Creole Style Gumbo: Its Mardi Gras, so that means it’s time for some extra large portions of homemade Lousiana Seafood Gumbo in order to celebrate Fat Tuesday right! What could possibly be more fitting to serve with this Louisiana dish than a tall mug of Abita Beer’s Mardi Gras Bock (brewed about 30 miles north of New Orleans). Since this bock leans more toward the golden lager/ maibock / hells bock side of the malt spectrum, it faired far better with the hotter Cajun spices than a more malt-forward bock would have, and it brought an authentic southern flare to the meal.

Continue reading →

Snow Tracks and Bird Nests: Spotted some raccoon and fox tracks in the snow; looks like they were using natural log “bridges” to traverse the area’s creeks and streams. Also, spotted a few of last year’s bird’s nests, with the snow falling now it’s hard to believe that in a few short months the birds will be back building new ones.

Continue reading →

Sweet And Sour Pork Lo Mein: With today being Presidents Day and Chinese New Year just around the corner, a relevant Beer Pairing seems appropriate. Homemade Whole Grain Lo Mein noodles, marinated pork strips, #organic carrots, sugar snap peas, sesame seeds, and celery all smothered in a homemade Pineapple Sweet And Sour Sauce made from diced, caramelized, home juiced pineapple; all washed down with Yards Brewing’s Thomas Jeffersons Tavern Ale, a great tribute beer for Presidents Day 2015; with the clean taste, carbonation, and body to stand up to the lo mein’s oily nature.

Dark Chocolate Mousse Filled Popovers: This Beer And Dessert pairing is the ideal ending for a sweet Valentines Day 2015. Rich, gooey, homemade Dark Chocolate Mousse flavored with Iron Hill Brewery’s Russian Imperial Stout injected into crisp, freshly baked, popovers; served with the delectable Bo And Luke from ATG Brewery and Brouwerij De Molen. This beer was brewed with cherry wood smoked malt, barley, rye, and corn, then barrel-aged; resulting in a stout so smooth and silky, the only thing comparable was the chocolate mousse it was paired with.

Continue reading →

Seared Duck Breast with Farro Risotto: It’s Valentines Day, and what better way to show your affection for that special person than with a decadent, home cooked, Valentines Day Beer Pairing! Allagash Brewing’s Sour Red Ale Allagash Nancy provided the inspiration for this meal; brewed with a blend of Montmorrency and Balaton cherries, this Wild Ale was the perfect complement to the dish. Homemade honey-cherry sauce covered the tender Marinated Duck breast encircled by a cherry flavored farro risotto making for a tasty shared meal.

Continue reading →

Coffee infused Creme Brulee with Cholocate Gingersnaps: with only a few hours to go until Valentines Day 2015 it’s time for a Beer And Dessert pairing to get in the festive mood; and what traditional flavor combination could possibly fit this holiday better than a complementary chocolate and coffee combo to celebrate the dark, roast-y quality of both flavors? The organic cocoa and the roasted chocolate malt in Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout provided the perfect accompaniment for this Valentines Day Dessert.

Continue reading →

Cauliflower Soup with Rye Bread: There’s nothing quite like the smooth, nutty, earthy, warmth of a freshly made bowl of Creamy Cauliflower Soup. It just clings to your insides and warms you right up. The home baked rye bread synced with the soups toasty, earthy, sweetness; a flavor which was reflected in Boulevard Beer’s Love Child 4. However, the lactobaccillus and brettanomyces in this Barrel Aged Wild Ale brought some new flavors to the party too, dark fruit character with a burst of sour tartness to contract the soup’s nutty sweetness and provide balance to the meal. All while the beer’s funky notes kept the meal focused on the earthy theme.

Continue reading →

Chicken And Corn Chowder with Caesar Salad: Continuing Soup Month 2015 with a brawny Caesar salad and richly flavored soup. Strangeways’ Placebo Pils (an interesting beer brewed to celebrate the brewery’s first anniversary; utilizing Cascade, Centennial, Citra, Galena, Palisade, Opal, and Saphir hops) was uniquely qualified to accompany this meal because it incorporated various hopping methods, which contributed to different flavor profiles in the final product. The mash hopping provided a spicy, peppery, piney bitterness that worked well with the sturdy salad; while hop bursting and dry hoping added some bright, hoppy, floral elements that worked well with the soup’s herbal character.

Continue reading →

Belated Beekeeping Update: Well before tucking the Bee Hives in for the winter, they were medicated with a proverbial “spoonful” of medicine. The Hop Beta Acids in BetaTec’s Hop Guard II come from natural #hop compounds and hopefully will provide a safe and natural way to keep any Varroa Mites under control.

Continue reading →

Chicken And Rice Soup and Molasses Dinner Rolls: After some time outside in the frosty weather exposed to frigid temperatures, a warm, comforting Chicken And Rice soup Beer Pairing might be just the ticket to melt through a body’s frozen exterior and snugly wrap its cozy warmth around you. Paired with Round Guys Brewery’s clean tasting, 100% #Brett fermented Pale Ale, Fear Of A Brett Planet. The caramel-y, bready-like malt character of the beer complemented the sweetness of the Molasses Rolls while the very mild barnyard taste from the Brettynomyces Bruxellensis played well with the rustically herbal flavors in the soup.

Continue reading →