A girl born on Valentine’s Day has the love of chocolate in her blood, right? Yup and when given the recent opportunity to attend a Beer + Chocolate tasting event with two Chicago based taste sensations Wild Ophelia (the newest offering from my favorite chocolatier Vosges Haut-Chocolat) and Goose Island Beer, I couldn’t have said yes any faster!
Wild Ophelia Chocolate and Goose Island Beer from their websites
I’ve been a long time fan Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Many years ago I got to meet the culinary genius behind Vosges, Katrina Markoff, at a Yoga + Chocolate event in NYC. I needed to thank the woman who developed the Black Pearl Truffle and Gatsby cake that was my birthday cake for 2 years running (the link is to my professed love for the now defunct confection). The Vosges store on Spring St in NYC has given me a pick-me-up more times than I can count over the years.
Vosges chocolate is all about travel through chocolate. Vosges is the luxury world travel experience and the new Wild Ophelia is the Americana Road Trip offering. What a perfect idea to pair the Americana chocolate experience with some craft beer!
The Road Map of the Taste Pairings.
This was more than just a chocolate and beer tasting – it also proved a challenge to gender stereotypes! Wild Ophelia chocolate was represented by David Crosby from Vosges (no, not that David Crosby but the man works with my favorite chocolate AND is a Duran Duran fan so he’s even more awesome than the CSNY David) and the head of education at Goose Island beer is the very engaging and knowledgeable, Suzanne Wolcott. This woman likely knows more about beer than most men. Her deep expertise in the specialty foods arena was absolutely evident. I love an event that provides chocolate, alcohol and shakes things up a bit!
Suzanne Wolcott (Goose Island) and David Crosby (Wild Ophelia/Vosges)
The Road Trip Highlights aka The Beer and Chocolate Pairings:
Pairing #1: Sofie & Southern Hibiscus Peach
Sofie, a Belgian style Saison (farmhouse style) beer with an alcohol content similar to wine (6.7%) was named after Goose Island’s founder’s granddaughter on her 10th birthday. It paired gorgeously with the milk chocolate Southern Hibiscus Peach.
The light refreshing beer brought out the taste of the California grown peaches after the chocolate was allowed to warm in the mouth.
Pairing #2: Matilda & Smokehouse BBQ Potato Chips
Matilda, a Pale Ale, was aptly named after the fruity and spicy 11th century Countess Mathilda of Tuscany who provided the funds to begin the famous Trappist Monastery, the Orval Abbey in Belgium.
Did you know that women were actually the original brewers of beer? They were called “Ale Wives”.
The Matilda Ale was paired with the dark chocolate and all natural “Kicker” BBQ potato chip pieces of the Smokehouse BBQ bar. There was a quite an explosion of sweet, savory and spicy for this combination.
Pairing #3: Pepe Nero & Beef Jerky
The Pepe Nero (Italian for black pepper) dark roasted malt and was paired with the milk chocolate and Beef Jerky combination.
I’ve never enjoyed the taste of beef so the highlights of this pairing were lost on me. The milk and the sugar of the chocolate did deliver the peppery taste of the beer nicely though.
Per Suzanne, biologically taste is the same for everyone but memory and perception makes people’s taste experience different.
Pairing #4: Pere Jacques & Peanut Butter & Banana
The Pere Jacques Belgian style beer was rich and spicy and modeled after the special occasion, holiday or Lent beers of the Trappist monks.
Although it wasn’t served warm, we learned that rich, high alcohol libations should be served at warmer temperatures. So if you’re like me (and my friend Carolyn), you’re not crazy if you like your beer or wine a little on the warmer side.
The dried fruit and port-like flavors were a great contrast to the milky Peanut Butter & Banana. The banana chips in this bar are from Uncle Mikey’s Hawaiian Food from Kauai, Hawaii. I’m usually a dark chocolate kind of girl but this pairing was one of my favorites!
This tasting event was so much fun and it was good to spend some time with my blogger friends Ana Lydia and Carolyn that have helped make my Americana journey from NY to LA very sweet and spicy indeed! It was nice to meet another Suzanne as well!
Ana Lydia, Suzanne, Carolyn and me
The ladies above also attended another Beauty, Beer and Chocolate event with Goose Island and Wild Ophelia the night after this event and I can tell you that I already want to try the Framboise type Lolita Pale Ale from Goose Island and the Wild Ophelia New Orleans Dark Chocolate Chili Bar. Luckily there is a Whole Foods in my neighborhood!
I was given free samples from Goose Island beer and Wild Ophelia chocolate (but I would have gladly paid to attend this tasting). All opinions and photos (except where noted) are my own.
What is your favorite food and alcohol pairing? Ever tried beer and chocolate?
Now that’s my kind of tasting! I haven’t tried beer and chocolate but I have been to a beer and cheese tasting! Any reason to drink good beer is fine by me. =)
You know it was a good tasting if you just can’t wait to buy the products when you’re done. So good!
That is one awesome kind of tasting! Wow, beer and chocolate… can’t wait to try it!
I wouldn’t have thought of pairing chocolate and beer. Sounds like it is good though. The PB and Banana sounds like it would be my favorite and as for the beer Sofie sounds like a good one for me 😀
I also would never have paired chocolate and beer!? Obviously we’re not talking about “garden variety” of either which obviously makes a difference. What a great and new idea! Off to Whole Foods I go…:-)
Alli: You must! Vosges chocolate is some of the best I’ve ever had!
Maribel: You hit my two favorites. Although it looked like some of our other SCLB’ers got a chance to try a cherry beer that looked divine!
Allie: You will not be sorry! Vosges or Wild Ophelia will make any other chocolate look like sludge. LMK if you try either the chocolate or the beer!
Om nom nom, I want it all!
I wish you would have been there!