Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Beer & Food; The Homebrew Chef; Toronado; Best Beers in the World

Pick a title, any title. I'm too dazed from reading the highlights below. See how well you do... Has 2008 been anointed the year of the beer dinner yet? Now, I've been to some tremendous beer and food pairing events, but I'm not sure that I've ever seen anything like this...and am hard-pressed to imagine what it would take to top this. The pictures that Jay provides at his site help illustrate just how phenomenal this marathon brunch (or blunch as he calls it...11 courses...close to 20 beers) probably was to attend in person. Toronado in San Francisco has set the bar. Anyone? Anyone here in Philly want to take a stab at topping this? Please? You've got to check out the pictures and words at Jay's site (btw, Jay, you've got to stop with the superb material; linking to you has become a bit routine lately :) But, I'll do my best here to summarize the beers that he mentions. Saucerful of Secrets, Oude Lambic, Avec les bons Voeux, Oude Geuze Mariage Parfait Single Cask #52, Toronado 20th Anniversary Ale, Duchesse De Bourgogne, St. Bernardus Christmas Ale, Chimay 2001 Grand Reserve, Orval, Saison D’Erpe-Mere, Fantôme Saison, Duvel, Pliny the Elder, Westvleteren Abt 12, Van Honsebrouck Bacchus, Malheur Brut Noir, Damnation. Oh, and by the way, through all of this hoopla, I failed to mention Sean Paxton, one of the chief creative forces behind this past Sunday's event. If you haven't heard of him, check out his site for a long resume that's sure to impress and some great recipe ideas that we can all use at home. If you'd like to hear him as well, he makes occasional appearances on The Brewing Network's Sunday Session. Blanched hop shoots? Cantillon Saint Lamvinus Sorbet? Oh, the humanity!

3 comments:

J said...

I don't know if it's been anointed, but I already speculated that this was in fact the Year of the Beer Dinner in my Ale Street News Column earlier this year. I've been to more beer dinners so far this year (with a few more already scheduled) than all of last year. And it seems many more places are starting to do them. So I'm with you on calling 2008 the Year of the Beer Dinner.

Anonymous said...

That menu is EXTREMELY impressive!

Bryan Kolesar said...

T, I'll give you a chance to think about it and get back to you and see if you're up for the challenge! I'll supply the hop shoots :)