Jason and I finish our #cpbestinfest episodes and highlight the inaugural Best in Fest winner, Institution Ale Co.  Shaun Smith, takes time out of busy schedule to visit with us about Institution Ale Company's growth and guides through a tasting of Restraint, the winning beer.

Food Pairings for Restraint

Kevin
Chinese Cuisine: Soy Duck
French Cuisine: Duck la Orange
Italian Cuisine: chanterelle Risoto
Japanese Cuisine: Roast Trunips
Mexican Cuisine: Pork Tomale
US Cuisine: Deer/Elk
Breakfast: Bangers and mash
Dessert: Tiramisu

Zach
Us Cuisine: Any kind of BBQ




Andrew
Dessert: Wafer cookies, caramels

Jason
Us Cuisine: Roasted pork loin with thyme and a light berry glaze

From Institution Ale Company's Website:
An American Brown Ale aged on hard maple. This beer balances complex flavors of nuttiness, chocolate, roasted coffee, and sweet maple. A full bodied yet refreshing dark ale.

ABV: 6.0%   IBU: 34   SRM: 21

The #beersuggestioneers kick off a flight night highlighting The Dudes' Brewing Company with Grandma's Pecan English Style Brown. Whether it is cheese or pot pies or oatmeal, we've got some unique pairing suggestions for this beer!

Pairing Suggestions
1. Nutty cheeses
2. Grilled cheese sandwich with nutty cheeses and caramelized onions
3. Oatmeal with maple syrup and crushed pecan bits. 

General Food Pairing Suggestions: Cuisine: English. Meat: grilled pork, poultry, lamb chops. Spices: curry.

11c. English Brown Ale examples: Newcastle Brown Ale, Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale, Alesmith Nautical Nut Brown Ale, Avery Ellie’s Brown Ale, Goose Island Nut Brown Ale, Samuel Adams Brown Ale

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Suggested Glassware: Pint Glass, Mug

From the Dudes' Website: 
Grandma knows best. This English Style Brown ales is poised to be our flagship beer and we couldn't be more excited. We are the only Los Angeles brewery going to the Oregon Brewers Festival this year, and we're taking Grandma with us. We know she'll do us proud. One sip of Grandma's Pecan, and we think you'll agree. ABV is 6.9 percent.

The pints&pairings #beersuggestioneers re-visit BJCP style #10 American Ales because I just happened to have a Surly Bender on hand.  This is a wonderful take on American Brown Ales and we have some fantastic pairing suggestions.

Pairing Suggestions for American Brown Ales
1. Quiche
2. Nutty Cheese
3. Caramel desserts

Style: American Brown
Serving: Pint Glass or Mug @ 45°- 50° 

Aroma: Hints of sweet chocolate, caramel with toasted nuts are typical of this style.  Some American browns have pronounced hop aromas especially if they are dry hopped.
Appearance: Pours clear brown to dark brown with a light tan head.
Flavor:  Pronounced sweet malty flavors reminiscent of caramel and chocolate are balanced by elevated hop flavors and bitterness.
Mouthfeel:  Medium-full body that finish fairly dry due to the hops and elevated carbonation levels.

Other Examples: If you can't find this particular beer, I suggest you start with Indian Brown Ale from Dogfish Head (hoppier than Bender) or Moose Drool Brown Ale (a middle point between the Dogfish and Surly browns) from Big Sky Brewing Co.

Food Pairings: Cuisine: Barbecue. Cheese: Earthy, Nutty. Meat: beef. Dessert: Chocolate.

HopHeadSaid: I prefer American brown ales over English brown ales because of the elevated hop profiles. The hop profiles help balance the toasted caramely/chocolate sweetness keeping the beer refreshing without limiting the beer’s pairing ability. The assertive hop intensity means the malt flavors have to be increased making it a great pairing beer for grilled foods, assertive cheeses and chocolate desserts.