Championing the trend towards small and independent producers in both the brewing and culinary world, the Brewers Association set out to prove that the big, bold flavours of American craft beer can accompany vegetarian food as successfully as meat dishes.
Led by Brewers Association executive chef, Adam Dulye, a one-off beer and vegetarian food matching event took place at Salon in Brixton, a restaurant with a focus on seasonal and inventive ingredients, in collaboration with chef Nick Balfe, and comprised a totally vegetarian menu designed to demonstrate the versatility of US craft beer.
Ten US craft beers, ranging in style from gose to imperial stout aged in rye whisky barrels, were matched with five courses of locally sourced vegetarian food. A range of packaging formats showcased the beers at their best, including 660ml sharing bottles and wax-capped speciality bottles.
Adam said: “We wanted to show what’s happening in the world of beer and food today. Chefs like Nick Balfe and restaurants like Salon, together with small and independent craft brewers are on the same path. Small and independent is now the cornerstone of the craft brewing and culinary movement. It’s all about quality — from the brewers who brew your beer to the chefs using quality ingredients — and the connection between what’s in the glass and what’s on the plate.”
He added: “Hops are insanely food friendly and ingredients are key. We used a method of preparation and cooking that mimics and highlights the flavour of the vegetable with the beer. Taking a vegetarian approach made sense because vegetables are in season at the moment and by getting the beer pairings right no one notices any difference.
“We wanted to challenge people’s perceptions of how they think about beer and food, and pairing American craft beer with British vegetables was one way to achieve this aim.”
The following American brewers made the journey to London from the States: Bill Butcher, brewer/owner, Port City Brewing; Fred Bueltman, vice-president of brand and lifestyle/owner, New Holland Brewing Co; Steve Grossman, beer ambassador, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co; David Katleski, president, Empire Brewing Co; Richard Miller, export director, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery; Jon Schwartz, founder/president, Harpoon Brewing Co.
They echoed Adam’s sentiments about the importance of the local community. Sierra Nevada and Harpoon are already available in the UK. The other breweries are looking to begin exporting here.
