I don’t know if it’s the colder weather setting in, or if it’s the ‘flavour of the month’ or if it’s just a reflection of our growing affection for that wonderful amber nectar but it seems that Beer Dinners are all the rage right now.
As something of a ‘pioneer’ in this field I am obviously particularly stoked because I know what a great night they can be and how well they introduce people to beer in a non-threatening and informal way. If nothing else, they are a great opportunity to show folk how beer can be a crafted product, not just a manufactured item.
Here are a few of the offerings that have passed across my desk in the last few weeks and if you know of others on the way, leave a note and I’ll follow it up and post the details.
The Royal Mail on Spencer is having a Mountain Goat Beer Dinner on July 28. I’ve already booked my table. Here is their blurb;
Mountain Goat brewery of Richmond will join us for a fun night of beer & food matching on Wednesday 28th July. We'll create a menu to match a selection of Mountain Goat's beers & cider from Punt Road Wines. This will be a unique opportunity to learn about beer & food matching & enjoy Mountain Goat beers in an informal & fun atmosphere. The folks from Mountain Goat will be joining us & will happily discuss the finer points of beer matching & introduce us to some of their limited release beers. We'll have prizes on offer & look forward to a fun night. Please ensure you reserve your table as this event will sell out. Please phone Anna on 9329 6955 if you require any additional information.
Bookings: 03 9329 6955
Young & Jackson’s is one of Melbourne’s finest venues for a Beer Dinner and is steadily gaining a well deserved reputation as a ‘go-to’ venue for craft beer. Upstairs in Chloe’s Bar and adjoining restaurant you can enjoy a Beer Dinner featuring 6 craft beers from each of Otway Estate, Bridge Road Brewers, Matilda Bay and Mountain Goat between now and December with each brewer having a two month showcase spot.
This month the featured brewery is Grand Ridge and their Beer Degustation Dinner is on either June 15 or June 22 depending on whether you take the SMS or the website as accurate. 6 courses and 6 beers including two special new releases are on offer for $80 per head so if you’re keen it might be worth a phone call to clear up the confusion.
And The Courthouse Restaurant in Berwick is holding a Winter Warmer Beer Dinner, hosted by your very own Prof Pilsner on Friday June 25. Four courses and six beers for $55 per head but there are only a couple of tables left because, well, they are just so gosh-darned good fun.
And, if you haven’t already heard, The Local Taphouse in St Kilda is ramping up the whole food and beer matching thing with some sensational regular menu offerings which really showcase just how versatile and flexible beer can be as an ingredient as well as an accompaniment.
We are certainly becoming spoiled for choice, but it up to us to support these events so that continue into the future.
Cheers,
Prof Pilsner
http://www.theroyalmail.com.au/events.html
http://www.youngandjacksons.com.au/dining.html
http://www.courthouse.com.au/index.htm
http://thelocaltaphouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-weeks-st-kilda-food-specials.html
