Beer/Food Pairing Chart

Every beer snob worth his/her salt knows which foods to pair with their favorite beers.  We had to learn somewhere and this is a great place to start.

Beer Tripping - Jacksonville, Florida

We Snobs travel to events and destinations across the country and further abroad in the pursuit of our favorite tasty beverage.  While Tampa gets most of the press for craft brewing in Florida, we have heard whispers about Jacksonville's burgeoning beer market, so we though we would take the trip to see if the rumors were true.  We were pleasantly surprised and had a great weekend of boozing and suggest that you try Freakville as well, here are a few recommendations for you to try.

Favorite Pub - Goozlepipe and Guttyworks

Kickback's Gastropub has been open in the hipster area known as 5 Points/Riverside on King Street since 2005.  The gastropub was well known for a dandy beer selection and really decent food... and equally famous for dead slow service.  They recently expanded into the space next door which is about 6 times the size of the original pub and christened it Goozlepipe and Guttyworks.

 Goozlepipe and Guttyworks is a really cool space with a semi-steampunk feel with 3 levels of entertainment are featuring a mezzanine overlooking the pub, the main room, and a basement (purported to have a large assortment of Belgian beers) as well as a covered outdoor space for those who love to sweat. As verified snobs, our primary goal was to witness and enjoy the Belgian basement, said to have over 100,000 bottles of Belgian liquid gold ... and IT WAS FRIGGING CLOSED, for a 'private event' (Brew Bus can kiss my hairy ass). I must say, that even though we were disappointed to be denied the basement, the main dining room was cool enough to keep us entertained for several hours with their 190+ beers on tap and Gramatic playing on Pandora.  Though we did not try anything from their extensive food menu, the offerings looked quite tempting, however, the regulars that were chatting with said their service, though not as slow as before, is still not stellar.  We will happily visit this pub again ... and the basement had better be open.
http://www.kickbacksgastropub.com/goozlepipe---guttyworks.html
910/914 King St.
Jacksonville, FL 32204









Favorite Brewery - Pinglehead Brewing/Brewers Pizza Brewpub

An exuberant fan convinced us to make the drive to Orange Park to try out this brewpub.  And ain't this an odd little place. A tiny hole in the wall pizza joint called Brewers Pizza and what the hell?  A brewery in the back?  No shit? 

Banana Pancakes (9.5% ABV) breast .... yeasty .... sweet .... yep, banana pancakes.  I feel as if though I could drink lots of this one, but at 9.5% the reality is that at 9.5%, 2 glasses would put me on the floor.

Badass BD's Dark Belgian Ale (9.0% ABV) these guys sure do like sweet beers, but damn fine. Do you like Belgian Quads?  Try this one. Dark fruits and molasses .. Smoooooooth.

Ambitious Monk Belgian Triple (8.5% ABV) again, a superb beer. This gem is a yeasty treat with a bit more sweetness that you would normally find in a triple, but not overpoweringly so. I would probably compare more to more to a Duvel than to a Belgian triple.

Redemption Brown Ale (6.9% ABV) this is a fine example of a brown. Malty and slightly dry, but a bit thin, with a coffee background ... an easy drinker.

The beers were a bit sweeter than we typicall prefer, but the flavors were quite refined, good stuff.  There was a steady parade of patrons lining up to take their pizza to go who praised their food, though we were to stuffed to try any.

http://www.brewerspizza.com/home/
14B Blanding Blvd.
Orange Park, Florida 32073

Favorite Restaurant - Blind Rabbit:  A Burger and Whiskey Bar

This hipster joint can be found directly across the street from Goozlepipe and Guttyworks and while you would thing we would go for a joint with great beers, we sometimes have other cravings.  Yeah, of course we are self described beer snobs, but we are whiskey whores as well.  No, no, don't worry, they had a pretty damn fine beer list as well, but honestly, were weren't there for the booze, we needed sustenance.  This place also had a great vibe, a kind of a relaxed sophistication that you rarely find, and with very good service. The gang jumped all over the whiskey, then immediately face first into the menu filled with southern style delights and burgers (http://theblindrabbitwhiskeybar.com/menu/).  Once the food arrived the conversation ceased as we were busily occupied with stuffing our faces.  Delightful entrees all around and zero complaints
with the Southern Burger and Shrimp & Grits garnishing the most accolades. Dandy whiskey joint.

http://theblindrabbitwhiskeybar.com/
901 King Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32204

Lakewood Beer Dinner @ Eureka!

WHAT: The all-American restaurant located in the heart of West Village is excited to host another beer dinner on Tuesday, April 12 at 6 p.m. featuring five unique beers from Lakewood Brewing, one of which being Lakewood’s 2016 community outreach beer, All Call Kolsch. Eureka! has thoughtfully paired each of the beers with some of their delectable new menu items to create a pairing menu that is perfect for any beer or food lover.

The pairing menu highlights four of Eureka!’s newly introduced menu items such as Crispy Glazed Brussel Sprouts tossed in an orange chili sauce, and paired with Lakewood’s All Call; a Lobster Taco with saffron crema, avocado, cabbage, and watermelon radish, served alongside Till and Toil; Slow Roasted Beet Salad with arugula, apple, orange segments, asparagus, fennel, goat cheese, topped with watermelon pop rocks and paired with Manimal;

For the main course, Eureka! presents Slow Roasted Pork Ribs finished with chimichurri and served with confetti slaw paired with Saint Dymphna, and to round off this meal, the Chocolate Torte with chocolate sauce, topped with macadamia nuts, and served with The Temptress. General Manager Tex Gibson and a representative from Lakewood will guide guests through the unique pairings.

WHEN:

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 6 p.m.

PRICE:

$60 per guest

Ticket Link:

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/lakewood-beer-dinner-at-eureka-tickets-23855653903

WHERE:

Eureka!

3700 McKinney Ave Suite 126

Dallas, TX 75204

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: Eureka Dallas

Twitter: EurekaDallas
Instagram: Eureka_Dallas

St. Patrick's Day Stout Layer Cake Recipe

Cake AND beer in on place?!?!  Hell, yes!

Ingredients

1. Cake
   • 2 cups stout (such as Guinness)
   • 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter
   • 1 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-process)
2. • 4 cups all purpose flour
   • 4 cups sugar
   • 1 tablespoon baking soda
   • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
   • 4 large eggs
   • 1 1/3 cups sour cream
3. Icing
   • 2 cups whipping cream
   • 1 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped

Preparation

1. For cake:
   1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper. Bring 2 cups stout and 2 cups butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
   2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.
2. For icing:
   1. Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.
   2. Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread 2/3 cup icing over. Top with third cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake. 

Martin House 3rd Anniversary Event

Here is the information from Martin House Brewing about their 3rd Anniversary party. Please support your local brewers. - Bon

3 Years and 30 Beers MHBC Anniversary Shennanigans It's been three years since we sold our first beer here at Martin House Brewing Co. In those 3 years we've made a lot of friends, drank a lot of beer, and even had a few rock shows at the brewery. To celebrate we are having two parties: 1. We're tapping 30 different beers at the brewery on Sunday, March 27th. We will feature all of your favorites, some old faces, some new, limited test batches, and even some barrel aged releases. It's a ticketed event and you may buy tickets here:  http://martinhousebrewing.com/Events/3-year-anniversary-party-martin-house-brewing-co/ 2. We're also hosting our 3rd annual Beer Brunch at the Flying Saucer in Fort Worth on Sunday, March 20th. If you can't make either of the 3yr parties, we'd like to invite you out to one of our brewery open house and tours. They occur every Thursday from 6-8pm and Saturday from 2-5pm.  $10 gets you a pint glass and 3 fresh pints of Martin House beer.  Also, keep up with the weekly food trucks and bands by visiting the events page on our website.

© 2016 Martin House Brewing Co. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 220 S Sylvania #209 Fort Worth, TX 76111

Oscar Blues Pre-Austin Opening Events

OSKAR BLUES ANNOUNCES AUSTIN BURNING CAN (notjusta) BEER FEST & 4/20 SMOKE OUT IN ADVANCE OF THEIR TEXAS OPENING 

The Burning Can (notjusta) Beer Fest is an outdoor music-soaked celebration of craft beer in a can, featuring beer sampling, spectator sports, The Beer Relay race, and live music by the Drive-By Truckers with all proceeds benefitting CAN'd Aid Foundation 

Longmont, CO -- Oskar Blues Brewery, which announced plans to open a third brewery in Austin later this year, will host a pair of gritty, down-home music soaked experiences for Austinite's next month. The Colorado-based brewery's music roots run deep and their passion for all things outdoors paired with their obsessively crafted big brews are a perfect fit for the culture and lifestyle in Austin. OnWednesday, April 20th the anti-corporate genre-busting CAN-centric brewery will take over the Scoot Inn for a 4/20 "Smoke Out" followed by the Oskar Blue's signature celebration of craft beer in-a-can, Burning Can (notjusta) Beer Fest, onSaturday, 4/23 at Walter E. Long Park headlined by the Drive-By Truckers. 

The SCOOT INN SMOKE OUT - 4/20

Oskar Blues, in advance of their mid-May Texas launch, will host THE SCOOT INN SMOKE OUT on 4/20, featuring live music by J Roddy Walston and the Business, Nashville songstress Nikki Lane and a late night session with Austin's own Eagle Eye Williamson. Serving up The Scoot's famed smoked pork shoulder and authentic Texas BBQ, rare Oskar Blues brews and a stellar line-up of music, all proceeds from The Smoke Out will benefit the CAN'd Aid Foundation.

Oskar Blues Brewery's award-winning celebration of canned craft beer, Burning Can (notjusta) Beer fest (http://burningcan.com/) debuts in Austin on April 23, 2016. More than 30 craft breweries from around the country will be on hand to sample their canned brews and take part in the country's first active beer festival with live music, sport competitions, and a concert by Austin favorites Tameca Jones, Whiskey Shivers and the Drive-by Truckers.

Burning Can also features participant and spectator sport competitions including 

The Beer Relay, a team trail running and beer drinking event. This four-hour competition is run in teams of two or four. Runners will complete as many 5k laps as possible within the four-hour time period. If they choose to drink Oskar Blues beer prior to their lap, they get two-minutes deducted from their lap time. The team with the most laps wins. 

Those who'd rather spectate than participate can watch legendary mountain bike freeriding and trials rider, Jeff Lenosky, perform jaw-dropping, not-to-be-missed demos at 2:30PM, 4:00PM and 5:30PM. Lenosky is a three-time National Champion and World Record Holder for the highest bunny hop on a mountain bike (45.5 inches).

This celebration of craft beer-in-a-can raises money for Can'd Aid Foundation. The CAN'd Aid Foundation is all about diggin' in and makin' a difference with their "do-goodery" program areas: Towns, Tunes, Treads + Trails and Love Yur Mama. The two-year-old public charity has raised nearly $2 million and has recently provided disaster relief assistance to South Carolina, North Texas and Flint, MI with fresh drinking water and rebuilding efforts through its "Towns" program. Look for additional events highlighting Can'd Aid Foundation's community do-goodery to surround their April events, including bike builds & giveaways and free music workshops and instrument donations. 

Burning Can in CO and NC were called "7 don't miss US beer fests" by CNN.

Burning Can and Lyons Outdoor Games named USA TODAY 10 BEST "Greatest Beerfest in All the Land".

Check out Oskar Blues Brewery's website at www.oskarblues.com and the Oskar Blues Austin Facebook page / @OskarBluesATX twitter for additional details. #OBAustin #OskarBluesATX

About Oskar Blues Brewery 

Founded by Dale Katechis in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse with hand-canned, flagship brew Dale's Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues is one of the fastest growing breweries in the country and operates breweries in Longmont, Colorado and Brevard, North Carolina, while producing 192,000 barrels in 2015. The original canned craft brewery continues push innovation with the announcement of an Austin, TX brewery in April of 2016 and creations like The Crowler while it distributes to 49 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., as well as parts of Canada, Sweden, and the U.K.  

In 2013, Oskar Blues founded the CAN'd Aid Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that offers grassroots grants to those making a difference in the areas of community, the environment, music, and more. In 2015 alone, CAN'd Aid partnered with 52 organizations and provided nearly $400,000 in charitable contributions, bringing the total amount raised $1.9 million to date. CAN'd Aid's "do-goodery" efforts include: 

• Towns - building strong communities
• Tunes - for your eyeholes and earholes
• Treads + Trails - get outside and get after it
• Love Yur Mama - save the blue marble

To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com.

Beer Styles 101

Sometimes we forget that no everyone has had years of beer drinking experience when we are talking to them about craft beer.  Often we can see the glazed over eyes and blank stare that means they are clueless about the obscure beer fact that you are droning on about (beer snobs are FULL of obscure, boring beer facts).  So here is a simple infographic to help along the neophyte who is yearning to be a zymurgyologist, just like you.  Keep at it, young Skywalker, and you too may be a beer Jedi some day.