In the United States, a wedding ring, or wedding band, is defined as “A ring, often one of a pair of plain gold or platinum bands, given during the wedding ceremony by the groom or bride to his or her future spouse.” The band is in the form of a circle, a symbolic representation of the eternal circle of life. In traditions dating back to classical times, the fourth finger of the left hand was where the vena amoris, or vein of love, was located, and led to the tradition of wearing the band on the left hand. In Roman culture, however, the Latin word for left is “sinister,” creating the connotation that the left hand was associated with evil. It is believed that, because of this association, many cultures throughout Europe adopted the practice of wearing the wedding band on the right hand.
According to European tradition, engraving the name of one’s intended spouse and the intended wedding date inside the ring strengthened the symbolism and created a lasting family heirloom. In the USA, wedding rings often include a touching inscription on the inside, as a profession of love. For beer lovers, it seems fitting that this “touching inscription” would be the name of your favorite beer, one that succinctly sums up the tone of your relationship.
Of course, this Beer Fox understands that love means different things to different people, and there exist various reasons for tying-the-knot: romantic love, financial security, physical ecstasy, fun-and-games, or for reasons beyond rational thinking…Heck, maybe there should be Divorce Bands as a symbol of surviving Hell-on-Earth...or at least, as a sign that you have earned "bragging rights." Below is a list of wedding band inscriptions, based on beers that say it all. I have listed them by category, and included the style and Brewing Company so you can use that special beer for your wedding toast.
Romantic Love Inscriptions:
- Love & Hoppiness (German Pilsener – Rogue Ales Brewery/Brewers on the Bay, Newport, Oregon)
- Pure Devotion (Abbey Ale – BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, Chandler, Arizona)
- Chill proof (Not a beer, but beer terminology)
- Hoppily Ever After (American Double/Imperial IPA – Northampton Brewery, Northampton, Massachusetts)
- Exponential Hoppiness (American Double/Imperial IPA – Alpine Beer Company, Alpine, California)
- Winter Warmer (Winter Warmer – Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Fort Worth, Texas)
Marriage for Financial Security Inscriptions: - Alt-erior Motive (Altbier – Cambridge Brewing Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts)
- 50/50 (American Wild Ale – Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, California)
- Stickin’ It To The Man (American Double/Imperial IPA – Tyranena Brewing Company, Lake Mills, Wisconsin)
- Special Reserve (English Barleywine - Redoak Boutique Beer Café, Sydney, Australia)
Marriage to celebrate Physical Ecstasy Inscriptions:- Absolutely Wet (American IPA – Lagunitas, Petaluma, California)
- Censored (American Amber/Red Ale – Lagunitas, Petaluma, California)
- Epluche-culotte [Panty Peeler] (Belgian Tripel – Midnight Sun Brewing Company, Anchorage, Alaska)
- Love Potion (Belgian Tripel – Triumph Brewing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Oliver’s Hot Monkey Love (Old Ale – The Wharf Rat/Oliver Breweries Ltd, Baltimore, Maryland)
- Old Leghumper (American Porter – Thirsty Dog Brewing Company, Independence, Ohio)
- Pile Driver (American Double/Imperial IPA - Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Le Woody (American Wild Ale – Pizza Port Solana Beach, Solana Beach, California)
- 4 The Love of Peat (Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy – BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, Chandler, Arizona)
- Dubbelicious (Belgian Dubbel – Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, California)
- Night Rider (American Double/Imperial Stout – Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, California)
Fun-and-Games Wedding Band Inscriptions:- Why Don’t We Get Drunk And Brew (Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy – America’s Brewing Company, Aurora, Illinois)
- Hop 2 It (American Pale Ale – Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, California)
- Diabolical Dubbel (Belgian Dubbel - Rock Bottom Restaurant &Brewery, Denver, Colorado)
Reasons Beyond Rational Thinking Wedding Band Inscriptions: - Up the Kriek (Fruit Lambic – Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Englewood, Colorado)
- 20 to Life (American Wild Ale – Moonlight Brewing Company, Fulton, California)
- City Steam Careless Love (Biere de Garde - City Steam Brewery Café, Hartford, Connecticut)
- Insanity (English Barleywine – Weyerbacher Brewing Company, Easton, Pennsylvania)
- Dubbel Trubbel (Belgian Dubbel – Royal Oak Brewery, Royal Oak, Michigan)
- Chaotic Chemistry (English Barleywine – Magic Hat Brewing Company, Burlington, Vermont)
Divorce Band Inscriptions:- Deceiver (Tripel – Rock Bottom Restaurant &Brewery, Denver, Colorado)
- Foolish (Quadrupel – Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Little White Lie (Witbier – Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, California)
- Homewrecker (American Double/Imperial IPA – Bluegrass Brewing Company, Louisville, Kentucky)
- Night Flight (American Malt Liquor – Pittsburgh Brewing Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Good Night Out (Winter Warmer – Iceni Brewery, Ickburgh, Norfolk, England, UK)
- Second Revelation (Belgian Dubbel – Squatters Pub Brewery, Salt Lake City, Utah)
- Pecker Wrecker (American Double/Imperial Pilsner – Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Fort Worth, Texas)
- Last Rites (English Barleywine – Abbeydale Brewery, Sheffield, England, UK)
- Mother Pucker (Tripel – Roots Organic Brewery, Portland, Oregon)
- La Fin du Monde [The End of the World] (Belgian Tripel – Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec, Canada)
Cheers!
