For long summer nights, refreshing beverages are a must. Danielle Couick at Magnolia Bluebird in Washington, D.C., suggests engaging guests with local breweries and craft beers. Many have interesting histories and more complex flavor profiles than wine or spirits.
Menu: “To accompany home-style brews, we love ‘man snacks,’ like pretzel and dip pairings, flavored pork rinds, cheeses, nuts, and bacon lollipops.”
Decor: “Use bottle labels as the inspiration for your color palette to arrange the ingredients found in beer—such as hops and barley—in bottles, steins, and pilsner vases.”
Bar: “Craft breweries often offer kegs of limited-edition, small-batch brews that you can serve at your event. You can even hire the brewmaster or local distributor to give mini lessons on flavors profiles and the brewing process.”
