Despite the inclement conditions and the time of year when many often hide away from social occasions, the turnout was incredibly healthy for Black Lodge Brewery and the Liverpool Beer Collective for the pairing event as part of Merseyside’s #Tryanuary offerings. Decamped from the former Black Lodge premises (as the brewery is currently undergoing a move to new premises and a significant brewery expansion – due for business, hopefully sometime in the early Spring), Oktopus played host to the event on this occasion.
The menu of five different Black Lodge beers along with five carefully selected cheeses and accompaniments was excellent – a balance of compliment (augment or draw on similar flavours), contrast (present different flavour sets to bring out the varied characteristics of both drink/food in a harmonious manner) and cut (using acidity of the drink to cut through any rich or fatty flavours of the food). Black Lodge Brewery’s Rachel held the fort admirably for the event, not only being the perfect host but picking brilliant pairings for the evening, which went down well across the table.
The pairings were as follows:
Equinox Pale Ale x Mozzarella/tomato/basil
Knoxville Girl ‘Acid Mash’ Pale x Cornish Brie/Grapes
Konami Code Lactose Sour x Welsh Goats Cheese/Grapes
Children of the Haze DDH US IPA x Snowdonia Cheddar/Pickled onion
Chapter Brewing - Forgotten Decibels Abbey Ale x Blue Cheese/Fresh figs
The menu of five different Black Lodge beers along with five carefully selected cheeses and accompaniments was excellent – a balance of compliment (augment or draw on similar flavours), contrast (present different flavour sets to bring out the varied characteristics of both drink/food in a harmonious manner) and cut (using acidity of the drink to cut through any rich or fatty flavours of the food). Black Lodge Brewery’s Rachel held the fort admirably for the event, not only being the perfect host but picking brilliant pairings for the evening, which went down well across the table.
The pairings were as follows:
Equinox Pale Ale x Mozzarella/tomato/basil
Knoxville Girl ‘Acid Mash’ Pale x Cornish Brie/Grapes
Konami Code Lactose Sour x Welsh Goats Cheese/Grapes
Children of the Haze DDH US IPA x Snowdonia Cheddar/Pickled onion
Chapter Brewing - Forgotten Decibels Abbey Ale x Blue Cheese/Fresh figs
Some of the sour ales present were a bit too challenging for a few people to finish the full measure – but everyone to a person indulged in the spirit of the event and tried everything. Hopefully new friendships were forged, new experiences and preferences gained and judging by the atmosphere at the end of the evening, a superb evening had by all.
A perfect #Tryanuary evening; well done Black Lodge and well done Rachel!
A perfect #Tryanuary evening; well done Black Lodge and well done Rachel!