novel ways to wrap up the food pairings.

With the celebration complete it is time for the honeymoon. Once again the source of this word is derived from ancient Babylon and Sameria. After the wedding ceremony the bride and groom had to stay together for one full cycle of the moon. To assist in making the month even more enjoyable the couple was provided beer that contains honey. The purpose of the honeymoon was to ensure that a child conceived. So, the enjoyment of honey beer from a full moon to a full moon became known as the honeymoon. Newly married couples can rarely take a month off in today’s world. The next time you are attending a wedding it would be a nice gesture to give the bride and groom a Lake of Muskoka or a J. R. Brickman Honey Beer in recognition of the original concept of the honeymoon.

Historically beer has played an important role in wedding celebrations. It still provides a wonderful touch to the festivities. Add these interesting antidotes to your wedding planner. It is a fascinating way to provide something extra to the celebration.

And finally, when the happy couple returns from their honeymoon they want to thank all those who made the extra effort to make their wedding a success. This can be done with a special beer tasting, a beer and cheese matching or even a special beer dinner where all the courses are prepared with beer as an ingredient an served with an appropriate beer. Brian Morin at the Beer Bistro in Toronto has a private room that can serve up to twenty guests, or Chris and Adam at the Abbot on the Hill can prepare a special beer dinner in the privacy of their second floor. This would be a novel way to learn more about the wonderful world of taste and flavour matching and express you thanks to all those who made your special day a day to remember.

To learn more about beer visit www.brauerei-weihenstephan.de, www.tapsmedia.ca or www.ontariocraftbrewers.com. To reach Bill White please email betterwithbeer1@yahoo.ca.

Cheers!

www.WeddingsHoneymoons.com | July 8, 2008

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