My Big Debut – Beer Club #1

Hosting beer club at the Buffalo Wing Factory – Photo taken by Mitch Witte

Last Friday, February 22^nd, was my big debut as a craft beer professional. Well, almost professional. Getting paid in beer is close enough. My buddy got me a gig hosting a craft beer tasting at a local restaurant, the Buffalo Wing Factory. I represented five beers all from different breweries.

1. Lost Rhino Rhino Chasers Bohemian Pilsner
2. Williamsburg Alewerks Washington’s Porter
3. Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA
4. Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale
5. Butternuts Moo Thunder Stout

The Rhino Chasers Bohemian Pilsner by Lost Rhino in Ashburn, Virginia was our first beer. I explained a bit about the history of the Pilsner and cold-fermented lagers. This was paired with an avocado salad with bell peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, sweet onions and lime juice.

Hoppy Birthday and Happy Home Conclusions

Hoppy Birthday Cake

Saturday my wife and I hosted our first event in our new home we called Hoppy Birthday and Happy Home. It was a great success that I could have never pulled off alone. My wife spent the two previous days prepping and cooking while I kept worrying if we had enough beer (which we did).

The Beers:

Craft beer was not at a shortage

• New Belgium Trippel
• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
• Bell’s Winter White Ale
• Leffe Blond
• Blue Point Toasted Lager
• Brooklyn Lager
• Anchor Steam Beer
• Port City Monumental IPA
• Stone IPA
• Breckenridge Lucky U IPA
• Troegs Java Head Stout
• Bold Rock Virginia Apple Cider
• Harpoon UFO Hefeweizen
• Port City Optimal Wit

The Food:

No one left hungry

• Beer Bread made with Leffe Blond
• Buffalo Chicken and Blue Cheese Dip made with Breckenridge Lucky U IPA
• Buffalo Chicken Bites made with Stone IPA
• Praline Bacon with stout coating made with Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout
• Buffalo Wings
• Egg Rolls
• Cheddar and Cottage Mac & Cheese
• And more!

COnclusion

Hosting always makes me anxious but this went off without a hitch. I’m excited to host more and have some good ideas for next time.

 

Hoppy Birthday and Happy Home

We’re throwing a brithday/house-warming party soon and I’m trying to decide on what beers to get without breaking the bank. We’re going to have four styles: ales, lagers, IPAs and mystery. Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Ales – Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale and Brooklyn Pennant Ale
• Lagers – Anchor Steam Beer and Sam Adams Boston Lager
• IPAs – Bell’s Hopslam Ale (if I can find it) and Stone IPA
• Mystery – Founders Breakfast Stout and Delirium Tremens

I’m open to suggestions!