March 2nd, 2010 admin Posted in Cleveland, beer, nightlife 1 Comment »

Stone Brewing Co. Beer Dinner at Lolita

I had been hearing about the Stone Brewing Co. Beer Dinner at Michael Symon’s Lolita for a little while and after running into Rick from Cavalier Distributing at Warehouse Beverage last week, I finally made the decision to attend. So I asked my new beer friend, Jeff, from Kalman & Pabst to see if he wanted to join me, and he was happy to.

Jeff and I sat at a table for 6. We were joined by two couples Marty and Annie, Doug and Lynn. Very interesting people and conversations. Marty is a bartender at the Grog Shop, I will be hitting him up for some drinks at the Yeasayer show in a few weeks. His girlfriend, Annie, is a bartender at Lolita. Doug and Lynn own and operate a business in the Cleveland area and are also Slow Foods members. They actually sat right behind us at the Terra Madre Bastille Day celebration at The Greenhouse Tavern last year.

A lot of local beer aficionados were in attendance including Fathead‘s General Manager Ted Lipovan, Chef Derek Wilson and Brewmaster Matt Cole. I also got to meet Kelly and Wes who up until now I have only talked to online.

I am a huge Stone fan and even got founder Greg Koch‘s autograph last year at Cleveland Beer Week’s Brewzilla. Stone Brewing Co.’s Michael Saklad, Aaron Tyrell, Jay Ashmore were on hand to guide the tastings that were paired with great food from Lolita. Little known fact delivered to us from Michael Saklad, Bashah, the collaboration brew with BrewDog in Scotland, stands for “Black As Sin, Hoppy As Hell”, it also refers to soccer houligans. It was a great meal and great pairings topped off with a 2006 Stone Imperial Russian Stout. Delicious. See the parings below…

First Course
Bar snacks
Stone Pale Ale

Second Course
Seafood Soup, lemongrass, tomato, ginger
Stone Vertical Epic 07.07.07

Third Course
Grilled Roasted Poblano Sausage, mixed lettuces, pickled red onion, orange vinaigrette
Stone IPA

Fourth Course
Seared Duck Breast, savoy cabbage, duck confit, dried cherry port sauce
Stone Arrogant Bastard

Fifth Course
Braised Lamb Breast, barley, killbuck valley mushrooms, garlic
Stone Brew Dog Bashah

Sixth Course
Chocolate Chipotle Brownie, Russian Imperial Stout ice cream, chocolate covered espresso beans
Stone Imperial Russian Stout 2006 Vintage