"Orchid Island Brewery Beer Dinner so successful in Vero Beach, diners ready for next one."
Maribeth Renne
Treasure Coast Newspapers
TCPalm
The question asked by delighted attendees who had just experienced the first Orchid Island Brewery Beer Dinner on May 3 was, “when will you be holding an event like this again?”
The answer made everybody happy.
Alden and Valerie Bing, owners and operators of Orchid Island Brewery in Vero Beach, plan to have a monthly beer dinner for community members and visitors who want to experience and learn more about high-quality craft beers and how they pair with various foods.
While the beers were certainly the stars of the show, the menu, created by Chef Edward Fialkowski, formerly of Philadelphia’s Zanzibar Blue and Pelican Fish Company, was outstanding.
Treated as family guests, attendees were treated to their first beer after being greeted by the Bings, as well as Eric Starnes, a ratebeer.com top rater, and Eric’s cordial wife, Wendy. This Orchid Island Brewery’s Star Ruby West Coast Imperial India Pale Ale is the Bings’ flagship beer. Starnes declared this beer will become the most highly regarded Imperial India Pale Ale in Florida.
Mussels, steamed in Orchid Island Brewery’s Citron Farmhouse Ale and cloves of garlic, were a delectable first course. This appetizer was paired with the brewery’s Grove House Ale, a French farmhouse-style ale infused with the blossoms of Orchid Island grapefruit.
The intermezzo, bitter organic greens with half of a warm roasted gala apple and soft goat cheese — nothing short of sublime — and pink grapefruit was dressed with a Star Ruby vinaigrette. The beer served with this course was Orchid Island Brewery’s Jungle Trail Black India Pale Ale, infused with local heirloom Jungle Trail grapefruit zest.
Obviously, you are seeing a pattern here.
The Bings, who admit to being obsessive about championing Vero Beach, showcase local flavors in their craft beers and feel lucky to live in an area that produces the world’s finest citrus.
Our entrée was a braised lamb shank with a stout semi-gloss served with roasted potatoes and pencil asparagus. The beer pairing, also used in the sauce, was the roasty Orchid Island Brewery Black Tar Stout, an interpretation of Russian Imperial stout.
The meal ended with chocolate stout cake, a deep, delicious sweet and savory cake infused with Orchid Island Brewery Black Tar Stout and served with a drizzle of syrup made by boiling down the stout and blending brown sugar to finish. Vanilla ice cream and whipped cream balanced the dessert out beautifully. Dessert was served with Orchid Island Brewery Citron Farmhouse Ale.
This amazing meal, paired with five beers plus an additional complimentary beer served at the end was $60 per couple.
No date has yet been set for the next beer dinner, but check the brewery’s website regularly. This intimate affair, jammed with inside information about craft beer brewing, sold out quickly.
Like wine, beer is quickly becoming a beverage that enhances flavors through its infusion into food, as well as an accompaniment. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience a thoughtfully planned and prepared meal with outstanding local beers.
Maribeth Renne writes restaurant reviews and food trend stories for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalmSocial.
