We here at DrinkCraftBeer.com are big proponents of sustainable eating and drinking. Earth Day is fast approaching (April 22, 2009), and we decided that just any old food-pairing event wouldn't do. With that in mind, we've decided to do this tasting, titled "Eat Local, Drink Local - Beer Pairing Goes Green," in accordance with the 100 Mile Diet rules. What that means is that everything in the tasting was produced within 100 miles of Boston, MA. Eating local reduces your carbon footprint as food doesn't have to be shipped nearly as far. It also means that you're supporting your local economy. Lastly, it ensures that you're eating fresher since your food isn't spending days or weeks on a planes, trains and trucks going across the country (or even across several countries).
We've selected four local breweries, one of which is even organic, to showcase their local flavor. We've then paired three of these with local cheeses from Massachusetts. Our breweries are Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, Peak Organic, Mayflower Brewing Company and Mercury Brewing Company. And, we've listened to our readers. Our homepage poll for "Favorite Spring Beer Style" showed that you love Pale Ales and IPAs, so we went with those for two of the pairings. Then we added in a Saison, #3 on the poll and our favorite style.
Hannahbells are tiny hand-made cheeses using a French recipe. But it's two sets of twins with 120 cows who make this local delicacy on Shy Brothers Farm in Westport, MA. They use a very hands on process to make their cheeses and, they believe, are the only ones making this style in the United States. We've never tasted cheese quite like this! See the cows and how Hannahbells are made here.
You may remember Westfield Farm's Capri Chevre from our "Drink Craft Beer, Eat Craft Cheese" event last spring. Well you all liked them so much, we're bringing back their Pepper Capri Chevre! Based in Hubbardston, MA they've been turning out hand crafted cheeses since 1971.
Do you want to come and try these combinations for yourself? Do you live in the Great Boston area? Then you're in luck! On Saturday, April 25, 2009 we'll be at the Wine Gallery in Brookline, MA from 3-6pm with each of these pairings for you to try! Come down, say hello and try some delicious local beer and local cheese!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
3pm - 6pm
Wine Gallery Brookline
375 Boylston Street
Brookline, MA
(617) 277-5522Â
Public Transport: Take the D branch of the Green Line to Brookline Hills. Wine Gallery is around the corner.
Pretty Things Jack D'Or paired with Hannahbells Shallot Cheese
Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project is brewer Dann Paquette's new project. Dann is a longtime Massachusetts brewer who brewed most recently in Yorkshire, England. He's back now, brewing in Holyoke, MA, and this is the first beer from Pretty Things. They already have their rustic brown ale, St. Botolph's Town, out in stores and their spring seasonal Belgian quadrupel, Baby Tree, will be out soon. One great thing about this brewery is the add vertical neck labels with the batch number and bottling date, so you know you're getting fresh beer! Plus Dann designs the label art himself. Is there anything this guy can't do?
Appearance: The beer is quite pretty, indeed. A hazy golden orange with a puffy white head just looks appetizing! You've got to see this one in person, and make sure you pour it into a goblet or oversized wine glass!
Smell: The first aroma you get is the yeasty spiciness from the belgian yeast. Then, you quickly get hit with some American citrusy hops. Wow! This is a great combo!
Taste: The hops start out mildly bitter with some orange zest. These hops are almost oily (in a great way). Then the bright, dry character of the malt comes through with the yeast and you get a spicy and refreshing spritz of summer. Yeah, this may be the official beer of the spring.
Pairing: "Good time artisanal beers," appears on the label. We agree! The hops are mellowed by the creaminess of the cheese, and the citrus fruit flavors of the hops come through. The cheese has a bit of nuttiness that is amplified by the beer, which helps to unwrap some of the complexity of this delicious cheese. Lastly hops and shallot are, we've discovered, a wonderful combination! It creates some great spicy, oniony-goodness. This is a wonderful combination!
Peak Organic Pale Ale paired with Hannahbells Rosemary Cheese
Peak Organic beers are made using organic ingredients. They are based in  Additionally, their Espresso Amber is made with fair trade coffee beans while their Maple Oat Ale is made in collaboration with local farmers and like-minded small businesses. Their beers are brewed with the idea of corporate social and environmental responsibility, which is why they choose not to use barley or hops that have been treated with chemicals and pesticides. Based in Portland, ME they barely squeak in under 100 miles. But being organic gives them a few extra points!
Appearance: This beer pours copper and taupe head. Looks like a good spring beer, not to heavy but it's still got something to it.
Smell: There are some sweet honey notes to start which leads quickly into dry hoppy smell.
Taste: This is a dry beer with solid hop bitterness up front, it's almost an IPA we'd say. Delcious hops bring the flavor with just enough malt to to balance.
Pairing: Again, the hops and the smooth creaminess of the beer play very well together. The crispness of the hops cuts the cream so it's not overwhelming while complementing the light salt brine of the cheese. The rosemary takes a back seat, as does the malt of the beer, but they are still in the background singing back-up. We tried this cheese with the Peak Organic Amber Ale, and the pairing just didn't work. We loved the beer, but the combination did not make either food nor brew taste any better.
Mayflower IPA paired with Westfield Farms Capri Pepper Chevre on SourdoughMayflower Brewing Company, based in Plymouth, MA, has only been producing beer for a little over a year. They started operations in January 2008 with Director of Brewing Operations Matthew Steinberg crafting the recipes. You may remember Matt from Offshore Brewing Co. in Martha's Vineyard, MA but he's been around the Massachusetts brewing scene for a long time and has brewed delicious beer at quite a few places. Jeff also did a day there recently, shadowing Matt, in his Professional Brewer for a Day article.
Appearance: This beer looks rather dark for an IPA, pouring a medium amber with an off-white head.
Smell: Hops. Light and fragrant with some floweryness. No real dank or oily hop.
Taste: Great dry start with the hop bitterness. This flows into a sweeter body with the real flower hop flavor. Ends with the hops slowly fading out, but still giving you something to think about for a while with a solid and delicious hop after-taste.
Pairing: The Pepper Chevre is really spicy, just like last time we tried it. The hops help cover the spice... doesn't get rid of it, just lightens it and makes it more tasty. The sourdough breads adds some needed complexity, without it the spice and sweetness would be competing with bitterness from the hops. The sourdough ties it all together into a complete flavor.
Ipswich Oatmeal Stout
Lastly, we're going to end you with a beer from Mercury Brewing Company under their Ipswich line. Mercury has been putting delicious and well-crafted session beers out into the local market for a long time now but they've mostly flown under the radar of beer enthusiasts. Until now, that is. They produce some astounding examples of stouts and ales that you really have to check out! Plus they're based in Ipswich, MA which means you can go and see how your beer is made, if you want. It's a local brewery making great beer.
Appearance: This beer is black, with maybe a hint of light brown around the edges if you hold it up to the light... Maybe...
Aroma: Roasty and chocolatey! This beer smells delicious! A great after meal beer.
Taste: The first thing you get is dark fruit and cocoa, like a high cacao chocolate bar. The oatmeal in this makes it very velvety smooth, especially as it warms. Dark chocolate is definitely a predominant flavor in this. We like it! A great end to a flavor experience.
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