Samuel Adams brewers at Boston-based The Boston Beer Co. have brought back Samuel Adams Brewlywed Ale for another limited release. The Belgian-style "bride ale" will be available only on June 26 exclusively at the Boston Brewery, according to the brand.
Created to celebrate the tradition of brewing for weddings, Brewlywed Ale is an alternative to traditional Champagne —and the 2012 batch even inspired three beer-loving couples to tie the knot last year with Samuel Adams Founder and Brewer Jim Koch serving as best man. Koch and the wedding experts from theknot.com will be on hand again this year to celebrate the love of beer with a justice of the peace, food, music and another chance for beer lovers to tie the knot at Samuel Adam's brewery hop garden.
A distinct and complex brew, Brewlywed Ale offers layers of flavor including the tropical, floral aromas of Summer and Stella hops with subtle hints of spice, the company says. Only 300 cases of this specialty beer have been brewed for the big day, it adds.
Recently brides and grooms have been inviting beer to play a larger role in their wedding festivities, according to the brand. People are incorporating craft beer bars, beer tasting stations, and beer and food pairings into their big day in lieu of standard wine and cocktail bars, it says.
Anja Winikka, site director for theknot.com, also noted the bridal beer trend: "Our brides love beer! More and more we've been seeing couples go beyond the traditional bar and really personalizing the experience for their guests. Beer is huge — everything from beer flights and craft beer bars to beer tasting stations and beer and food pairings. Couples are even serving homebrews specially created for their events. That's why we're so excited about Brewlywed Ale — it gives all craft beer lovers a chance to enjoy the trend at their weddings. Plus, what could be better for personalizing your day than a specialty wedding beer?"
This is the third bridal ale from the company: Koch brewed the first batch of Samuel Adams Noble Pils for his daughter's wedding day, and Brewer Bob Cannon brewed what came to be Samuel Adams Irish Red for his own wedding.
“At Samuel Adams, we know that craft beer can be the centerpiece of a great wedding,” Koch said in a statement. “I brewed a special recipe for my own wedding and kept the tradition going by brewing the original batch of Samuel Adams Noble Pils for my daughter's wedding day. Brewlywed Ale, which is floral, sweet and spicy, was brewed to be shared during special moments like these. It's fun to see more and more brides and grooms incorporating craft beer into their big day."
The day at the Brewery will include live music, beer pairing suggestions for wedding menus, local wedding vendors, on-site giveaways of Samuel Adams merchandise, a toast from Koch and expert advice from theknot.com. The first 50 people to line up at the brewery also will have the chance to purchase a signed bottle of Brewlywed Ale from Koch, with the first 20 arriving in bridal attire being automatically moved to the front of the line. And for those true beer fans who long for a destination wedding, a justice of the peace will be available to perform ceremonies in the brewery's hop garden with Koch serving as best man for couples with completed wedding licenses.
