There are many gaming options that you can get into, whether in person or in a digital environment. If you opt for an online selection, and you live in the Netherlands, the NYX Bet experience should appeal: you can log in to NYXBets, and after spending time there, you’re sure to mention NYXBets to everyone you know.
The online CarloSpin experience might also entice Netherlands residents; just log in to сarlospin.org, and the next thing you know, you will be telling strangers about Carlo Spin and their many exciting games and bonus offers. These types of casino-style experiences are fun, and they also benefit from widespread legality at this point. What if you’re ready for some in-person entertaining, though?
If so, then poker may be the way to go. You might decide to host a game at your house, and maybe you will even brew some beer to go with it.
This hobby is both fun and practical, since, if you do it, you don’t need to purchase alcoholic beverages at the store. You will have them ready to go, and you also get the pride that comes with knowing you’re serving your friends a pint that you concocted yourself.
If you fancy yourself a brewmaster and you want to start hosting your own poker-themed evenings, you’ll want to check out this list of considerations that should go into the endeavor.
Choosing the Right Beverage Style
The first thing you will want to do is select the style of beer that will go perfectly with both the atmospheric conditions and the length of the game you are expecting. If you’re trying to come up with classic choices for game night, you might go with:
- Lagers
- Ales
- Stouts and Porters
Lagers
A lager is a crisp, refreshing draught that is ideal if you know that the game is going to run long. It’s a suitable choice because it’s not very heavy, so it’s not likely to make your guests feel logey.
Ales
Ales are also a great choice. They are one of the most flavorful alcoholic beverages you can homebrew, and you also have many different options in terms of how you want yours to taste.
Stouts and Porters
If you have the right kind of crowd for a stout or a porter, then by all means serve one, but keep in mind that these are heavier options than the others we have listed so far. If it’s winter or the weather is a little nippy, then you might opt for one of these.
Craft vs. Commercial
We should also mention at this point that you don’t necessarily have to become an alchemist to invite your friends over to play cards. You can always just buy some already-brewed or homebrewed six or 12-packs if you feel that’s easier.
Buying ready-made beers might be a better option if:
- You don’t feel like you have the skill to handle beer creation on your own
- You don’t have the time to put into it
- You’ve tried it in the past and had disastrous results
That being said, if you do decide to make the beverages yourself, you should feel happy when your guests drink them if they’re enjoying them. Whether you end up winning or losing at cards, at least you can say the beers you made were a hit.
The Snack Selection
The snack selection is vital in a card game as well. Let’s run down some of the options and talk about the proper draft that should go with each one.
Salty and Crunchy
This category includes things like:
- Pretzels
- Chips
- Popcorn
Something like a lager or pilsner would go well with any of these. They’re relatively light, and they should offset the saltiness and crunchiness well.
Spicy and Savory
In this category, you would be looking at something like:
- Nachos
- Wings
- Chili
- Spicy Dips
IPAs would do well in this spot. The complexity of the flavor should wash down these types of snack options perfectly.
Hearty and Sweet
In this category, you would put things like:
- Chocolates
- Nuts
- BBQ-flavored snack options
You will want something darker here. Something like a Belgian-style Trappist brew with a high alcohol content is an excellent pairing.
Pro Tips for Serving and Enjoying
The proper drink temperature certainly matters when you’re getting ready for the guests to arrive. If you’re serving ales, lagers, pilsners, or IPAs, you want those ice cold. If you’re serving porters or anything else that’s a bit heavier, you want these to be lightly chilled.
Glassware Matters
The glassware that you use matters as well. If you have some frosted mugs in the freezer for those who want them, that would be appreciated. You should also have some other options that you keep at room temperature, such as thistle glasses, tulip glasses, and both American and Imperial-style pint glasses.
Keeping the Flow Right
The flow you use when serving should come into play as well. You might get up and see whether anyone wants a refill every hour. You can also have the beverages close by in case anyone wants to go and grab a refill on their own at any point.
DIY Homebrewing for Beginners
Now, let’s briefly talk about what you’ll need to do if you plan on homebrewing the beers yourself instead of buying them at the store. Broken down to the most basic elements, you will need to:
- Get a beer-brewing kit of your choice
- Set aside about 1-2 weeks for the fermentation process
- Set aside an additional 1-2 weeks for carbonation
That means it would be reasonable to expect to start planning about a month before you’d like to host your poker night. If you want to have one of these nights a couple of times a month, then you might have several different batches going at the same time.
Every time a new one is ready, you can break it out. As you become more proficient with your new skills, the offerings you come up with should improve in terms of their flavor and complexity.
There’s nothing that says you need to get into this hobby, but a lot of drinkers find that they like to learn the beermaker’s arts as much as they enjoy consuming the finished product. You might establish a reputation in this area that will make you a favorite with your friends. You may even get to a point where you’re passing out special six-packs to your best buddies around the holidays as gifts.
