6A. Cream Ale examples: Genesee Cream Ale, Little Kings Cream Ale, Anderson Valley Summer Solstice, Sleeman Cream Ale.

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Mug, Pint Glass

Food Pairings: Sweeter Fried foods (corndogs, onion rings,
Cheese: Milky Flavors ((Burratta, colby, mozzarella)

6B. Blonde Ale examples: Redhook Blonde, Rogue Oregon Golden Ale, Russian River Aud Blonde, Widmer Blonde

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Mug, Pint Glass

Food Pairings: Cuisine: Italian, Middle Eastern. Cheese: Milky Flavors (Burratta, colby, mozzarella)

6C: Kolsch examples: Alska Summer Ale, Harpoon Summer Beer, Shiner Kolsch

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Mug, Pint Glass, Stange

Food Pairings: Cuisine: German. Meat: pork, sea food. Cheese: Sharp Flavors (Blue, Cheddar, Feta)

6D. American Wheat or Rye examples: Harpoon UFO, Three Floyds Gumballhead, Pyramid Hefe-Weizen, Anchor Summer Beer, Redhook Sunrye

Serving Temp: 40°- 45°

Glassware: Mug, Pint Glass

Food Pairings: Cheese: Earthy Flavors (Blue, Brie Camembert), 

I know, I know. This event was a couple of weeks ago, but I feel it is important to spread awareness about these great events so you don't miss the next Beer Appreciation dinner.

One of the best things about these dinners is the price. They range from the $25-$35 (includes small bites, beer samples and parking)! This particular dinner featured a 6 course small bite menu.  Each menu item was paired with a rare/hard-to-find beer by Larry James, specialty beer manager for Wine Warehouse.  

These dinners last 1 1/2 to 2 hours, but if you want to make a full evening of it then you should get there early and check out the regional beers on tap at Brewsters (the hotel bar) or at the pool side bar (weather permitting). 

Or ... if you want to make it a date, this is a hotel.  Order the beer turn down service and when you retire to your room after the dinner you'll find a special nightcap beer chilled and waiting for you. 

Unfortunately, that menu was created especially for the pairing dinner so you won't be able to re-live these pairings at the Four Points LAX anytime soon. These special menus may be the best reason to attend these beer appreciation dinners!

The good news is, a new menu is being developed for Brewster's bar and it is delicious! The beer advisory board was lucky enough to get a tasting of these new menu items.  Keep checking the Brewsters topas menu for updates!

None of the menu items are officially paired with beer yet, but when the menu is released it will contain pairing suggestions.

What you see to the left is the BLT Salad. It may be the best way to get your daily dose of veggies.  The iceberg wedge is topped with Brown sugar-braised bacon, roasted tomatoes and a jalepeno ranch dressing.  The bacon was so good we begged for more!

Breakfast, anytime!  This is a braised pork hash. Mushrooms, apples, and potatoes are all mixed in with the tender braised pork. The apple chunks are genius as they added a wonderful counterpoint to the savory pork and buttery potatoes.  And just because that wasn't enough, it is topped off (quite literally) with a fried egg and drizzled with salsa verde. Delicious!

Then, there is dessert. If you like bread puddings then you will love this version. Candied pecans, dried cranberries and a stout glaze are all screaming to be enjoyed with a beer! I was thinking a big, bold, dark beer would pair with this nicely.

Dunkin’ Donuts beer pairing: Chocolate Frosting Glazed: Milk/Oatmeal Stouts, Brown Porters.  The sweet chocolaty flavors and velvet textures found in these beers are perfect matches for donuts with or without chocolate frosting but why would you want to eat a donut with out chocolate frosting? 

 Examples: Sam Adams Cram Stout, Left Hand Milk Stout, Young’s Oatmeal Stout, Fullers Porter.

Witbier beer pairing:  The mild wheat and subtle spice and/or citrus flavors can complement the mussels especially if they were steamed in that particular beer. The beer’s flavors won’t cover up and of the mussel flavors, however, the elevated carbonation and dry finish will cleanse the palate.  

Examples: Hoegaarden, Allagash White, Avery White Rascal, Unibroue Blanche de Chambly.

Dry Stout beer pairing: The intense roasty flavors (coffee, bitter chocolate) in these stouts can briefly intensify the saline, sea tastes in the oysters while the subtle chocolate flavors and perceived bitterness cleanses the palate.  

Examples: Guinness Draught, Beamish Stout, Oyster stouts are a double whammy (Rogue, Dogfish Head)

Pairing Suggestion: Lamb Skewers

I know, I know, this isn't a beer. But, it is a delicious pairing. I found this pairing suggestion while I was researching beer pairings for Harpoon Brewery. 

I deliberately left the description vague because anyway you prepare your lamb it is gonna taste great.  Skewers just make it really east to eat lamb and watch a Patriots game at the same time. The light body and fruity tastes of the cider will cut through all the savory flavors and mouthfeel of the lamb. Those fruity flavors, light body, carbonation and alcohol will also scrub your palate clean.

Pairing Suggestion: Double Chocolate Cake

I found this beer pairing suggestion while I was researching food pairings for Harpoon Brewery. I like this pairing because it isn't your usual stout and chocolate cake pairing.  Mostly because this isn't a stout but more of a Cascadian dark ale. It's subtle chocolate malt flavors resonate with the chocolate cake. The assertive hopping keeps the chocolate cake from becoming too chocolaty. This might be the best way for a non-hophead to drink this beer because the cake also keeps the hops from becoming too pronounced.  

I love beer with desserts.  Beer pairings like these are starting to come out of the shadows and aren't nearly as surprising as they once were. Certainly not as shocking as pairing beer with breakfast foods but the general public is still a little weary of drinking beer and eating dessert at the same time. 

Pairing suggestion: Chocolate Brownie covered with raspberries.

This pairing is probably the most common place.  Pairing big beers with roasted coffee/dark chocolate flavors and velvety mouthfeel with brownies is a now brainer. But this recipe takes a turn with the addition of raspberries.  The divine tartness of a raspberry adds the perfect counter point to such a rich dessert and beer. 

I found this suggestion and a few others (you might have to be a chef to make any of the other dishes at home) on an Elysian Brewing Company beer dinner menu.   

Pairing Suggestion: Sweet Potato Ravioli 

I found this beer pairing suggestion while I was researching food pairings for Harpoon Brewery. This is a  great suggestion because the malty backbone and fruity esters create a resonating base layer which ties these two together. Then, the sweet potato and bitter hops keep each other in check, not letting the other get too overwhelming through most of each bite. But it's the hops that get the last laugh as they help cleanse the palate alongside the alcohol and carbonation.  Your palate is left refreshed and ready for another bite.

Red Brick Brewery is another brewery that takes their beer pairings seriously.  They list several pairing suggestions with each beer just to make things easy for you or a beer blogger who hasn't tried any of their beers.  

I found this beer pairing suggestion buried deep in Red Brick's newsletter from last year. I love this pairing because I love Double IPA's! I couldn't have said it better myself and so I won't.  

Suggested Beer Pairing:  "The hop bitterness and citrus notes of the IPA balance,(or cut) sweetness and richness,(fat), of food and emphasizes spiciness,( chili pepper heat). Our IPA goes great with strong, spicy food such as Chili, Cajun food, and hot ethnic dishes such as Curries, Hot Thai and other Asian foods such as Korean dishes and Szechwan cuisine. Pairing our Double IPA with cheese requires the strongest and tart cheese tastes. Veined cheeses such as Blue, Roquefort, and Gorgonzola provide the strong tastes that stand up to the bitterness and citrus taste of the beer."