I have been humbled by the response from some of these breweries to my beer pairing requests. Hinterland Brewery, went above and beyond the request and provided 12 different pairings for their beers! Below you will find their pairing suggestions for their Saison.
Pairing Suggestion: Ham and Potatoes
There weren't any specifics given for this paring suggestion, but I don't think it matters what kind of ham or what kind of potatoes you prepare. What else could go better with a hearty farm meal than a beer that was historically brewed to quench the thirst of weary farmhands?
Imagine with me, if you will. The salty and savory flavors in the ham and potatoes. You can taste them, can't you? This hearty meal needs a beer that will contrast against those flavors and mouthfeel. In comes the Hinterland Saison. The carbonation and light citrus flavors start cleansing the palate immediately and then the peppery spices and alcohol finish the job as you swallow. Your pallet will be refreshed and ready for the next bite.
There is no need to spice the ham or potatoes as the saison will do that for you as you swallow. However, if you want to add some resonating flavors I suggest seasoning the ham or potatoes with some sage or pepper. Those flavors will be showcased as they mix with the yeast and specialty spices in the beer.
Click to visit TDAC!
This is the fourth installment in a new pairing series/collaboration with the website They Draw and Cook (TDAC). TDAC is a truly inspiring website with hundreds if not thousands of illustrated recipes by artists from around the world. As you can imagine each recipe’s style and content is as unique as the artist who illustrated it. TDAC is a “veritable who’s who” of artistic styles and recipes as you will find painted, collaged, drawn, and digital renditions of scrumptious salads, mouthwatering main dishes, decadent desserts and so much more!
For this series, I have picked five recipes from a compilation book of recipes TDAC had published last year but you can also find them on TDAC.com. I have picked one breakfast-y recipe, one salad, one appetizer, one main dish and one dessert AND paired each recipe with one incredibly delicious beer!
Butternut Squash Ravioli
by Betsy Snyder
Click to see Betsy's recipe on TDAC!
I actually had a perfect beer picked for this recipe before I realized Betsy had already done the work for me. Thankfully, I had a different beer in mind. Otherwise, I couldn't have used this beautifully illustrated recipe. First, I want to say that I love her suggestion. The subtle pumpkin flavor (It should be subtle. This is a beer we are talking about and not a pumpkin pie juice) sets the perfect base layer resonating with the squash. Unfortunately, pumpkin beers are fall seasonals and so they will be hard to find any other time of the year. This is where my pairing suggestion picks up...
Hennepin is the perfect complex pairing to this meal as it resonates and contrasts at the same time! The sage, nutmeg and to a lesser extent, the parmesan cheese all resonate with the earthy, yeast derived spice in the beer. This creates a formidable base layer that helps to bridge the gap between the earthy spices and the inherent sweetness of the butternut squash and fruity esters in the beer. On the other side of the spectrum there are all the contrasting flavors. Hennepin keeps the butternut squash and sauce in check. The elevated carbonation level creates a carbonic bite (more of a sensation than a flavor) which counteracts the residual sweetness in the squash. The elevated carbonation also helps to cleanse and refresh the palate.
If you can't find this particular beer then substitute it with any local saison or any of the beers from the style.profile section below.
1. If you liked this pairing or love this recipe let the artist know and spread the love around. The artist and I would appreciate the extra publicity!
2. You can and should order this fabulous cookbook on TDAC.com.
3. These illustrations are copyrighted. You may not use them for any commercial reason without express written consent from the artist. You may, however, print them for your own use. Click the recipe which will take you to TDAC and from there you can download a high resolution copy or print a copy of this recipe.
Saison
Examples: Saison Dupont, Bruery Saison Rue,
Serving Temp: 45°- 50°
Glassware: Tulip Glass
Food Pairings: Cuisine: Herbal salads. Cheese: Earthy or Nutty. Meat: poultry and fish.
HopHeadSaid: Whether you are drinking a traditional strength (5% ABV or lower) or a more contemporary version (6% ABV or higher) Saisons should finish dry with very little sweetness. Saisons aromas can be quite complex with a fruit and spice mixture reminiscent of barnyards. Typically their flavors will be malt balanced (leaning towards malt instead of hops) but peppery spice flavors from the yeast and the elevated carbonation levels create a beer with medium bitterness and a dry finish.
These beers pair well with all kinds of cheeses because the dry finish and elevated carbonation help to scrub the palate clean after each drink. Saisons will also pair well with salads that are tossed with spicy greens like arugula or light meats such as fish or poultry. Spice these meats sparingly as the spices in the beer can add another layer of complexity to any dish.
Beer: Avec Les Bons Voeux (9.5%)
Brewery: Brasserie DupontStyle: Saison/Farmhouse Ale
Serving: Tulip Glass @ 45°- 50°
General Beer Description: Whether you are drinking a traditional strength (5% ABV or lower) or a more contemporary version (6% ABV or higher) Saisons should finish dry with very little sweetness. Saison aromas can be quite complex with a fruit and spice mixture reminiscent of barnyards. Typically their flavors will be malt balanced (leaning towards malt instead of hops) but peppery spice flavors from the yeast and the elevated carbonation levels create a beer with medium bitterness and a dry finish.
These beers pair well with all kinds of cheeses because the dry finish and elevated carbonation help to scrub the palate clean after each drink. Saisons will also pair well with salads that are tossed with spicy greens like arugula or light meats such as fish or poultry. Spice these meats sparingly as the spices in the beer can add another layer of complexity to any dish.
General Food Pairing Suggestions: Cuisine: Salads. Cheese: Earthy or Nutty. Meat: poultry and fish.
Photo courtesy of FineCooking.com
Specific Food Pairing Suggestion: Sautéed sweet potatoes with orange-mint germolata.
Click HERE for the FineCooking.com recipe I used to pair with this beer. Avec Les Bons Voeux, and saisons in general, are excellent pairings with this dish. The toasted pecans, garlic and herbs resonate with the barnyard-like aromas and yeasty spice flavors found in saisons while the pepper accentuates the dryness which increases the refreshing qualities of the beer. But the goodness doesn’t stop there, oh no! The orange zest adds another layer of complexity that pairs well with smooth wheat flavors (think Blue Moon with the lemon wedge) and takes the edge off the spicy yeast flavors. But the beer has the last stand as the alcohol and the elevated carbonation scrub your palate and get you ready to start this adventure all over again.
Beer: 18 (8.1 % ABV)
Brewery: Avery Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Serving: Tulip glass @ 40°-45°
General description and suggestion: Whether you are drinking a traditional strength (5% ABV or lower) or a more contemporary version (6% ABV or higher) Saisons should finish dry with very little sweetness. Saisons aromas can be quite complex with a fruit and spice mixture reminiscent of barnyards. Typically their flavors will be malt balanced (leaning towards malt instead of hops) but peppery spice flavors from the yeast and the elevated carbonation levels create a beer with medium bitterness and a dry finish.
These beers pair well with all kinds of cheeses because the dry finish and elevated carbonation help to scrub the palate clean after each drink. Saisons will also pair well with salads that are tossed with spicy greens like arugula or light meats such as fish or poultry. Spice these meats sparingly as the spices in the beer can add another layer of complexity to any dish.
Specific description and suggestion: This was an unexpected and quite delicious pairing discovery. Just because the general suggestions don’t mention a particular food item don’t be afraid to step outside the box and try something different. I did just that with this pairing because the spices in “18″ reminded me of cookies for some reason. The spiciness of the rye and yeast phenols in this beer pair seamlessly with raisin, oatmeal cookies.
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