Beer Pandora with Rob Day

Episode 28: I took notes so you didn’t have to….Today we are talking all about beer with Rob Day from Jack’s Abbey!

Rob Day can be found here or here and if you live locally here in New England please check out Jack’s Abby in Framingham, MA and Springdale Beer! Rob says, “A Good Beer is whatever makes your moment better” How beautiful is that!?

Alright let’s talk about beer! So when you’re tasting beer there is a few things we have to think about. First what temperature should beer be held at to taste it the best?

• For Pilsners and Rice Lagers you want to keep those around 32F degrees

• IPA’s those are great at 33 - 35F degrees

• Belgium and Barrel Aged Program Beers you can keep those in the mid 30’s to 40F degrees. As it warms up you will taste more flavors and Pro Tip: Beers like Delirium you want to order two. Drink the first one right away and by the time you are done the second one will be at the perfect temperature for tasting!

• Casks are most likely held in the low 50’s and are usually in gravity kegs

If you are going to do a beer tasting at home Rob has some great Pro tips for that too!

• Go in with a purpose for the tasting. Is this variety of a single style? Are you looking to teach about new beers? Seasonal flavors? Blind tastings or not. Is it more like a beer dinner? No matter what going in with a purpose is the first thing.

• Proper glassware can make a difference but not the end of the world but you will taste the notes of the beer differently if it’s poured in it’s properly glass.

• Serve the beer at the right temperature (See above)

• Show off your big beers at the end so you don’t fatigue your palette too early on.

• Go in progressive flavors

• Pour 6oz - 8oz portions and maybe with 5 or 6 beers

• Serve with food that will compliment the beer. When you are pairing beer with food (or even wine with food) the mutual flavors between the two items are going to get muted and any flavors that are different will get accentuated. It’s a relative perspective affect. If there is more sweetness in the food than the beer you’re drinking than you will only taste bitter from the beer. Light and mid grade Lagers are made and built for food.

Let’s talk about cooking with beer!

Rob LOVES the Beeroness website and cookbooks! She has an incredible range of recipes on her site. Here’s a few that caught my eye!

• Porter Caramelized Onions Flatbread with Smoked Gouda and Roasted Tomatoes

• Roasted Garlic and Parmesan Beer Cheese Dip

• Crispy Pork Belly

• Honey Mustard Stout Chicken

• Sriracha Beer Butter Grilled Corn

• Beer Battered Avocado Tacos

• Rosemary Potato Brown Beer Galette

• Spicy Beer Shrimp

• Blueberry Cider Skillet Pie

• IPA Lemon Bars

• EPIC Chocolate Stout Cake

Don’t forget to head over to Wine Access to grab your wine and get $20 off your first purchase of $50 or more!

Now go forth and cook some amazing food!!

Beth Fuller is a Boston based Food, Product and Lifestyle Photographer. One of the best ways to support the podcast and Beth is to write a review wherever you listen, like the podcast on your favorite platform and please keep Beth in mind for any photography projects as a gal has got to pay her bills!

If you have a question and want it to be featured on the podcast please email either the question or a voice memo to letsgoonafoodadventure@gmail.com. Are you on instagram? Tag me in your food adventures, @letsgoonafoodadventure. Do you want to work together with food and product photography, drop me a line here!

xoxo

Beth