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Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.124

This time of year it seems like a lot of us in the beer industry not only have beer on our minds but also bacon. A few weeks ago, was the Beer and Bacon Festival in Grand Forks, and coming up this weekend is the Bacon and Beer festival in Fargo.

I wanted to showcase the Breweries along with a style from each brewery that we’ll be representing at the festival in Fargo.  I paired a style of beer from each Brewery with a type of bacon, so if you cannot make it the festival, you can try a few pairings on your own at home. Lastly, check out the Beer-Glazed Bacon recipe – Trust me its delicious!!

ACE Pineapple Cider – 5% ABV, Gluten Free

First pineapple cider developed in the world, Instant sweet taste with tart finish, Mixes well and Refreshing. Inspired by the House Family’s annual visit to the beautiful Hawaiian Islands our Pineapple cider is an ideal drink for tropical hot and humid climates. Our signature drink the Hawaii 5-0 is a mix of Ace Pineapple cider, coconut rum, ice and a garnish of fresh pineapple. This original cider is perfect for a backyard BBQ, or Bacon dishes.

Paired with Classic Canadian Bacon

Empyrean Brewing Company Long Route Peanut Butter Porter – 20 IBUs, 5% ABV

With the delightful aroma of a peanut butter cup, this porter maintains a porter-like backbone with notes of chocolate, peanut butter and toast. Pairs perfectly with caramelized meats, curry, Thai, baked apples and chocolate desserts.

Paired with Chocolate Covered Bacon

Fargo Brewing Company Fargo Original Helles Lager – 17 IBUs, 5.1% ABV

This traditional un-filtered German style helles lager pours a brilliantly clear light gold color and is capped with a head of white foam. The aroma is led by clean pilsner malt paired with subtle spicy hop notes and a clean lager yeast character. The flavor is well balanced between the pils malt sweetness, the restrained bittering, and the crisp finish from the extended lagering. This is the perfect beer for when you want something light, crisp, and uncomplicated. Prost!

Paired with American Bacon

August Schell Brewing Company Citra Blanc American Pale Lager – 44 IBUs, 6.7% ABV

Similar to an IPA, our Citra Blanc is hop-forward and refreshing, for those who like their beer to pack a punch. A citrusy, hoppy take on a classic lager, the combination of Citra and Hallertau Blanc hops create the bright ­avors and aromatics.

                Paired with Pork Belly Bacon

Lagunitas Brewing Company Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale – 65 IBUs, 7.5% ABV

Way smooth and silky with a nice wheatly-esque-ishness. A truly unique style featuring a strong hop finish on a silky body. A hoppy pale wheat ale that is great for IPA fans but so smooth that the hefeweizen fans dig it too.

Paired with Peppered Bacon

Lakefront Brewery Riverwest Stein – 25 IBUs, 5.6% ABV

Our flagship beer, named after the hard-working neighborhood where Lakefront Brewery was founded. Lands a brilliant amber in the glass and settles with a bubbly, off-white head, releasing mild peppery and floral hop aromas. A hint of caramel malt sweetness up front is checked by a pleasant hop bite and crisp, lager finish. Riverwest Stein: an honest day’s beer

Paired with Hickory Smoked Bacon

Odell Brewing Company 90 Shilling Ale – 32 IBUs, 5.3% ABV

90 Shilling is our smooth and complex flagship beer. A medium-bodied amber ale with a distinct burnished copper color and a deeply pleasant aroma. The name 90 Shilling comes from the Scottish method of taxing beer. Only the highest quality beers were taxed 90 Shillings. We think you’ll find this original ale brilliantly refreshing, and worth every Shilling

Paired with Candied Bacon

Rhombus Guys Brewing Company Into The Darkness Porter – 22 IBUs, 5.0% ABV

Dark and mysterious, Into the Darkness Porter is a smooth blend of dark malts that bring out chocolate and coffee notes to your fancy. It is brewed with North Dakota-grown, 2-row malted barley, Crystal malt, German Chocolate Malt, a touch of flaked barley, and a liberal helping of American-grown hops to round it off. Drink a few of these and slip into the night…

Paired with Maple Bacon

Sam ‘76 – 11 IBUs, 4.7% ABV

Sam ’76 is a revolutionary new beer from Samuel Adams that is an unmatched combination of refreshment, craft flavor and aroma. By experimenting with both lager and ale yeast strains, our brewers developed a unique brewing process that takes two active fermentations and blends them together to create a deliciously harmonious result. This process delivers a distinct flavor that showcases the slight fruitiness of an ale with the balanced drinkability and smoothness of a lager, and at just 4.7% ABV this brew is perfect for sessionable occasions.

                Paired with Pancetta Bacon

Summit Brewing Company Imperial IPA – 105 IBUs, 8.5% ABV

The baddest beast on the block, Summit Imperial IPA will batter your senses with immense aromas of tangerine, stone fruit, melon and lemon — all thanks to powerful all-American hop additions both in the kettle and the fermentation tank. Weighing in at 8.5% ABV and 105 IBU, the imperial offers clean bitterness and a medium body with supporting malt notes of caramel and toast.

Paired with Apple-Wood Smoked Bacon

Beer-Glazed Bacon

POPSUGAR Food

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES

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YIELD: 8 SLICES

This beer-glazed bacon made with Samuel Adams’ Boston Lager from POPSUGAR Food will make any beer-lover’s breakfast a little more sweet.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup dark lager, such as Samuel Adams Boston Lager
• 1/2 tablespoon grainy mustard
• 1/2 tablespoon dry mustard, such as Colman’s
• 8 slices thick-cut bacon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper.
2. Add the honey and maple syrup to a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil; reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes.
3. Add beer and simmer until the volume has reduced by half. Take off the heat and whisk in both mustards.
4. Meanwhile, arrange the bacon on the prepped half-sheet pan. Cover with one more sheet of parchment paper and bake for 14-15 minutes.
5. Using a paper towel, blot the rendered fat from the bacon. Brush the glaze onto the top side of each strip.
6. Reduce the oven temperature to 275°F, and cook the bacon until crisp-chewy, about 40-45 minutes.
7. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate, keeping the bacon glazed-side up. Serve immediately.
8. *Adapted from Samuel Adams.

 

CHEERS!