Bespoke Beer…Yes Please

Bouchon Beer

I received a great email from Tasting Table . As you may know, I love beer, but I love good, quality, thoughtful beer with a purpose. The purpose should be of taste not of chug. I want something that I actually like to drink. It seems that celeb chefs are now jumping on the microbrew bandwagon. Perhaps beer is the next fine wine, cheese, olive oil? Whether it’s a trend-of-the-moment or one that has staying power, I’m all about it.

Brewed to Order
Top chefs load their taps with bespoke beer

When superstars like Daniel Boulud open restaurants devoted to beer, you know its moment in the spotlight has arrived. And now many chefs are strengthening their bond with beer by having it brewed exclusively for their restaurants.

Thomas Keller originally had the thick, malty White Apron ale made especially for Per Se by Brooklyn Brewery, and now it’s available at all the chef’s restaurants. When he opened Bouchon in Beverly Hills–his first restaurant with a dedicated bar–Keller worked with Russian River Brewery’s Vinnie Cilurzo to develop a crisp pilsner-style beer. The result is Blue Apron, a food-loving beer that’s perfect with moules frites.

Also in L.A., Ford’s Filling Station chef Ben Ford wanted “something easy drinking that wasn’t Budweiser,” so he worked with Matt Brynildson from Paso Robles’s Firestone Walker Brewing Company to create Ford’s Pale Ale. It’s a golden, hoppy ale that doesn’t have a lot of viscosity–and it pairs perfectly with the chef’s California gastropub menu.

Brooklyn’s Sixpoint Craft Ales has created signature seasonal ales for several New York restaurants, including The Modern in New York; its ESB–a malty, slightly hoppy pale ale–just hit the taps this month. In April, the restaurant will feature Dr. Klankenstein, a Sixpoint experiment, which has a unique minerality that comes from granite.

At John Besh’s New Orleans brasserie, Lüke, the perfect quenchers to pair with the Alsatian-influenced cuisine are those brewed by Covington, Louisiana’s Heiner Brau. Lüke Fru is a young, crisp, pilsner-style beer; Lüke Alta is a dark, smooth porter; and Lüke Export is a hoppy light amber.

Nothing’s finer with Besh’s house-made sausages and cochon de lait pressed sandwiches than one of the bespoke brews.

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