TERIYAKI, BUT THIS AIN'T NO SAKE

As part of an ongoing weekly post yours truly will be picking one food menu item and pairing it with one of our 150+ bottle beers from our monster beer menu. Stay tuned each week for an informed, tried and true suggestion.

This weeks' winning couple is:

Mudville's Boneless Teriyaki Wings and the silky Cigar City Maduro Brown Ale

+

The Chemistry:
At Mudville we have it all. Aside from alllll the beer I mentioned earlier, the menu really offers a lot of customization. Between the two types of wings (traditional and boneless options) and all the sauces (11 to be exact), you really should have no problem finding something you like. In fact, you might end up with what I refer to as option paralysis looking at all of it. Wait until you see our tap offering!

You want the feeling of being in the Caribbean, go for the Jerk. Feeling bold? Wipe your brow and dig into some Super Wow. This week I'm taking you to Japan and Tampa though. Sister cities they are not, but bear with me.
First let's talk Teriyaki. The best thing about our boneless chicken wings is that the sauce can really soak in. (You know, like when General Tso's chicken is nailed just right.) Well, I can think of no better example than sweet, malty teriyaki sauce to flavor these all white meat morsels. Teriyaki is made with mirin - a rice wine similar to sake (with less alcohol), sugar and soy sauce. That's it! Modern Western recipes add garlic or other spices but these original elements essentially create the unique flavor of a nice piquant teriyaki. Similar then, is the award winning Brown Ale I've chosen out of Tampa, Florida as the mate this week.

This malt forward Brown, as Cigar City describes, "is a Northern English-style brown ale with some American affectations. Maduro is higher in alcohol than the common English brown ale and features flaked oats in the malt bill which imparts a silky body and works to mesh the roasted, toasted and chocolate components together in Maduro's complex malt profile. The end result is a remarkably full-flavored yet approachable and sessionable brown ale that pairs well with mild to medium cigars."
Or mild to medium teriyaki sauce perhaps? With all this toasted maltiness going on, you'll find it tricky discerning where the flavor from the food starts and the flavor from the beer ends (and vice versa). There's almost a raisin-like or fig hint to the Maduro which fits perfectly with the sugary teriyaki. Top each bite off with a dip in the bleu cheese dressing and you have yourself a tasty trifecta!

Bon Apetit & Cheers!

P.S. Grab a side of seasoned fries too for sopping up that extra Teriyaki!