SanTan Brewery/Spoke & Wheel Beer Dinner (July 31, 2013)

As we've been attending these dinners around the Valley for the last few months, I've gotten a pretty good idea in my head of what makes for a good beer pairing dinner. Obviously, good food and a good beer-that's a no-brainer. What turns an average beer pairing dinner into a great experience is the people behind the dinner. The chef, the restaurant manager and the beer rep all must work together to make the evening one to remember. Spoke & Wheel has done a fantastic job combining people and comestibles into a unique experience.

On this occasion, Rosie Boyd-SanTan Brewery and The Spoke & Wheel Crew hit all the high marks.

The Promise

I'd signed up for this dinner even before it was finalized...I knew it would be just that good! Chef Toni & GM Jason obviously put a lot of thought into these events.

While not every venue can offer it, Spoke & Wheel has a great private room that holds a good number of people. The table is set up so that everyone is around one table (I think there were about 30 of us this evening), and there is room for more if needed. This community table allows us all to be able to hear the information about the food and beer, and still be able to chat with those around us. This type of space really allows you to focus on the information provided and is nice respite from the usual noise of most restaurants.

Always an interesting group, we saw familiar faces and some new ones as well.

We were greeted with a SanTan HefeWeizen as our "Welcome Beer"-a full pint at that-truly welcoming after a hot AZ July day!

Rosie Boyd-SanTan 

Once all had arrived, we heard the Crescent Crown distributor talk about their business relationship with SanTan Brewery (as well as some company history). He then introduced Rosie Boyd, SanTan's Ambassador of Hops! Rosie told us about SanTan and made us all wish we worked there! At this point, the HopShock IPA and Tuna Tartar was distributed around the table and we were all too busy eating (OK, not me-I ate that avocado off the top and then passed the raw fish to hubby!) to discuss beer-or anything else for that matter.

Tuna Tartar-so pretty!

Cucumber Salad with Devils Pale Ale

A quick clearing and Jason presented the Cucumber Salad, which was served with Devils Pale Ale. The salad was a perfect pairing with the Pale Ale-light, crisp and garnished with just the right amount of mint.

While we finished up our salads and waited for the main course, Rosie spoke some more about the beer and the dedication to quality ingredients and many different types of hops used at SanTan. Even the beer glass we got to take home is different from the usual pint glass-a hand blown masterpiece, a truly unique signature piece sporting the SanTan logo.

Jason and Rosie discussed the pairing of the main course, a pork tenderloin with pineapple chutney, served on braised red cabbage and an Epicenter Amber Ale demi-glace. This beautiful dish was paired with the Epicenter Amber Ale and was truly the highlight of the entire dinner. The meat was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy, and so incredibly flavorful. The chutney and the braised cabbage were a perfect balance with the meat and the Epicenter Amber Ale brought just the right finishing touch to the dish.

Promise fulfilled!

While dessert was served, Rosie explained how Mr. Pineapple Wheat Beer was "invented". It was an amusing story and set the stage for SanTan Panna Cotta (pineapple with sweet pineapple chips) and a refreshing glass of Mr. Pineapple. This Wheat beer has always been a summer favorite of ours and is one of those beers that tastes pretty darned yummy when the heat is on!

Pineapplex3 (panna cotta, pineapple
chips and Mr. Pineapple Wheat)

We were lucky to have been joined by the creator of the dessert-who told us the secret to pineapple chips...DON'T LET THEM BURN! This was one of those desserts that is perfect after a big meal-light and airy with just enough sweet to make you happy and not weigh you down. 

As is befitting such a meal, Chef Toni was brought out to a round of applause and was open to questions about the meal. Rosie answered a few final questions and then gave us all a card for a free tasting flight at the SanTan Brewery & Restaurant. (Which we have been to-great spot in DT Chandler.)

SanTan Brewery & Restaurant

Thanks so Rosie, Jason, Chef Toni and all the Spoke & Wheel staff for your hard work. Another fun, filling and educational evening in the books. Can't wait to see what brewery gets this special treatment next at Spoke & Wheel!