Beast of Brooklyn at Meatmaiden for Good Beer Week
Good Beer Week has delivered the goods over the years and The World Loves Melbourne has been to some cracking events. We find the events are fun, great value and celebrate the craft beer culture. Beer lists are as important as wine lists these days and venues need to have a compelling beer list for demanding punters. Seasonal beers are a big deal with many punters rarely drinking a "premanent" beer. The World Loves Melbourne has visited several breweries in the craft beer world lately. Brooklyn Brewery House is one of our international favourites and craft beer leader.
Meatmaiden was the venue for this stunning Good Beer Week event with Brooklyn Brewery House from the USA. Heralded by many as “The Best Beer Festival in the World,” Good Beer Week features more than 250 events spanning across Melbourne and Victoria, all celebrating local and international craft beer with a collaborative spirit.
This year, Brooklyn Brewery co-founder and chairman Steve Hindy and Brooklyn Brewery House Chef Andrew Gerson are taking the trip south with a full load of special Brooklyn Brewery beers to participate in discussions, dinners, tastings and far more. Andrew Gerson is the man, and his rapport with the beer crazy crowd was awesome. Stories of Brooklyn, humble beginnings and the growth of the company, as well as loads of humour added to the enjoyment of this outstanding event. Kudos also to Meatmaiden Exec chef Riki Day.
Beer on arrival was welcome, the Sorachi Ace with Roasted lamb sweetbreads to match with lemon myrtle mayo and parsley cress.
As Andrew explained several Brooklyn beers are made with a champagne method in the bottle, and some of the beers are well above the 5% alcohol you might expect. Beer in large bottles encourages sharing. As someone said, "Why should champagne get all the fun?"
Beast of Brooklyn is a fun concept based on the legendary "beast" hideous creature that washed up under the Brooklyn Bridge in 2012. This beast at the Good Beer week event was a fair resemblance! An eye opener for the punters.
The Brooklyn Lager (American Amber Lager) was served with Pressed pig's head, wasabi leaf and crispy ear salad with smoked plum chutney.
A favourite of many at our table was the Brooklyn Blast! Double IPA. We were told this beer was like an entry beer to the world of craft beer for craft beer newcomers. This beer could make you cross over to craft beer, never to return back.
The Double IPA was perfectly matched with Deconstructed American Hot Dog - house made beef sausage, caramelised onion, American cheddar, pickled habanero, mustard sauce and crumbs. This was a wow dish, as the BBQ beef sausage was superb. We savoured every morsel. We found the dish fun as a decontructed hot dog with all the flavours of a hot dog present, even with a hit of chilli. Only without the bread, which was fine by us. Presentation was excellent to boot.
The Silver Anniversary Lager (Doppelbock) was served with Chargrilled lamb ribs, beer battered white anchovies, white bean Skordalia and watercress. These ribs were full of smoky flavour and fell off the bone. We savoured every morsel.
Hand and Seal (Barleywine) beer was paired with Cherry wood-smoked Wagyu brisket and a barley wine jus, served with roast butternut, pumpkin seeds and sweet potato chips. Andrew told us this dish was the dessert, which appealed to a meat lover like The World Loves Melbourne. The brisket was so tender one didn't need a knife (even though we were supplied by one). Somehow we managed to access more brisket from the guys next to us.
Fascinating was the Hand and Seal beer, with 13% alcohol and a world of nuances. So much going on. A sensational note to finish our journey on.
Delectable melt in your mouth brisket...
We were impressed by the ambience like a meat cave with dark timbers, mesh and metal, column, booths long tables, sleek bar and chic artwork. The meat diplay cabinet is alluring.
We found the Smoker!
Meatmaiden is a place we want to return to. Beast of Brooklyn was another epic Good Beer Week Event.