I'm brewing beer for 100's of people -- how much to brew?
- Thread starter bigbeergeek
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Just finished reading through all of the replies on this one. I don't think I have ever heard of someone planning a wedding almost 2 years in the future?
As long as you have good beer and a few varieties - you'll be fine!
Best of luck
ButchV12
As long as you have good beer and a few varieties - you'll be fine!
Best of luck
ButchV12
My wife and I planned 1.5 years in advance. It's a big day and takes some time to come together right. If I had to brew for my wedding I would plan on serving about 12 a piece to them. That works out to about 22 corny's for 100 people, even on the big beer's they would drink 12.
scottyg354
Plant Based Homebrewer
Sorry man missed that the bride and groom told you what they wanted.
PS: Visalia in September, you better make sure you keep that beer cold if its an outdoor wedding. lol. Lived in Bakersfield for a year, central Valley is brutal.
OP
OP
bigbeergeek
Well-Known Member
It was a three year engagement! I've never heard of such a thing either! The bride has a quirky need to control details (not sure if her being an only child if a factor there). Part of her life plan was to NOT get married before she was 30. Guess who'll be 30 by September 2014?
OP
OP
bigbeergeek
Well-Known Member
For every couple of posts that project two beers per guest there's a post like this -- a post that seriously worries me about my guesstimates.
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
broadbill
Well-Known Member
Mr. Troll back here to say...that other guy is smoking crack now....12 beers/guest? 12 big beers? ...naw.
woknblues
Well-Known Member
Holy crap. 12 beers/guest+big beers. I remember drinking like that when I was 19 or 20.... Working in construction, going out every night. Is OP brewing for a younger crowd as well? That might be a reason to brew more. Also, time of year and weather. The Bakersfield area in September is hot. I would be running away from big beers at that time of year. I might have a taste or three of big beers in the summer just to say that I did, but a witbier, wheat, blonde, weisse, PA's, IPA's hell, lambics, kreiks, Maybe a hard cider or two..
salvar
Member
It's hard to say whether the commentor has actual experience serving 12 beers at his wedding or simply "would want to". When it comes to catering and/or drinks at an event the tendency for those who are inexperienced is to over estimate (by multiples in some cases) what amount of food or beverage is required. We tend to think of one person, call them "Big Billy" who can eat and drink a whole mountain and then project how much we need based on that one person. The problem is that "Big Billy" isn't typical.
Since our profit margin and the client's interest in referring us to another client were on the line when making these determinations we were very careful to have "just the right amount". In fact of all the weddings we did we only ran out of food at one event. Can you guess the average guest's age?
It was a 3rd marriage for a couple in their 70s. The average guest age was around 65. Older folks (especially those living in homes) will starve themselves for a week before coming to your event and then eat 1.5 times what "Big Billy" will. Strange but true
Regarding how much to have, ultimately the decision is up to you (and the bride and groom). The good news is that you don't have to throw away the excess booze (like we had to throw away perfectly good food if it wasn't consumed) so you may prefer to error on the higher side. Even still, to imagine serving 12 big beers on average to those guests makes me more concerned that you will end up in court explaining why you got your friends so drunk and now they are facing a DUI and you may be held responsible (good thing you aren't an actual business or that could very well happen).
2 beers on average for an average crowd. 4 beers on average for a beer enthusiast crowd. This is plenty conservative without being ridiculous. However, if you want to make and have a bunch of extra beer there is nothing that says you can't. Please don't serve all of it to the guests
salvar
Member
One other thought is to consider whether you have the equipment and space needed to brew this much.
Assuming you are doing 4 beers per person with 150 guests that is 60 gallons of beer or approximately 12 corny kegs. On the other hand 12 beers per person is 180 gallons of beer and 36 kegs. That requires a lot of storage space and equipment.
Lastly, you had mentioned that saving money was a priority. Even assuming you mill you own grain bought in bulk, buy hops in bulk, and wash your yeast it would be hard to get below $30 per keg in grain bill with these larger beers and $20 with the wit. So to do 12 beers per person is probably around $1200 while doing 4 beers per person is about $400 assuming you have more wit than other beer.
Assuming you are doing 4 beers per person with 150 guests that is 60 gallons of beer or approximately 12 corny kegs. On the other hand 12 beers per person is 180 gallons of beer and 36 kegs. That requires a lot of storage space and equipment.
Lastly, you had mentioned that saving money was a priority. Even assuming you mill you own grain bought in bulk, buy hops in bulk, and wash your yeast it would be hard to get below $30 per keg in grain bill with these larger beers and $20 with the wit. So to do 12 beers per person is probably around $1200 while doing 4 beers per person is about $400 assuming you have more wit than other beer.
thetmaxx
Well-Known Member
I love Wailua Wheat, great summer beer, I drink cases of it! Need to learn to clone it!! Sorry to hijack the thread... 
Only trying to help.
Seems like you have a good grip on qty by now. Be sure to post a follow-up after.
People are gonna drink. Whether they have to pay for it, or whether its free. If there is no BMC, and homebrew is the only thing that's offered in addition to wine, people are going to at least try it. Lets say they don't like the first one, dump it and try the next, that's two per person right there. So, take the guests that are going to have two, average it out to those who are gonna have 6. I'd say an average of 4-5 beers a person sounds about right. Hell, make more if they want you to with the agreement that you keep the leftovers, or they invest in some equipment that you need.
What is the average age of the guest list? When I got married at 23 at least half of the 200 people were between 20-30 years old we went through 4 kegs (2 of BMC and 2 of Summit Extra Pale Ale). At my sister's wedding the vast majority of the guests were older than 30 and I think they had 2 kegs. It really depends on the guests and how much they drink. Then again...this is your brew so having extra left over isn't a bad thing because you get to bring it home.
I also agree with the above comments. I would say add a Pale Ale...
I also agree with the above comments. I would say add a Pale Ale...
OP is paying for the ingredients, so I really doubt anybody else is going to try to say that he shouldn't take it home with him.
When we got married at the end of the highschoolzoic era,we had a trash can (new) filled with a few cases of weidemen's beer on ice,2 cases of liquor (mixed),& extra ice & wash. Ice was from a machine on premises. We invited 150 guests,about 100 showed up. Funny that my buddies mother flew in from Iran,but folks a few states away didn't show. Something else to concider. And boy,was her eggplant stew with strips of beef ever delicious. Wish I could've gotten the recipe.
So 3-4 beers per guest would work out pretty well. Rich foods with richer,heavier beers. Lighter foods get pale ales,koulsh,cream ales,or even a light pale ale with noble hops would likely work for the BCB crowd. And if it's going to be hot or really warm,I agree to tone down the heavier beers. I'd bring that up with the bride & groom. Another thing to concider. Heavy big beers & hot weather don't mix well,as they won't be able to drink much of them.
So 3-4 beers per guest would work out pretty well. Rich foods with richer,heavier beers. Lighter foods get pale ales,koulsh,cream ales,or even a light pale ale with noble hops would likely work for the BCB crowd. And if it's going to be hot or really warm,I agree to tone down the heavier beers. I'd bring that up with the bride & groom. Another thing to concider. Heavy big beers & hot weather don't mix well,as they won't be able to drink much of them.
