If you really wanted to know where it all started, this picture tells a thousand words.
It probably says. It looks damn cold. That’s a giant water bottle. Where is everyone else?
It actually started about three years ago when we first met at the Boston Marathon. A year later this picture was taken in 2009 and was taken again in 2010. There will be no 2011 Boston Marathon picture because instead, we are getting married (although I think training and running a marathon will be cake compared to marriage…but at least the wedding includes cake. I’m pulling for funfetti.)
Well about a year ago, I made the decision to get engaged. With Valentines Day on the horizon, I wanted to avoid the “cheesiness” of getting engaged on that date. I had the ring in my pocket with no idea how/when/where I was going to do it. Needless to say, we went for a drink that night at the Louisville Beer Store and I popped the question a little over a year ago right outside it’s front door. For this years Valentines, we decided to go back to LBS for a beer and chocolate pairing.
Let me preface the review with the simple fact how awesome Lori and Tyler. We had a nice conversation with Lori yesterday about the local breweries, their entrepreneurial ideas, and their expansion of the Holy Grale (lookout for rooftops and possible outdoor patio). They put all of their money back into the beer they sell and it shows. When a business owner takes the time to talk to me about their business and passion for the industry, it only makes me want to increase my patronage for their efforts. So cheers to Lori and Tyler for your efforts for allowing others to see the benefits of good beer!
The chocolates were provided by Cellar Door Chocolates.
The first pairing was an Avocado Buttercream (av0cado, lemon, butter, sugar, and dark chocolate) and a Chimay Cinq Cents . I probably eat guacamole at least 1-2 times a week, therefore for me, this chocolate was awesome. The Chimay was a nice pairing with its combination of taste and aroma. Chocolate > Beer.
The second pairing was a Honey Truffle (notice the cute little sugar honey beer on top). It was 55% dark chocolate and honey nectar. Very sweet tasting chocolate that paired excellent with the sweet tasting Chateau Jiahu of Dogfish Head. I had Jiahu during my New England beer expedition, but on draft it tasted much better than out of the bottle. Great pairing. Chocolate = Beer = Awesome.
The third pairing was a Fig Cinnamon Truffle (dried fig, crystallized ginger, cinnamon, milk chocolate) and New Holland El Mole Ocho. Another awesome chocolate and the crystallized ginger was awesome. Now I’m just going through my beer to get to the next chocolate. I’ve had El Mole Ocho before and wasn’t a big fan, but at least the chocolate on the tongue made it taste a little better. Chocolate > Beer
The final pairing was an Olive Oil Truffle with Southern Tier Choklat. This last chocolate was the darkest and richest of them all. Ashley’s favorite kind. The Choklat (the beer) had a slightly roasted aroma, but upon taste it had a great chocolate taste for an imperial stout. I was surprisingly impressed (Southern Tier is now being distributed in Kentucky). The only one of the day, Chocolate < Beer.
We then left LBS and swung by the Holy Grale because Ashley wanted a cheese plate. Although there wasn’t anything really on the menu for one, Lori was nice enough to whip us up something (see why I’m a patron). The three cheeses were paired with Dogfish Head 90 IPA, Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, and (insert here…maybe Ashley can help me recall).
All in all, an awesome Valentines Day (even though it was the 13th) at our favorite places to hangout in Louisville.
johnking82
The last beer in the cheese plate was the Chimay cinq cents again. Paired with a strong cheese (I think she said the cheese was made by chimay too). Cute writeup