Chili & Beer Tasting {The Party}

Over the last couple of years, we’ve been fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of quite a few lovely families in our new neck of the woods.  Along with seven other couples we participate in a monthly supper club, and were thrilled to take our turn hosting the crowd last weekend!

After a little discussion and a few loony ideas (think everything from a white trash party to a southern bbq), Honey and I agreed on a Chili & Beer Tasting party.  The beauty of this particular party theme is not only that nearly everything could be prepared in advance, but that chili definitively tastes better the next day anyway!  It’s customary that the host couple provide the entire meal, while guests bring their beverage of choice.

Although it’s not by any means required to send an invitation for this monthly gathering, y’all know I couldn’t resist!  Kraft paper tags designated whether guests should bring ale or lager.  And I always love a good excuse to use our custom monogram.

All of our menu items kept with the chili and beer theme.  We started with a Beer Cheese Fondue appetizer served with apple slices, french bread, sausage and cauliflower.

The chili tasting bar offered cups for “just a taste” and bowls to “fill up.”
We served three different chili options – Beef & Bean, Southwestern and White Chicken – will all the fixin’s.  A chalkboard designated suggested pairings.  And because I’m super duper type A, I covered the stove with burlap so that things looked pretty :-)
(we added the sliced avocado just before serving)
Salad and honey cornbread muffins were served family style at the tables.  And, speaking of the tables, with such a large crowd we had to split up between the dining room and kitchen.  I used a kraft paper runner, paper napkins and kraft paper place tags.  I was in a real pickle for some sort of center piece and last minute threw some yard clippings into empty beer bottles and clustered them on the table.  It admittedly looks a little last minute :-)
We finished our meal with Guiness Brownies a la mode.  I scooped and refroze the ice cream in cupcake liners the night before, which made for super easy serving at the party.
The beer tasting bar featured a bucket of ales and a bucket of lagers.  It was so much fun to try all the different kinds of beers people brought to the table!  We provided blueberries, lemons, limes and oranges for garnishes and sheets to keep track of beers we adore and beers we abhor.
Of course, we also offered iced water and sweet tea.
Stay tuned for more details on the beer bottle invitations and all the recipes!
We had a packed house, full bellies and loads of fun with a group I hope we’ll be hanging with for years to come!  This place is finally starting to really feel like home.
xoxo

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Excited for the guest feature at Not So Homemade and ThRiLlEd to have won THIRD PLACE in My Insanity’s Party Party!!

By dixiedelights | Filed under Uncategorized | Tags:

27 thoughts on “Chili & Beer Tasting {The Party}”

  2. I love this! I am such a party girl and am so inspired how you made a beer and chili party look so chic. One question (well, there are probably more than one) how do you print on the little tags? How do you get them in the printer or are you doing something else? I LOVE that you covered your stove top with burlap!! The whole thing is just great.

    Come for a visit. I'm having a GIVE AWAY.

    – The Tablescaper

  3. Molly – LOVE that idea. I'll think on it :-)

    The Tablescaper – I printed the tags on a regular 8.5×11 sheet of kraft cardstock (from Michael's) and then cut them out to look like tags.

    Thank you both for the sweet remarks!

  4. You have the most creative party ideas! I love all your details and the fact that you even have a monthly get together like that. Our neighborhood association used to have a "progressive dinner party" once a year where we would have appetizers at one house, break off in small groups for dinner in various houses and meet for dessert at another house at the end. We haven't done it in awhile but I like how yours works even better!

  5. This is SUCH a fabulous party idea! I am in total love! I want to do this so badly, but mine will not be as cute as yours! :)

    I also LOVE your custom monogram. *Must show husband* since I'm obsessed with monograms!! :)

  7. Your attention to detail is amazing! Love this idea and you made everything super elegant, yet casual. Thanks for sharing your great ideas.

  9. WHAT a fun party idea and all your details are so charming and well thought out! I'm thinking this would make a really fun Superbowl Sunday party!! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful ideas!

  12. I love all of this! Our neighborhood is having a beer tasting this weekend. We are going to 5 different houses to taste a variety of beers. Don't worry they are all walking distance. I just love the use of your custom monogram. We were given one as an engagement gift and now I try to use it whenever I can.
    Where did you get your napkins? I love that idea so I will have to borrow it for the future. Thanks for sharing it looked like fun!

  14. Wow! I love everything about the fun, classy party! Thanks so much for sharing the details (and there were lots of them…you thought of everything). Was the cute outline on the invitation labels, etc. a label you buy and print on or more like a font you buy and download? How did you you get the wording like "lager" and "ale", etc. on the cardstock label? Is it a font or did you print it some other way?
    I saw your post over at "A Stroll Thru Life".

  16. Miss Kitty – Both the frame and the font are part of a printing press professional software that my sister and I bought when we had a small invitation business. I'm not sure where you'd replicate that frame, but if you google "stamp font" there are tons of free options out there to download.

  21. Visiting from "Inspiration Friday" and this absolutely hit the mark for me! I've want so badly to get a supper club going with some friends and this may really get things kicked off. Thanks for sharing and have a super weekend!!

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