Beer Class 8.31.11

Thank you to everyone who showed up today for Beer Class, what an incredible turnout.  If you missed it, here is a quick summary.  

• We started the beer class with the test below.  Please take a good look at the questions and information that the test covers.  I will provide answers to the test in the coming days, but these are the type of questions that you should expect on the beer test that the staff will take before GABF.  Please talk to me if you would like me to clarify anything, be more specific or more simplified about anything we are covering on beer.  We wrapped up the test by discussing the answers
• Next, we had a Rob O'Connor from Crabtree Brewing Co. visit with a sample of Syzygy ( Pronounced Sizzigee).  Syzygy is a Cabernet barrel aged Belgian Black IPA.  Rob discussed the base beer, the concept behind the barrel aged version and the meaning behind the name Syzygy.   The way that it was explained as I heard was, the name was indicative of how the nuanced characteristics from each aspect of the beer came together in a cohesive final product.  
• Finally we took a quick but in depth look at our food menu and how our beer menu plays with the food.  We discussed beer pairings for everything on the food menu with focus on drafts, bottles and specialty bottles.  Having an idea of what styles work with what food and why will help you to create your own pairings.  Please talk to me anytime with questions of how and why to pair certain beers with certain dishes.  

Beer Test #4

1.If you were going to drink the following four beers, in what order should/would you enjoy them?   

 Black Butte Porter, Avery IPA, Stone Russian Imperial Stout, Colorado Kolsch

2.  Name 3 'Light' beers and food that would pair nicely with those styles of beer.

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3.  Someone asks for Chimay, we don't carry Chimay, so what is the first question you ask?  

You ask..." Are you talking about Chimay Blue, Chimay Red, or Chimay White

Chimay White- blegian tripel  

Chimay Red-  is a Belgian Double

Chimay Blue-  Belgian Strong Dark Ale

Give two alternatives for each of the Chimay beers from our bottle list.

White-

Red-

Blue-

4.  Name 3 tripples and food that pairs well with that styles.

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5.  The guest asks for the beers.  We don't carry any of these.  What could you suggest as an adequate alternative.

-  New Belgium Sunshine Wheat-

-  Guinness-

-  New Castle-

-  Corona-

-  New Belgium Fat Tire-

-  Coors Light-

-  Stone IPA-

6.  What is your "go-to" food and beer pairing when you are trying to WOW a guest that is open to the entire beer menu and the entire food menu?

7. Where are the following breweries?

Left Hand Brewing Co

Great Divide Brewing Co.  

Odell Brewing Co.

Crooked Stave

Stone Brewing Co

Lost Abbey Brewing Co

Boulevard Brewing Co

Russian River Brewing Co

Sam Smith Brewing Co

St. Martin Brouwerij

Port Brewing Co.

Avery Brewing Co

Breckenridge Brewing Co.