So, one fine day when I should have been working ... hey, I was
multitasking no one can complain! Anyway, one day when I was at my desk doing many things that were of benefit to my company, my lenders, my arms-length customers, and my rapidly expanding food-n-booze habit, I stumbled across a website for a wee little place not far from our house in the outer sticks.
They were going to be hosting a beer and food tasting for only $15 per person and the featured beer was going to be Boulevard! They are housed in Kansas City, MO, and are the state's largest
American-owned brewery. They make many fine craft beers and we like them very much - combine their beers with a tasting on late Saturday afternoon and Jay and I planned to be in attendance faster than you could say, "Beer us!"
The weather was pretty nice on Saturday ... finally warm enough to be outside without a jacket but there was a stiff breeze blowing in from the South and it made things a little uncomfortable at times. There was a bridal shower being held inside the restaurant, though, so the boozehounds were relegated to the patio which was fine until the table umbrellas tried to take flight. Jay and I must have looked surly and unsociable ... they seated us at a little table for two in the middle of two groups of eight. Each table had a place card holder with a listing of the evening's taste treats:
Yum!
I must commend the marketing representative from Boulevard for her knowledge and friendliness and the restaurant for their attentiveness. It was an enjoyable two hours in a relaxed setting and we got to drink beer out of wine glasses!
So ... first up was the Wheat Beer, which the tasting notes describe as follows:
subtle flavor profile with hints of wheat and grain works well as a complement to lighter dishes. Mild sweetness compliments fruity dishes; also pairs well with sushi, vegetable dishes, grilled chicken, and pizza.
Wheat Beer
Pizza
We both commented on the aroma of this beer, which was almost citrusy, and the taste, which was very light. I thought the aftertaste was a little harsh, though ... too many bubbles, I guess. I would have loved this beer ten or fifteen years ago when I was just getting started with my hops and barley experimentation, but I like a more malty, hoppy beer these days.
The pizza was probably just something they pulled out of the freezer section at the local grocery store but it hit the spot and did taste very good with the Wheat beer.
Our next pairing was a beer named Zon with some bread and boursin cheese ...
Zon (pronounced Zone) is a seasonal brew that is produced for the summer months.
Per the tasting notes it has subtle flavors of corriander and orange peel blended with malt and hops to create Boulevard's version of a classic witbier. This also pairs well with lighter fare.
Zon, by the way, is Belgian for "sun." Just ask Briarmom when she gets home from her Asian trip if you doubt my beer-fuddled veracity.
Zon
Bread & Cheese
Jay and I both liked this beer a lot better than the first - it reminded us a bit of a heffeweizen which we both like very much, especially in warmer weather. As for the cheese ... color me stupid but it never dawned on me to actually serve Boursin at room temperature and then
eat it. We've used it to make certain dishes but have never eaten it for the sake of eating it. Have we been missing out on some creamy, mildly garlic-herb flavored animal by-product or what!? It was great on its own and also tasted great with the beer. Pairing number two was a definite winner!
And then there was pairing number three: Lunar served with bologna sausage.
Lunar is considered a very versatile beer - its light sweetness complements light foods while its malty flavor can stand up to some spicier dishes.
Lunar
Snausage
This was probably my favorite beer of the evening - reminded me a bit of Bier de Garde which Schlafly's brews here in Stinktown. I'd drink this beer any time, any place, but I wouldn't give that sausage to my worst enemy. Hell, I wouldn't give that crap to my best enemy. It was disgusting ... I can't even describe the flavor ... it was just nasty and not at all to my taste which is funny because I like bologna and I like summer sausage but apparently not in combination.
Fourth pairing: Pale Ale & Chicken Wings.
Pale Ale has a hoppiness that cuts through greasy, fatty, or mouth-coating foods. It can complement vinegar-based dishes, seafood dishes, or heavily spiced dishes.
Pale Ale
Non-sauced wings
I was a bit surprised when they first poured this beer because I expected it to be pale ... silly Bendy! It was quite good and the wings were much better than I thought they'd be because I fully anticipated greasy, saucy, chicken wings that I'd have to pass off to the hubby. Mmmmm, lightly fried midget chickie pieces are yummy indeed!
Fifth and final course: IPA and Thai meatballs.
India Pale Ale has an intense hoppiness and assertive bitterness that pairs well with spicy dishes.
IPA
Thai Meatballs
India Pale Ale is not my favorite beer ... it's usually too bitter for my taste, but this one was pretty good, all things considered. However, the meatballs were a strike-out in my humble opinion. They were served
cold.
ICK!
I don't like meatballs to begin with, but I really don't like them cold.
GACK!!
And as far as I could tell the only thing that made these "Thai" was a bit of red pepper that had been rolled into the meat and added to the rather greasy sauce.
BLECH!
Despite a few food misfires, this was a very pleasant event and made a favorable impression on both Jay and me. It wasn't anything fancy but it didn't need to be - it was simple and accessible and fun and we'd attend another one in a heartbeat. We definitely give two thumbs up to Boulevard and are especially fond of their Smokestack series of beers - there are some of you on this thread who would really enjoy the Smokestack series. If Boulevard is available where you live, pick up some Saisson or Sixth Glass and give it a try. And if it's not available ... well, drop me a PM and I'll see what I can do.
Tomorrow I will depress you with an account of our dinner after the pairing ... sometimes you just need to stay put - a lesson we will try to actually remember the next time we think we need to be someplace other than where we are.
but the no outlets was 
Your beer pairing sounded like lots of fun. Back when Milwaukee was the beer capital of the world, we paired our beer with more beer. We never would've thought to pair it up with food...except with maybe a burger or two. 
