Drink-a-Pint

There are certain things you expect at a wedding reception: the requisite bride & groom, a cake of some kind, scallops wrapped in bacon, the “Electric Slide” and usally a decent open bar that has good drinks, but nothing you’re too excited about. Yeah, that’s about how I expected things to work out at my friend John’s wedding on Friday afternoon.

When I got to Urie’s Waterfront Restaurant in Wildwood, NJ and stepped up to the bar, there was a smile from ear-to-ear when I saw what was on tap for that afternoon. Yeah, there were the usual suspects: Budweiser, Coors Light and local fave Yuengling Lager. But, who would have expected Stella Artois, Heineken, Smithwick’s and Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale on tap at a wedding? Very nice selection…

Having had all of the above except for the Kona, I dove right in and think I might have found a new brew to add to my list of favorites. From the copper color pour and creamy, off-white head to the aroma that lands somewhere between orange juice and caramel, this is a great session beer, even at 5.9% ABV, that hit the spot on a Friday afternoon where the high was hovering right around 90 degrees.

Fire Rock Pale Ale goes down sweet with a honey-tinged aftertaste, just as you’d expect from a good American pale ale. It was slightly bitter at times, but just enough to balance out the taste at 38 IBU.

Hmm… that’s about all I can muster for a description because the afternoon flew by. Before I know it, the bar was closing and I didn’t even get to make an ass out of myself doing the “Electric Slide.” But, the free-flowing Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale more than made for a fun wedding boozefest. I’ll definitely be going on a quest in the next week or so to see which stores in my area carry it, so I can light the tiki torches and kick back on the deck with a Kona.

*male’ana - N.; wedding/marriage language- hawaiian.