The Zambra dinner was amazing
If you were one of the lucky attendees at the Zambra/Unibroue dinner last night, let us first say “thanks” and ask you: How amazing was that? We all fit cozily into the private King Room (with all the pillows) and enjoyed the pairings. At the end, because of the chilly evening, we had the Quelque Chose served warm with dessert. Bravo!

Tennessee rethinks things
Seems the Overreaction Department’s “card everyone” theory doesn’t work so well in practice. The folks with crows feet got a little po’d. We can only marvel.

Has “extreme” beer gone too far?
Discuss.

Oh, snap. InBev might raise prices. Again.
The CEO of InBev, Carlos Brito, responds to rising commodity costs: “You see the possibilities to pass some of the cost to prices,” he told reporters after an annual shareholders’ meeting. “If your brands are strong enough, you should take that opportunity.”

No beer shirts for girls
Teen hipster shopping stop, Forever 21, is getting grief from the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest requesting they stop using logos from Miller, Foster’s and Diageo (parent to Guinness), as well as all “alcohol-themes” on t-shirts. Next up: No more “Buy This Guy a Beer” trucker hats at Spencer’s.

Do you Unibroue? Join us for our first ‘08 beer dinner on Tuesday, April 29. This was rescheduled from March. We’ve also dropped a course, hence dropping the price. A five-course, six-beer pairing features Unibroue and the delectable tapas yummies of Asheville’s Zambra. Chef Adam is cooking with the beer in every single course! We can barely contain ourselves. This is one bad*ss menu. Don’t miss it!

Cost: $50/pp
Please call Zambra for reservations, 232-1060.
Reserve early! Seating limited to 50. A vegetarian option is available.
Welcome at 6:30. Seating at 7:00pm.

Welcome—Ephemere
[Belgian-style witbier with apple / 5.5% abv]
Selection of cheeses, apples and honey

La Fin du Monde
[Belgian-style Tripel / 9.0% abv]
Traditional Belgian mussels in ale with pommes frites
Vegetarian: Onion and ale soup with pommes frites

Trois Pistoles
[Belgian Strong Dark / 9.0% abv]
Veal cheek braised in ale with sultanas and brussel sprout potato gratin
Vegetarian: Beer-glazed portobello mushroom with sultanas and brussel sprout potato gratin

16 & 17 Anniversary Ales
[16: Belgian Strong Pale / 10.0% abv]
[17: Belgian Strong Dark / 10.0% abv]
Pan roasted rockfish with crispy oysters, served with Belgian endive and piquillo mantequilla
Vegetarian: Crispy tofu served with Belgian endive and piquillo mantequilla

Quelque Chose
[Fruit Beer (cherry) / 8.0% abv]
Chocolate Belgian waffle with cherry gelato and Quelque Chose caramel

It’s been a crazy week around these parts. We got a ton of new beer last week. Three Graces Diary once again graced us with their cheeses at the Magic Hat tasting. The injured K-9 is almost better and gets his bandages off in just two days. The St. Patty’s Day party at Windows was a ton of fun on Saturday, so thanks if you came out. Today we got our new display case, which is a huge 8′ monk. Really! You just have to see it.

Unibroue dinner rescheduled
The Unibroue rep had to cancel last minute, so the beer dinner at Zambra is tentatively rescheduled for April 24. We were really looking forward to this awesome menu (and an opportunity for dinner out), but alas, these things happen. Rescheduled is better than cancelled at least. But, hey! Peter tells me that Zambra is adding Unibroue to their beer list. Cheers to that!

Duvel/Ommegang dinner rescheduled
Um, yeah. Because of the above, we’ve got to move what was the “Tax Day Dinner” to early June. Date tentative. Location still to be determined.

With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Monday this year, maybe you want to stay close to the homestead instead of fighting the bar scene. (Again, please no green beer. We beg you.) Toronto Chef, Ezra Title, has some holiday recipes that sound tasty for a laid-back home party. Below is a good one to use and serve with your favorite Irish-style stout.

Irish Stew With Mushrooms and Potatoes

2 1/2 lb lamb shoulder, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tsp pure olive oil
1 tsp unsalted butter
2 medium onions, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp flour
1/4 cup white wine
1 bottle dark stout beer
3 cups chicken or lamb stock
10 fingerling potatoes, cut in half lengthwise
1/2 lb black trumpet mushrooms, trimmed and washed
2 tsp creme fraiche
1 tsp prepared horseradish
Salt and pepper

In a medium pot, heat olive oil and butter on medium-high heat; season lamb with salt and pepper and brown lamb on all sides. Remove lamb and saute onions, carrots, celery and garlic on medium heat. Season vegetables with salt and pepper, add flour and continue cooking for 3 minutes.

Deglaze pot with white wine and reduce by three-quarters. Add beer, bring it to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Place lamb back into the pot, cover with chicken stock and cook until lamb is extremely tender, about 45 minutes.

Add fingerling potatoes to pot and cook until they are tender, another 20 to 25 minutes.

In a separate pan, saute black trumpet mushrooms and add them to the pot. Stir in creme fraiche and horseradish and check for seasoning, adding salt and pepper, if needed.

Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Beer match: Dark Stout Style Beer

The tastings are completely off again this month—and also, every single thing we planned managed to fall really close together. It’s confusing, we know. So, the only events we’re having this month are listed below. (Or on that little calendar thingie on the right.) Four of these events happen in just a week’s time, March 13-21, covering three breweries, two tastings, one dinner, and one pairing.

We’re declaring this to be the Unofficial Bruisin’ Ales Beer Week (& A Day).

March 6—Pisgah Open House
Randall Goes to Pisgah
Cash bar

March 13—Brewery Tasting
Magic Hat Opens Pandora’s Box
Free

March 15—Beer Pairing
St. Patty’s Day Party at Windows on the Park
$30/pp 

March 20—Beer Dinner
Unibroue Dinner at Zambra
$60/pp

March 21—Brewery Tasting
Terrapin’s Side Project
$2/pp, Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway fundraiser

March 22—Nap