Are Financial Woes Taking a Bite Out of Your New Year's Eve Party Budget? Don't Fear, Beer is the New Champagne this Holiday Season
2009-01-08 17:13:09 -
If financial woes mean your New Year's Eve bash is on a budget, don't fear, beer is the new champagne this year. Forget the champagne and caviar, folks will be ringing in the New Year with beer as people plan on spending less on entertaining according to a new study by Four Points by Sheraton. 80% of people entertaining this year ranked beer as their number one beverage choice beating out champagne and wine from the traditional top spots. 72% of those surveyed say the party will go on but 73% are carefully counting their pennies and spending less this year than last. This means holiday entertainers need to add a dash of creativity and cost-cutting ideas to their New Year's Eve party mix.
Since beer has become "the" drink of choice this season, Four Points by Sheraton's Chief Beer Officer Scott Kerkmans has developed money-saving tips on how to throw a champagne party on a beer budget, including the perfect beers to pop open this party season. "By replacing champagne with beer people can still ring in the New Year with a festive party without taking a huge bite out of their budget," said Kerkmans.
Forget the Bubbly, Ring in the New Year with Beer
If buying champagne for your New Year's Eve celebration will break the bank, pop open one of Kerkmans top holiday beer picks instead. "These beers are perfect to serve this year instead of bubbly and on average will save people more than 70% vs. serving champagne. I recommend these beers be served cold and in a flute glass to show off their effervescence," says Kerkmans.
Chimay Red - One of the richest beers on the list, this amber ale with rich, dark fruit notes and a slight sweetness up front is a Four Points Best Brews favorite. Enjoy the 750ml bottle with friends or the smaller 11oz bottle alone. This beer averages around $10 providing consumers a huge savings vs. champagne.
Chimay Triple - This elegant triple style abbey ale is brewed at a Trappist monastery in Belgium. It also rings in at 8% alcohol by volume, so it is closer to champagne in alcohol content than most beers. Add to that the sparkling, festive carbonation and a slightly hazy appearance and you have a great substitution for champagne.
Krait Prestige - Twice fermented in a sleek champagne style black bottle, this is one of Kerkmans favorites to pop during special occasions. This pilsner style brew is sparkling and tasty.
Lindemans Framboise - Another Best Brews pick, this raspberry fruit flavored Belgian lambic beer that is fermented in Belgium and yummy on any occasion. Because of its sweeter taste and fruity flavors and aromas this is a great beer to have as a digestif or with dessert.
Deus Brut des Flandres - One of the most elegant beers available, this ale has spicy and fruity aromas as well as a silky mouth feel and a beautiful dry finish. This choice comes in at 11.5% alcohol by volume and according to Kerkmans, is "the" perfect elegant beer to serve instead of champagne.
Who needs Cocktails" This Year it is all about Beertails!
Who knew beer was the perfect cocktail mixer" This year save money without skimping on taste by featuring beertails at your holiday gathering. Beertails are on average 80% less expensive then serving a champagne or traditional liquor cocktail and just as tasty. "Beer is a great mixer because it provides such a broad array of flavors. From spicy to sweet to rich, beer can cover every base as a great mixing ingredient."
Looking for a tasty new spin on the traditional eggnog at half the cost" Mix three parts non-alcoholic eggnog with one part pale ale, barley wine or dark abbey ale. If you are in the mood for something sweet, why not try a Chocolate Truffle" Mix one part Raspberry Lambic beer with one part Chocolate Stout for a festive, sweet treat. Looking for an interesting aperitif" A Black Velvet is the perfect choice. Mix one part Irish Stout with one part hard cider. Need something that goes great with traditional holiday foods like roast turkey" A Tart Caramel, a special creation of Kerkmans', is the perfect pairing. Just mix one part Cranberry Ale or Lambic with one part Brown Ale.
For additional beer and food pairings and information on Best Brews and Four Points by Sheraton, please visit www.fourpoints.com/cbo .
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched aloftSM, and element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
* This study is based on a survey conducted by STUDYLOGIC LLC via telephone of approximately 1001 consumers in the United States, ages 21 and up. The respondents were grouped into two categories based on gender: 524 males and 477 females (52.3% male and 47.7% female). The survey consisted of fourteen questions.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Nadeen Ayala, 914-640-8259
