It’s that time of year again! Time to break the grill out of hibernation. If you're anything like me, however, you grill all year round, but you just can’t beat the barbecue when the temperature starts to rise. That fresh spring air, a little Bob Marley, a grill and some beers is my idea of a perfect day. In my opinion steak is likely the most popular protein for grilling. Countless hours have been spent by backyard chefs trying to hone their skills at producing the juiciest and most tender piece of beef one has ever enjoyed.
 
This was one such day: the temperature was perfect, the grill was hot and the beer was cold. A nice juicy slice of sirloin would be the offering for the night. To compliment this great piece of steak would be one of my personal favorites: Brooklyn Brown Ale. What a fabulous Brown it is. I’ve been a big fan of Brooklyn Brewery's lineup for 12 years now. They consistently produce wonderful traditional beers, which is quite refreshing in a time when “Imperial” seems to precede every style under the sun. Brooklyn Brown is a wonderful balance of malts and hops without tiring the palate. It's a nice deep brown color with an amber hue that glistens in the sunlight. The aroma is abundant with malt sweetness and hop aromas that develop straight into the flavor. What a fantastic blend of sweet and bitter on the palate! The carbonation in this beer is more abundant than some other browns that I’ve had, making it a tad more refreshing on warmer days as well as better at cleansing the palate.
 
All these wonderful flavors in the beer compliment grilled meats very well. The sweetness of the malt parallels the caramelized flavors of the meat. Hops march in and cut the heavy flavors and fats, giving the palate a direct path to the wonderful flavors of the beer and meat. Meanwhile, the carbonation cleanses the palate completely, leaving it refreshed for round two. The beer not only married well with the meat but also some of the other offerings on the plate. An earthy flavor was present from the mushrooms and sauteed green beens, which played delightfully with the floral aromas of the hops. While a subdued sweetness from the sauteed green beans was tended to very nicely by the malt.

Brooklyn Brown Ale complimented dinner very well without tiring the palate and will accompany me at all of my steak dinners.


LEP
 
beer + food = Barleydine