This series explores the beer pairing options available at the Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewery. My tasting partner for this session was Jason Hendrick, founder of Everybody's Hungry and my co-host on pints&pairings.
Feel free to comment on any of these pairing suggestions, especially if you had another beer pairing in mind.
Feel free to comment on any of these pairing suggestions, especially if you had another beer pairing in mind.
The Entree
Orange Cashew Chicken ~
Crispy sautéed chicken with cashews, broccoli, snow peas, and carrots tossed in a spicy orange ginger sauce and served on a bed of white rice; topped with green onion & cashews
This dish is full of color, flavor and textures and a great entree for those who crave a little spicy heat. The red pepper flakes and ginger do build up over time so you will want to keep that in mind when you pick your beer pairing.
Crispy sautéed chicken with cashews, broccoli, snow peas, and carrots tossed in a spicy orange ginger sauce and served on a bed of white rice; topped with green onion & cashews
This dish is full of color, flavor and textures and a great entree for those who crave a little spicy heat. The red pepper flakes and ginger do build up over time so you will want to keep that in mind when you pick your beer pairing.
Jason's favorite beer pairing for this entree is the Howlin' Hefeweizen, a traditional style German wheat beer full of clove spices and banana. He enjoyed they way the beer's fresh, slightly tart wheat flavors resonated with orange glaze and the effervescent carbonation cleansed the palate.
As Howlin' Hefe warms, the banana esters (aromas you can taste) become more prominent which add another layer of complexity to this pairing. The beer's mouthfeel also becomes a little heavier as the beer warms. The heavier mouthfeel is a welcome sensation as it helps to balance the spicy heat from the entree.
As Howlin' Hefe warms, the banana esters (aromas you can taste) become more prominent which add another layer of complexity to this pairing. The beer's mouthfeel also becomes a little heavier as the beer warms. The heavier mouthfeel is a welcome sensation as it helps to balance the spicy heat from the entree.
I really enjoyed the Surfin' Monk, a hopped up Triple with sweet orange peel and cumin, with this entree. The beer's sweet malt flavors and orange peel resonate with the entree's spicy orange glaze, but they also contrast against the ginger and red pepper flakes and help balance the spicy nature of the entree. The Belgian yeast notes resonate with the ginger in the orange glaze accentuating their herbal qualities.
Alternate Pairing Option
Rebel Rye, an American Rye Ale (similar to a pale ale) with a solid malt base to balance the assertive hop profile (flavor and bitterness) and the spicy rye notes, is a great pairing for this entree, too. The hop bitterness and rye flavors accentuate the spices in the entree momentarily before the carbonation and alcohol can cleanse the palate. The hop flavor also resonates with the broccoli and creates a new and surprisingly, pleasant vegetal layer to this pairing.
RSS Feed