THAI ONE ON - Thai Wings & Schneider Weisse Hefe-Weizenbier

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 tangy Thai Chicken Wings and the award winning Schneider Weisse Hefe

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The Chemistry:

These wings are no joke when it comes to complex flavor combination. We've seen it all before right? Thai peanut sauce, a little spicy, a little sweet...NO! This is made-from-scratch, visible-chili-pepper-flake, lick-the-plate Thai sauce. As I've mentioned before you want a beer, then, that doesn't compete for so many parts of your palate. A beer with big, rich malty flavors would get lost in the mix. So, you want to go with a nice, light (perhaps even creamy) German brew. For me the one and only Schneider Weisse Hefe comes to mind as the perfect addition to this meal. This typical top-fermented classic is agreeably spicy with hints of clove, nutmeg and apple that complement the savory wing meat. On the tongue it is fresh, clean and well-balanced. It finishes sparkling and with more hop flavor than bitterness which plays well with the pungent umami element in these Asian tongue twisters. Under the surface the spicy hefe yeast matches well with the herbal zing of the sauce while the citrusy acidity also balances out the cararmel rich sweetness.  Win/win/win.
Bon Apetit!

P.s. celery makes a great palate cleanser before your next beer, save one

Cheers!

Rack and Draak - Baby Back Ribs & Gulden Draak Dark Triple

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 melt-off-the-bone baby back ribs and the incomparable Gulden Draak (Golden Dragon).

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The Chemistry:
When matching up dark meats (like ribs, steak or roast) you want to reach for what you call a malt-forward (as opposed to hop-forward) beer that doesn't overpower the delicate flavors of slow-roasted meat. Not always, but in this case, one can apply the old wine pairing adage "red with red" (or "dark with dark"). This belgian beast is a dark triple, which in itself makes it an exceptional beer. But it is the complex taste with hints of caramel and roasted malt in combination with the creamy hazel head that makes it unique. The sweetness of this roasty caramel calls out the cooked-in molasses flavor ribs are known for creating a rich, full flavor combination. Save room for your side dish though - I recommend the fire roasted corn to offset all the richness with a little spice on the cob.

Bon appetit!


Cheers!

Beau Knows - Southern Tier Pumking

Every Friday, yours truly (Beau), will be highlighting one particular beer that we have on tap at Mudville. This beer will most likely be complex, hopefully well-balanced and otherwise delicious. This week I've chosen The Pumking in all it's royalty.

Though I don't normally reach for a pumpkin beer myself, this ghoulish king is the exception to that rule. The folks over at Southern Tier say it's an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from whichthey return forever changed! Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let its deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape.

All true about this pagan nectar! What I particularly like about this pumpkin brew is that the pumpkin isn't smacking you in the face, most others you're drinking pumpkin pie in a pint. What you do taste is in well balanced subtlety - Buttered crust, pie spice, sweetness of the pumpkin are all in great parallels.  At the end there's just a hint of alcohol to close to really remind you who you're dealing with.

Come in as soon as you can, this beer does not stick around very long. Ask me and I'll pour you a taste to get you started.

Cheers!

Pair of the Dog - Pulled Pork & Flying Dog Doggie Style

As part of an ongoing weekly (Wednesday) 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 Wednesday for an informed, tried and true suggestion. 

This weeks' winning couple is:

The world famous Mudville Pulled Pork sandwich and the award winning Flying Dog Doggie Style Pale Ale.

Slow roasted, braised pork seasoned with hickory BBQ.








The Chemistry:
This sandwich has A LOT of different flavors. The savory meat, zesty spices and hint of smoke could handle the job alone but the hickory BBQ sauce sends your taste buds over the top. You want a beer, therefore, that doesn't compete for so many parts of your palate. A beer with matching flavors would get lost in the taste of this braised beauty and be little more than watering your meal down. So, for my money I pair this BBQ with the bright and citrusy Flying Dog Doggie Style. The subtle caramel notes from the malt align with the savory meat and the citrusy hoppy notes of the beer cleanse the palate while complementing the spices in the sauce. Bon appetit!

P.S. Try the coleslaw on top to get real crazy. (The seasoned fries are always a safe back up though.)

Cheers!

Hops among us

We're adding hopped up beers to our draft lineup like crazy lately. Here's a few to look out for...ask Beau (or one of our other bartenders) to give you a sample. We'll be highlighting each brand here as we tap them.  Cheers, 

Hop Head Red AleABV: 6% | IBU’s: 45 Resinous hop character and bitterness balance the rich carmel malt base. We took it a step further and Amarillo dry-hopped the brew to 45 ibu's, creating refreshing and savory hop flavors and aromas. Is it red IPA? That's your call.

Awards Great American Beer Festival 2009 Bronze–American Red Ale 2007 Silver–American Red Ale World Beer Cup 2008 Gold–American Red Ale San Diego County Fair 2011 Gold - American Red Ale

Bang, Ommegang!

Gang, I mean, Ommegang,
Do we have a treat for you Belgian beer lovers. We got our hands on a  barrel (six-tel actually so get in while you can) of the very limited Belgian Independence Saison. Essentially this is their Hennepin's bigger, stronger brother.

2011 Belgian Independence Day Saison: Abv 6.5%

This one is so rare I couldn't find any writeups/reviews yet. I guess you'll have to swing by and see for yourself.

We also have Mighty Aphrodite available!

Ommegang Aphrodite: Abv 8.9%

From the Ommegang directly: In Greek mythology, Aphrodite rises from the foam of the waves of the sea, enchanting all who see her, and inciting thoughts of love and lust where ever she goes.
We could hardly say it more eloquently. Our Limited Edition Aphrodite Ale is ethereal, intriguing and mysterious – as the Goddess Aphrodite must have been. Aphrodite has champagne-like carbonation, much as the foam of the waves of the sea. Plus enchanting flavors with whispers of raspberry and pear, and hints of funk and tartness created by the Brett yeast. The refreshing dryness comes from the unusual combination of Ommegang and Brett yeasts, and incites feelings of love and thirst, though we don’t know about lust. Grains of paradise are infused into the nectar, and when poured Aphrodite is crowned with a luxuriously shimmering rose-pink head.
Ommegang
Aphrodite: Ommegang Limited Edition Ale
Belgian-style
fruit beer with Brett yeast
Malts: Pils
and carapils
Hops: Celeia
Fermentation:
Ommegang house & Brett yeasts
Spices:
Grains of paradise
Fruit:
Natural raspberry & pear juices
OG: 14.5
Plato
FG: 2.8
Plato
ABV: 8.9%
IBU: 19

Visit tonight and ask for Beau to give you a sample and fill you in on these wondrous beverages.

Cheers!

Smuttynose

FREE Smuttynose Brewing Company Night-Wednesday, April 27

Travelling to New York City from the historic seaport city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Smuttynose Brewing Company will be hosting a taste testing at Mudville 9. Stop by from 6:00pm-8:00pm on Wednesday, April 27 to try out a few Smuttynose year-round, seasonal and specialty brews.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=102360669852616

 

Big A IPA

ABV 9.7%

This award winning Imperial India Pale Ale has more flavor, more hops, more malt, and more intensity than your average IPA. Amber-orange in color, Big A IPA has citrus flavors of orange and grapefruit with notes of caramel and honey that are well-balanced with hops to give your taste buds a bit of a zing. Described as a beer to be enjoyed, after taking a sip, one Mudville 9 patron exclaimed; “now this is a good beer.” Luckily, Big A IPA is available all year-round and pairs nicely with our equally intense and flavorful Buffalo WOW Wings.

Summer Weizen

ABV 5.5%

The Summer Weizen is a crisp light beer perfect for a hot afternoon on the beach, in the park or on a lake. But why wait until the summer to drink this refreshing wheat ale? We find its floral aroma, soft carbonation, and notes of citrus perfect for Spring time too. The brewers at Smuttynose suggest bringing some Summer Weizen to your next picnic, barbeque or Frisbee game. But in case Mother Nature decides to rain on your parade, stop by Mudville 9 for a glass. Hungry? The Summer Weizen happens to compliment our Smokey BBQ wings and seasoned fries quite nicely.