Boatrocker makes many beers that are suited to the dining table. Indeed, part of what drives founder Matt Houghton is a desire to "take on wine" and show that beer is as deserving of a place in the best restaurants.
In recent years, the brewery has co-hosted dinners at many leading Melbourne restaurants, most notably Merricote for an annual Good Beer Week dinner that, in 2016, sold out just hours after the festival program went live.
Now Boatrocker has joined forces with Estelle in Northcote for a month long residency that will see a five-course chef's tasting menu offered every Thursday to Sunday, with each course paired with a Boatrocker beer, including the new Flanders Red style L.A.B. and the Mitte Berliner Weisse.
“If restaurants look at beer with an open mind, it is easy to see that beer matching options are endless,” says Matt. “A Flanders red style pairs beautifully with grilled red meat, or a tripel matches perfectly with grilled asparagus. The only limit is the imagination.
“Beer brings with it another opportunity that wine often doesn’t – carbonation. That carbonation can cut through the fattiness of some foods and help to reset the palate. If you’re having four or five courses, this can make all the difference. For example, I love having Mitte, our Chardonnay barrel-aged Berliner Weisse, with some nice fatty pork belly.”
The menu kicks off on September 1. To find out more or book a spot, contact the restaurant.
