I recently had the pleasure of organising and attending one of the most delicious craft beer dinners, The Mad Brewers Beer Degustation. I’ve ever experienced. Cheffie, Daren Tetley the Press Clubs Head Chef (Cheffu) & Chef de Partie (Forrest) and I spent a solid month sampling brews; Cider, Pilsner, Porter, Amber Ale, Pale Ale, Dark Ale & Wheat Beer! I know right… I’ve got myself one seriously tough job! #bestjobever
Each sip of the bubbly goodness was an adventure as Cheffu & Forrest bounced ideas around about how they would match the key characteristics of the beers i.e. Chili Chocolate Stout – chocolate sauce, the contrasting flavours i.e. Oysters with lime gel – India Pale Ale, and how the texture of the beers would work with food i.e. Tart tartin – Amber Ale. There really is an art to this, and boy did they nail it. After much deliberation we narrowed it down to 2 beers from each of the 3 breweries in Canberra; Bentspoke, Wig & Pen & Zeirholz.
The Main Event
Introductions were given by Cheffu, the beer brewing heavy-hitters and a special guest appearance by Master Brewer Chuck Hahn.
The chefs plated up the first couple of courses centre stage and over 800 beers were poured. The ultimate dinner and a show event!
Canapés Coffin Bay oysters, lime gel, Gulf of Carpentaria king prawns, Mary Rose sauce
Beer Match: Crankshaft IPA BentSpoke Brewery
Amuse Bouche Desert dusted quail breast, warm pear and pecan Waldorf
Beer Match: Dick Tracy Brown Ale BentSpoke Brewery
3rd Course Seared Hervey Bay scallops, cauliflower puree, crispy Jamon Iberico, fermented black garlic beurre blanc
Beer Match: Bro Humus Belgian Golden Ale Zierholz Brewery
4th Course Coffee and Mount Majura toasted Mandagery Creek venison saddle, malted pomme fondant, Cumberland and P125 Valrhona chocolate jus
Beer Match: Machu Pichocolate Wig and Pen Brewery
Dessert Salted green apple and rosemary tart tatin, Amaretto butterscotch
Beer Match: Amber Ale Zierholz Brewery
Fromage Sartori Bellavitano Espresso cheddar, spiced cherry and citrus jam, sea salt baccos and lavoche
Beer Match: Duckmaloi Irish Red Ale Wig and Pen Brewery
This dinner was ALL rainbows and unicorns for me! Loads of laughs with great mates, the food served was pure brilliance and the beers shining examples of style and grace, art in a glass. Another successful event under the belt! #boom
So tell me dear reader, what’s your go to brew? And do you enjoy food matched with beer?
shenANNAgans is Anna Johnston, a 30 – something Aussie gal with an unwavering passion for the Hospitality industry. I love the quirky and unusual, designing events, travelling far and wide and eating food from all around the world. I am coffee blooded, a craft beer enthusiast, wine drinking yogi who enjoys writing about her adventures.
shenANNAgans is Anna Johnston, a 30 – something Aussie gal with an unwavering passion for the Hospitality industry. She loves the quirky and unusual, designing events, travelling far and wide and eating food from all around the world.
A coffee blooded, craft beer enthusiast, wine drinking yogi who enjoys writing about her adventures.
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