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 Appetizer
Taos Egg Rolls
Spicy grilled chicken, red onion, corn, cilantro, cheese, avocado & roasted peppers lightly fried & served with spicy avocado cream sauce and chipotle ketchup.
This SoCal fusion incorporates all the great herbs, veggies and fruit that makes life here so wonderful and the side sauces give you the opportunity to spice up the egg roll, if you are so inclined. The avocado sauce isn't an aggressive heat by any means, but it will add another layer of creamy complexity to this appetizer. The chipotle addition gives the ketchup a decidedly Asian flair and does a nice job of balancing its sweetness.
Spicy grilled chicken, red onion, corn, cilantro, cheese, avocado & roasted peppers lightly fried & served with spicy avocado cream sauce and chipotle ketchup.
This SoCal fusion incorporates all the great herbs, veggies and fruit that makes life here so wonderful and the side sauces give you the opportunity to spice up the egg roll, if you are so inclined. The avocado sauce isn't an aggressive heat by any means, but it will add another layer of creamy complexity to this appetizer. The chipotle addition gives the ketchup a decidedly Asian flair and does a nice job of balancing its sweetness.
Jason's favorite beer pairing for this appetizer is the Winter Wonderland, a winter seasonal filled with nutmeg, cinnamon and sweet malt. This is one of those surprising pairings that come out of nowhere -really, who pairs a winter warmer with Asian food? Well, we did and we were rewarded for it. Depending on the order of consumption you will get two very different tasting experiences.
1. Try tasting the egg roll first, then sip the beer. The egg roll pulls out a hidden smokey note out of the beer and adds another layer of complexity neither had as solo bites.
2. Try sipping the beer first and then taking a bite of the egg roll. This sequence accentuates the sweet malt, cinnamon and nutmeg flavors that are found in the beer.
1. Try tasting the egg roll first, then sip the beer. The egg roll pulls out a hidden smokey note out of the beer and adds another layer of complexity neither had as solo bites.
2. Try sipping the beer first and then taking a bite of the egg roll. This sequence accentuates the sweet malt, cinnamon and nutmeg flavors that are found in the beer.
My favorite beer pairing for this appetizer is the Surfin' Monk, a hopped up Triple with sweet orange peel and cumin. The hop profile in this beer helps the spicy heat of this dish explode, momentarily before the carbonation and the alcohol content cleanse the palate. The malt sweetness resonates with the sweet wonton and corn (accent flavors in the egg roll) and creates a base layer that brings the beer and this appetizer together. The cumin in this beer helps to dry out the finish, and it also adds one more layer of complexity to this appetizer.
Alternate Pairing Option
Rebel Rye is 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. This pairing is all about taking the flavors in the egg roll and kicking them up a notch. If you would like a little more spice, Rebel Rye's hop profile and spicy rye notes will do that for you - no sauces needed. The beer cleanses the palate nicely and its dry finish leave you wanting another bite and another drink.
A word of caution: One of the best parts of my job is being totally blown away by unexpected beer and food combinations (ex. Winter Wonderland and egg rolls). On the other side of the coin, I do come across pairings that just don't work, from time to time. Midnight Howl, a black IPA with a crisp, citrus hop flavor, pronounced bitterness and subtle roasty notes, is my goto beer at Wolf Creek. If I'm only going to be drinking a pint, THAT is the beer I'd pick. However, Midnight Howl is NOT the beer you should pair with this appetizer because the egg roll accentuates the subtle roasty notes in the beer to an unpleasant ash-like flavor. Save Midnight Howl for another appetizer or entree. On the bright side, I just gave you and me, a perfectly good reason to have two beers with dinner!
Seasonal Spotlight: Surfn' Monks Triple
SURFN' MONKS TRIPLE - 9.5%
A So-Cal Belgian Triple Ale is brewed with Belgian Candi syrup, dried sweet orange peel, cumin, American hops, and Belgian Yeast. The result is a deceivingly strong ale with big, juicy citrus flavors, complex fruit flavors from the yeast, and moderate bitterness from the hops.
Surfn' Monk isn't a cloyingly sweet triple with a lot of alcohol heat or one of the crazy over hopped American-style Belgian tripels that miss the mark on balance. Surfn' Monks Triple does have a subtle orange juice flavor and a well balanced hop profile. The cumin helps to balance the sweetness and dry out the finish.
A So-Cal Belgian Triple Ale is brewed with Belgian Candi syrup, dried sweet orange peel, cumin, American hops, and Belgian Yeast. The result is a deceivingly strong ale with big, juicy citrus flavors, complex fruit flavors from the yeast, and moderate bitterness from the hops.
Surfn' Monk isn't a cloyingly sweet triple with a lot of alcohol heat or one of the crazy over hopped American-style Belgian tripels that miss the mark on balance. Surfn' Monks Triple does have a subtle orange juice flavor and a well balanced hop profile. The cumin helps to balance the sweetness and dry out the finish.
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