Gordon Biersch Presents American Craft Beer Week Brewer’s Dinner

Gordon Biersch invites beer enthusiasts to a six-course meal paired with six craft beers at its downtown location on Wednesday, May 18 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This unique dining experience is in celebration of American Craft Beer Week (May 16-22), and includes pairings that run the gamut from tenderloin carpaccio with IPA to beer-infused chocolate truffles with milk stout. On Tap caught up with the talented minds behind the brewer’s dinner, Chef Peter Saletta and brewer Scott Lasater, to learn more about the upcoming event.

On Tap: What was your vision when putting together the six-course menu for this brewer’s dinner?
Chef Peter Saletta: My goal in mind was to celebrate the richness and craftsmanship in our beers by letting the food complement the flavors, not [overpower] them.

OT: What inspired your course selections?
PS: The inspiration for my course selections comes from sampling the beers with Scott, our brewer, and cross-pollinating ideas on [what] taste, texture and region would be the best fit.

OT: Is there a particular course that you feel stands apart from the rest?
PS: Duck confit. This dish has always been close to my heart.

OT: What role did you play in pairing each course with a Gordon Biersch craft beer?
PS: Scott and I worked very [closely] in bouncing ideas back and forth [until] we came up with what we thought our [guests] would really enjoy and would give them the experience they have come to expect from us.

OT: What was your creative process for selecting which of your craft beers to include in the brewer’s dinner pairings?
Scott Lasater: First, I considered the major flavor and aroma components of each beer, such as malt and hop varieties, yeast esters, bitterness, carbonation levels and alcohol content. In some cases, the pairings are intended to complement the food; others are designed to provide a counterpoint to certain ingredients.

OT: Do you have any favorite beers on the list? Any recent additions?
SL: Maibock and saison are our most recent seasonal beers.

OT: What sets Gordon Biersch’s dinner apart from other American Craft Beer Week celebrations around town?
SL: 1) $45 is a great deal; 2) you can get a tour of the brewery; [and] 3) you could win a date with the brewer.

Tickets to Gordon Biersch’s American Craft Beer Week Brewer’s Dinner on May 18 are $45 per person, and can be purchased here: www.eventbrite.com/e/american-craft-beer-week-brewers-dinner-tickets-24791755809.

Gordon Biersch: 900 F St. NW, DC; 202-783-5454; www.gordonbiersch.com

Photo: Courtesy of Gordon Biersch