Last week I attended a luncheon in Philadelphia hosted by Visit California. Held at Uptown Beer Garden, the Perfect Pairings luncheon featured food pairings with beer and cider from Sacramento’s Urban Roots Brewery and Nitty’s Cider.
When I arrived at Uptown Beer Garden, I felt transported to California. The beer garden was decked out with airy curtains and accents of blue and green. I took my seat, excited to sample the various pairings.
Rob Archie, owner, Urban Roots Brewing, was on site to discuss the beers. Up first was Tomorrow’s Verse, a classic Saison. The beer was paired with a delightful cheese and charcuterie board with cheese from Cowgirl Creamery and Cypress Grove. This first pairing was inspired by the California Cheese Trail. The funky and floral Saison paired especially well with a triple cream brie. Next was Steely Jam, a West Coast IPA, paired with vegetables and hummus. IPAs are not usually my go-to order at a brewery, but I really enjoyed this pairing. The final beer, 10 Degrees, was a Czech-style lager. The beer was paired with marinated chicken and pepper skewers. The hoppy beer was a nice accompaniment to the slightly spicy chicken.
The final two courses were paired with ciders from Nitty’s Cider. A friend of the Nitty’s owner, Archie took us through these pairings as well. Gypsy Rose, a pomegranate cider, came with a “California Dip” sandwich. Perhaps more commonly known as a French Dip sandwich, the rich flavor of the meat and sauce proved a good match with the light cider. The final pairing was a delicious dessert of the legendary IT’S-IT ice cream sandwich, flown in from San Francisco, and Toxic, a lime Skittles cider. I was apprehensive about a cider made with Skittles, but the lime flavor was subtler than I expected and offered an interesting pairing with the ice cream sandwich.
I had a great afternoon exploring the beers and ciders of California right in Philadelphia. I’m adding Sacramento to my list of must-visit cities.
— Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director
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