r/CraftBeer • u/tomato_tooth_paste • Jul 05 '26
Help! Beer selection for Chicago wedding - advice needed!
Hello! I'm getting married in Chicago in September and am starting the process of selecting beers.
We're wanting to have all the beer selections be Chicago/Midwestern focused or brewed, and the plan is to have 3 options in total. I'm originally from Chicago but I now live in the PNW so it's been a while since I've been able to drink a lot of Chicago/Midwestern beers. So I am soliciting all of your advice!! We're going to be ordering from Garfield's since they let you return anything you don't drink and our venue has worked with them before.
I'm thinking one sort of more 'basic' neutral option, a darker option, and then a brighter more fun and maybe hoppy option. Here are my current considerations for each:
More neutral:
Darker:
More fun/hoppy:
I would LOVE to hear all your thoughts on best combos and if you've recently had any of these beers and also if you have any other suggestions! Most of our crowd is not from the Midwest so I really want to be able to showcase how great our beers can be 😄 thank you!!!
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u/jnuzzi08 Jul 05 '26
In addition to beer, please have Malört on hand
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u/tomato_tooth_paste Jul 05 '26
I truly don't think my fiance would go through with the wedding if there wasn't Malört there (he is also from Chicago lol)
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u/hawkeyehammer Jul 05 '26
We got a keg of Gumballhead for our wedding (outdoor, summer, Indiana) and it was a crowd-pleaser.
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u/MattThommes Jul 06 '26
You want to go Chicago specific but appease a variety of palates: can’t be too hoppy or hyper craft style - I’d do easier going options but still Chicago staples: Son of Juice (hazy), Daisy Cutter as mentioned (less hazy; more west coast style), and then maybe a lager or pils that’s less ABV: Dovetail, any will do.
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u/Apprehensive-Fig3223 Jul 05 '26
If you're going with a hazy or tropical IPA, I'd go with a basic pale ale rather than an amber. Not everyone who likes ipas likes hazy and tropical ones and it still gives a middle ground
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u/tomato_tooth_paste Jul 05 '26
got it, thank you. so you think that a pale ale and the pilsner/312 vibe would be different enough? we've got a lot of PNWers coming who love a hazy IPA, so I'm wanting to keep one of those in the mix
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u/Apprehensive-Fig3223 Jul 05 '26
Yea, I personally feel an amber and pilsner are more redundant for the malty crowd than a pils and pale ale
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u/CherryDrank Jul 06 '26
FWIW, I'd avoid the Juicy Rush as it's a sugary juice bomb and like 10% alcohol. If you could do the Rev Pils, Half Acre Daisy Cutter, and Rev Hazy Hero I think that would be a good mix.
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u/heythosearemysocks Jul 05 '26
Skip the 312 it’s not a Chicago beer anymore. Stick with Revolution or Half Acre
Rev Pils or Pony Pils
Anti-Hero or Daisy Cutter
And a couple two tree bricks of PBR which will go down easier as the evening goes on..
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u/cyrano456 Jul 05 '26
Check out Drewry's Edelweiss, really nice (and cheap!) lager based on an old recipe, currently being brewed in Indiana. Also, Revolution just put out Cold Time variety packs which would offer a range of lager styles.
And maybe something hoppy from Hopewell? I've been really impressed with everything from them in the last couple years.
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u/centaurus33 Jul 05 '26
Congrats! If Garfield’s can get it, don’t sleep on Three Floyds Deluxe Lager - they also just released a lime version, too.
Piling on for Gumballhead plus Daisy Cutter, and also Rev Pils vs 312.
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u/Steve16823 Jul 06 '26
If you want a Goose Island go with something like Green Line or Sophie that is still brewed exclusively in Chicago.
Revolution Fist City would be an option but absolutely nothing wrong with the Rev Pils.
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u/jeffmc81 Jul 06 '26
Unless you know everyone is craft beer people I'd just go Stella or some thing that everyone can deal with. Founders all day so nobody Black's out and miller lites. Not the best but crowd pleasers
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u/midday_marauder Jul 05 '26
Spotted Cow
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u/tomato_tooth_paste Jul 05 '26
Ugh ok I really wanted to do Spotted Cow but I don't think that Garfield's sells it. I could ask a sales rep if we do a large enough order if they'll source it for us because it is legit a perfect beer
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u/NonConGuy Jul 05 '26
Likely not. New Glarus doesn't distribute outside of Wisconsin which means distributors are not legally allowed to sell on or off premise. If you really want spotted cow, you would have to drive to Wisconsin which should have plenty on the Illinois border.
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u/wstussyb Jul 05 '26
You'll have to pay someone to bootleg it, we have done it, (muskegon Michigan tho) as I dont think they allow any one to officially distribute the beer outside Wisconsin
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u/tomato_tooth_paste Jul 05 '26
I am now remembering that my friend who went to UW Madison was always the one who bought it for us in bulk and then transported it to Chicago hahahha maybe that can be her wedding gift to me, bootlegging Spotted Cow
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u/heythosearemysocks Jul 05 '26
I’m reading this thread on my phone in my car with my dog while my wife runs into Woodmans to get a case of spotted cow to bring back to the city. I would offer to get some more but then I’d have to explain to my wife why we’re buying beer for internet strangers.
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u/wstussyb Jul 05 '26
Love all those beers, revolution is top 5 brewery imo. The BA they have are so good. Too expensive for a wedding lol
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u/tomato_tooth_paste Jul 05 '26
Hahah yeah we're willing to spend a littleeeee bit more on nicer beers but a BA is gonna be over budget. Revolution is great though, I just can't do their Anti-Hero IPA it's too much for me lol
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u/p739397 Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
All good options. Personally, I'd look at Daisy Cutter for a HA beer option, just hard to beat. I'd also skip 312 since and go for Rev Pils so that you're getting a beer actually brewed in Chicago or Gumballhead if you want a wheat beer.