Homebrew On Tap for Fenton Couple's Wedding Reception

While Rachel Bosley isn’t a big fan of her soon-to-be husband’s home-brewed beer, she is all for the idea of serving it at her wedding July 7.

Fenton resident Cory Shotton, 26, started brewing his own beer last year and then determined it would bring a unique flavor to the wedding, even if it’s likely his wife to be won’t have any.

“She doesn’t like my beer, but she likes that I have a hobby that keeps me home,” he said. “She probably feels the same way about my beer making as I do about her reality television watching.”

Bosley also liked that the idea saved the couple quite a bit of money.

"We are getting a large selection of beer for our wedding at a fraction of the price," she said. "He enjoys making his own beer recipes and getting reviews and feedback from family and friends."

The couple will have 13 different beers available in bottles at the wedding,  including India pale ales,  wheats, reds and several other ales, giving their guests a wide variety to select from.

“We wanted something unique for the wedding and buying enough beer would have been very costly, so I decided to make a large variety so that everyone can at least find one that they like,” Shotton said. “She loves the idea and she is excited to see people’s reactions.”

It hasn’t been easy process, however.

Shotton says each batch takes at least four weeks, so he has been brewing constantly for the past six months.  He started the hobby about a year ago after his soon-to-be brother-in-law bought him a simple kit. Shotton said it was a little intimidated starting the hobby in learning how to follow instructions and sterilize his equipment.

He has expanded his process since then, mixing malt and grains with hot water to turn the starches to sugars to liquid called wort, adding hops for bitterness and aroma, and then adding yeast, which turns the sugars into alcohol.

He’ll have about 300 homemade beers for the party and plans to have a long talk explaining the brews to the bartender before the big day.

“It would be a great compliment if the reception ended and I don’t have any beer left,” he said. “If not, I’ll have plenty to come home to after our vacation.”