Photo by southpaw20.During Savor Beer Week, we will be highlighting some exciting beers and events to attend every day throughout the week.
Beer: Captain Lawrence Smoked Porter
Why you should drink it: Captain Lawrence Brewing Company has made quite a name for themselves, quickly rising up the ranks as one of America’s preeminent breweries. Most of their beers are highly rated by those in the know and are sought after by those who are lucky enough to be in their distribution area.
While I would feel comfortable recommending any of the beers being served at Pizzeria Paradiso’s Captain Lawrence dinner, I feel the smoked porter paired with Paradiso’s Rueben Sandwich may be the highlight of the night. Thousand Island dressing will be sure to play on the smokiness and richness of the smoked Gouda. The briny sauerkraut and house-made pickle will quickly refresh, then dissipate into a combination of the speck’s salt and juniper flavors and the porter’s lingering smoke — and that’s just one of the pairings to be had.
This $65 four-course dinner is paired with six beers that are just as appealing as the food by its side. Seatings are at 6:30 and 9 p.m., and reservations are highly recommended — this event will sell out. If you’re waiting for one dinner to splurge on during Savor Beer Week, this may be the one.
Small Pints
Salute your Short’s
ChurchKey will be having a Short’s tap takeover tonight, which is as amazing as it sounds. You may not have heard of this Michigan brewery, but they are pushing the envelope of what we call “craft beer.” Check out some of these offerings (there are 30 in total), go, and be amazed at what can be made and still be considered beer:
• Anniversary Ale (Wheat Wine made w/ green peppercorns, blood orange puree, and blood orange zest)
• Bloody Beer (a Golden Ale made w/ Roma tomatoes, peppercorns, dill, and horseradish)
• Key Lime (Experimental Ale brewed w/ limes, marshmallow, graham cracker, and milk sugar)
• Rich in the Dirt (Belgian Tripel w/ Belgian candy sugar…first time ever made)
• Wizard (Barleywine fermented on raisins)
• Bananarama (a banana rum themed beer made with bananas and molasses)
• Mamas milk (Strawberry Ale made with milk sugar aged in Brandy barrels)
• Carrot Cake (Experimental ale made with carrots, walnuts, pecans, spices, and yes it does smell and taste like a piece of carrot cake)
• Whiskey Sour (a blend of Short’s Key Lime Pie and a Belgian Sour Ale aged in Bourbon barrels)
• Gambler (Tobacco themed IPA made with lapsong souchong and rubious tea leaves, then aged in Bourbon barrels)
• Caucasian Gary (White Russian-themed beer made with coffee, vanilla, brown sugar, and milk sugar)
• Soft Parade (Rye Ale infused with raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries)
• Black Licorice Lager (Black Lager with vanilla bean, anise, and chocolate mint)
And don’t worry: they’ll still offer the usual beer styles they make, which can be ordered in tasting sizes.
Whip. It good!
While the majority of Savor events are happening in and around the city, the guys at Mad Fox are tapping two of their best beers on Thursday, and it should not be missed if you’re going to be in Virginia for the evening. Mad Fox’s brewers, Bill Madden and Charlie Buettner, will be tapping the wildly popular Orange Whip IPA and Oaked Slobberknocker American Barleywine. If you haven’t been over to Mad Fox, you are doing yourself a disservice: amazing food with amazing beer is a winning combination.
Rovas
Finally, don’t forget about Iron Horse’s reverse night, where craft beer taps are $5 ($4 for happy hour) and Bud Light and Miller Light will be $8. If you wonder why they’re doing that, read General Manager Daniel Williams’ manifesto for this highly intriguing social experiment.
