My husband’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve. (I kind of think it would be a fun birthday to have, since I love a fancy party!) But, he enjoys more low key events.
I’ve never ever had the opportunity to throw him an actual birthday party since we’ve been out of town for every New Year’s Eve since we’ve known each other! We go to his hometown to visit family and friends every year and it’s always fun and there is always a party…..but his birthday gets kind of lost in New Year’s Eve.
So this year – I finally got to throw him a proper birthday party. The only difference is that we stay up till midnight and say Happy New Year!! (My mom’s birthday is on New Year’s Day and my brother’s is on Christmas day, so we are used to that sort of thing – crazy right?!)
Anyway, I decided that it would be a beer tasting. He loves beer and loves trying different kinds and I thought it would just be perfect. IT WAS!! So, the first annual “New Year’s Eve Birthday Beer Tasting” was born!
To make it feel festive and New Years Eve-y…..I threw some glittery star garland all over the place, hung up disco balls and a banner. I broke out the noisemakers and hats. But other than that – it was a birthday party. Complete with a beer bottle shaped birthday cake. (Hindsight – I should have used chocolate icing – because I couldn’t get the color right and it looks more like a champagne bottle – but that works too!) 🙂
I researched how to throw a beer tasting for few weeks. I talked to friends and the guys at the beer store. I compiled all the best information that I found and made a manual for the guests – with Kevin’s face on the front in a Sam Adams label! (if you ever need a manual for your own beer tasting – let me know and I can e-mail it to ya!) I also made place mats for the glasses and so that people could jot thoughts down as they went….and a folder for everyone with a tasting evaluation form for every beer. (yeah – I can nerd up a party pretty fast)
There are several ways to do it – but I decided we would go with a blind tasting. So, the tasters didn’t know what they were drinking until the end and the big reveal. At the end I wrote a list of the 9 beers they tasted and showed it to them. Then they all wrote down which number they thought went with each beer. Kevin and Tom tied with 7 correct! It was really, really fun!
Everyone brought at least one kind of beer and Kevin and I bought a few too. We had more than 9 to try, but we saved some for people to just drink before and after the tasting. It was a good time.
Some of these were in the tasting and some were just for drinking, but they were all lined up and I thought it was a colorful picture. 🙂
HAPPY NEW YEAR! May you all be blessed in 2011!
I need the “How to” on this!!! What a fantastic party!!
sounds fun! my hubby’s birthday is new year’s eve too! so tell me, WHERE DID YOU FIND YUENGLING??!!!
Hey Cydney! That is so funny that your hubby was born on New Year’s Eve too! You guys will have to come over next year! 🙂 The Yuengling was a gift and also we buy a case every time we go to visit friends in TN. 🙂 But, check out this …
http://wap.cincinnati.com/detail.jsp?key=430545&rc=bz&full=1
I think they might be coming to Ohio! 🙂
Ahh!! I wish we could have been there!!! Happy Birthday to Kevin, and I am totally calling on you to help me throw Andre’s beer party!
Erin – I was just web surfing and saw that Wednesday is National Bird Day and National Bean Day! http://www.brownielocks.com/january.htm
Erin you are so creative!!! I don’t think you nerded it up at all, it looks like a great time! 🙂 that day must have been a popular one for babies (they wanted that write off) because Josh and I both have a sister with that birthday and I have a nephew the day before.
I just left a comment on your “Meat Meet” party because we loved the idea so much, now this one is another *great* one – I don’t know which one my hubby will want to do first! Looks like you all had a great time!
Mara @ Super Savings
p.s. You mentioned that you could email the manual – if you don’t mind, that would be awesome! supersavingsblog (at) gmail (dot) com
I love this! I’m a new follower via your beer party that was pinned on Pinterest. I would love to have the tasting manual emailed to me if you’re still willing.
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Thanks!
This looks like a great party! I plan on throwing my husband a beer tasting party for his birthday in October. Would you mind emailing me the tasting manual?
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Thank you!
Hi! Could you email me the manual too please? Thank you!!!
I loved this article!! Thanks so much its been a great help whilst planning my own…. id love a copy of the manual if its still available? xxx
I would love a copy of the manual too! Pleasee!
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Thanks!!
THIS WOULD BE AMAZING FOR MY BROTHER!!! his bday is the 30th!! doing it
This is a neat idea – I will be arranging it for my husband’s next birthday. Him and his friends enjoy buying and tasting different kinds of beers when they find them and this will be a great theme for him.