More on the intriguing beer dinner.....

The dinner at The Rattlesnake last Thursday was wonderful, and a lot of fun. Mr Cicerone, unfortunately, was out of town at a family funeral, so my date was Miss Eat It Detroit (who isn't really a fan of IPA, though she's being won over...)  Brian Tennis of the Michigan Hop Alliance was the guest speaker, and he did a wonderful job talking about all things hop-associated, as well as discussing the beers that were being served that evening. Thanks to Alex for the idea, and for putting this evening together - I'm not aware that an all IPA dinner has ever been done before? And thanks to Chef for the amazing food!
Here are some pictures......





MENU & PAIRING NOTES
Reception: North Peak Vicious, Traverse City (Wheat IPA)
Chef’s Choice Tiny tasters- FRIED OYSTERS! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS, AND GREAT WITH THE BEER. Vicious is a lighter-bodied wheat IPA with a nice Cascade hop nose. The beer was a good contrast to the lightly breaded fried oyster, which tasted positively creamy with the beer.

First: Kuhnhenn Loonie Kuhnie, Warren (Strong Pale Ale)
Red Eye Glazed Pork Tenderloin, Bacon and Buttermilk Toast. MY FAVOURITE PAIRING. THE BUTTERMILK *FRENCH* TOAST WAS EGGY AND DELICIOUS, AND THE MALT-FOCUSED BEER PAIRED BEAUTIFULLY WITH BOTH THE PORK, AND THE TOAST.

Second: Dark Horse Crooked Tree, Marshall & Brewery Vivant Triomphe, Grand Rapids (American IPA & Belgian IPA)
Seared Sea Scallop, Housemade Green Chorizo Ragout, Grilled Cornbread
I TACKLED THIS DISH IN SEPARATE PARTS, SIMPLY BECAUSE I LOVE PERFECTLY COOKED SCALLOPS (AND IT WAS PERFECTLY COOKED!) ON THEIR OWN, AND DIDN'T WANT TO CHANGE THEIR FLAVOUR BY ADDING CHORIZO & SPICES. THE CHORIZO RAGOUT WAS DELICIOUS, AND WENT WELL WITH BOTH BEERS, NOT SURPRISINGLY. CROOKED TREE WAS OKAY WITH THE SCALLOP ALONE, BUT THE TRIOMPHE AND THE SCALLOP WERE NOT GOOD TOGETHER (HOPS + SEAFOOD SOMETIMES EQUALS "BAD FISHY TASTE".)


Third: Bell’s Hopslam, Comstock & Founder’s Double Trouble, Grand Rapids (Double IPA / Imperial IPA)
Thai-Spiced Skirt Steak and Eggs, Ginger and Scallion Potato Cake. OVERALL BOTH BEERS WERE A LITTLE BIG FOR THIS DISH, THOUGH HOPSLAM, BEING LIGHTER-BODIED AND NOT AS PUNGENT, WAS BETTER THAN DOUBLE TROUBLE. THE EGG (PERFECTLY POACHED) AND DELICATE, DELICIOUS PANCAKE WERE JUST NOT UP TO SUCH STRONG, HOPPY, HIGH ALCOHOL BEERS (THOUGH AS MENTIONED, HOPSLAM WAS BETTER.) THE STEAK WAS TENDER AND TASTY, BUT STILL NOT QUITE UP TO THE BEERS. THE THAI SPICE ON THE STEAK WAS SUBTLE; MAYBE A LITTLE MORE SPICE WOULD HAVE MADE CREATED A BETTER INTENSITY MATCH.

Fourth: Short’s Raisin Apollo, Bellaire (Double IPA with Raisins)
Raisin Apollo and Golden Raisin Ice Cream, Salted Caramel and Butter Bar, Citrus Molasses
THE ICE CREAM WAS DELICIOUS, BUT THIS BIG IPA DIDN'T WORK FOR ME WITH DESSERT. JUST TOO MUCH BITTERNESS FOR THE SWEET DESSERT. BUT THAT'S JUST ME.