If you missed Manchester Beer Week, you missed a fantastically booze filled week in June.
The weather played ball (for the most part) and we had some gorgeous weather, some beery debate, some fantastic food and, probably more importantly, some stunning beers.
I’ll be the first to admit, we didn’t get to everything we wanted to. It somehow snuck up on me and my diary and it meant that the first even we were excited about clashed with my niece’s christening. Whilst everyone was sitting down to enjoy an afternoon with Melissa Cole in 57 Thomas Street, sampling what looked like a stunning beer matched menu, we were in an overly warm pub, trying to cheer up my over tired niece, who had just about had enough of being passed around her entire family.
Luckily, Melissa took pity on us, and when the christening ended, we stopped by just in time for the last course – a pairing of beer with a warm Eccles cake, creamy Lancashire cheese and strawberries and cream. Absolute heaven and of course the best course on the menu (having missed the rest, I of course have no idea, but it was pretty damn awesome).
The event we did make, was with those lovely people from Bangers and Bacon. Again, a food pairing dinner, but with a very definite meaty theme, using a great selection of local beers to match with their meaty goodies.
Our first beer was from local chaps, Shindigger. Their Session Ale, as the name would suggest is the beery equivalent of a quaffing wine – not too boozy, refreshing and an easy drinker it’s totally approachable and a little moreish. And the perfect match to our first course,
This was a selection of bar snacks, pretty much unlike any pub I’ve been to. Deep fried strips of pigs ear, a Manchester Egg with a little secret cheese ingredient, pork rillettes in all their fatty deliciousness, cured meats and fresh sourdough toast.
Oh, I hasten to add, that this was to share. The guys from B&B are generous, but even this would have been overkill as a starter for one!
Our second course, was from the fantastic Stubborn Mule Brewery in Timperley. I have to admit, I first met Ed and his wife about 18 months ago in an off the cuff visit to Chorlton Brewery. What started off as a quick pop in to sample and buy some beer, turned into a few hours and discussions on plans for the breweries (both Chorlton and Stubborn Mule), and several beers, including Manchester Tart, one of my personal favourites.
Tonight the deliciously fruity Single Hop from Stubborn Mule was paired with a Steak Tagliata – a fresh salad with tender rate steak, slivers of Parmesan and a perfectly peppery rocket salad. The fruitiness in the beer was of a rich ripe peach quality – one we loved so much, we bought a box or two to take home with us at the end.
Our third course was quite possibly our favourite of the night. Fire Damaged Smoked Stour from Torrside was the beer and despite it’s intense colour, this was a light on the palate, intensely smoky beer. Paired with a ridiculously tender beef short rib, pearl barley, beets, corn and smoked jus, the table almost fell silent as we alternately devoured the food on our plates, and sipped the beer. The rich meat and the smoke were ideal, the hits of sweetness from the corn a great foil for the smoky hit.
We headed in for our penultimate course quietly wondering where we were going to put it all.
Runaway Brewery had brought their ESB – Extra Special to the table for this course. Brewed specially for Hawksmoor Manchester (but available to buy in other bars/shops) this beer has a sharper bitterness to the previous beers, allowing it to cut through fatty flavours well, but still retains a great hit of fruit and mixed spice.
So the natural pairing was pork. Pork cheek cooked in ESB, with a nice rich slice of black pudding, and of course a pig in blanket and served with apple caviar and fresh fennel. The latter was inspired, as there’s a distinctive little aniseed note to the beer that worked very well.
And so, to our final course.
Hearing dessert was an apple strudel, and having eaten quite so much already we were all a little fearful – but there’s always room for pudding. This light, crisp fruit strudel still had a goo acidity to it, and a light fluffy creme anglais, and was served with an incredible beer from Seven Brothers.
I am the first to state I am not a wheat beer fan, but their Watermelon Wheat Beer has completely changed my mind. Light, fruity, fresh and crisp, I may need a small case of this for the summer weather. If it ever appears again.
Overall, we had a fantastic date night at The Kitchens – yet again Bangers and Bacon provided fantastic plates of food and the pairing couldn’t be faulted. The beers were so good, I’m pretty sure I volunteered to put on wellies and dig out a time or two in the future.
Ah well. I do love beer.
