LCBO Food and Drink Holiday 2015

BEER BEER & BITES

17 Chili and Collective Arts Brewing Saint of Circumstance LCBO 379966, 6 pk, $13.95 Chili is great to have on hand over the busy holi- day season, and rich chili and sessionable blonde ale make for great partners. The beer’s bright citrus flavours come from both hops and the use of fresh citrus zest in the brewing. Make sure to add a big handful of fresh chopped coriander right before serving to amplify the flavour, while adding another complementary flavour to the beer match.

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Stilton Burgers with BrewDog Punk IPA LCBO 414946, 500 mL, $3.25 When a simple hamburger gets full-throttle flavour from luscious Stilton blue cheese it needs a beer with attitude. Chris sug- gests one of his favourites from the team at BrewDog in Scotland “noted for their adventurous craft beers (and personalities).” Their IPA is full of “bold tropical notes of pineapple, mango and lychee, in addition to zesty grapefruit and a sharp bitter finish.” Partners made for each other.

Shrimp Cocktail & Side Launch Wheat Beer LCBO 385674, 473 mL, $2.70 Shrimp cocktail is a fun and easy dish to serve at any of your holiday parties; everyone always loves it. When choosing a beer partner, think clean, crisp and not excessively bold in flavour. Wheat beer is just that, and in Side Launch’s delicious version you’ll find lovely aromas of citrus, spice and a touch of banana. Try taking Side Launch and shrimp cocktail to your next potluck, then sit back and enjoy the compliments.

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BUYER’S PICK

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Broiled Side of Salmon and Goose Island Sofie LCBO 331298, 765 mL, $9.95 Looking for a simple and elegant presentation for a fish dish? Prepare a whole side of salmon to impress guests with your cooking skills. Top salm- on with some lemon, fresh marjoram and butter, then broil, and you’re done. Such perfection calls for a beer with similar sophistication. Sofie is full flavoured, with notes of orange and peppery zip, and with a fine effervescence that goes perfectly with the salmon’s rich nature.

BUYER’S PICK

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Pizzawith Sierra Nevada Pale Ale LCBO 409854, 6 pk, $15.25

Nachos & Muskoka Mad Tom IPA LCBO 288837, 473 mL, $3.00

Tired from all the cooking over the holi- days? Your remedy is pizza. Whether it’s homemade or ordered in, the perfect beer for pizza in all its different guises is Sierra Nevada’s iconic pale ale. It’s a favourite with Chris for being “well balanced between hop and malt character, and is best known for its piney and grapefruit character that comes from the use of whole-cone Cascade hops.”

Nachos are a fun and easy crowd-pleaser that can be quickly thrown together for an easy dinner or quick snack when friends come over. The most important thing to remember when making nachos is to get every chip scattered with cheese. We all know the disappointment of bare chips. You’ll need a flavour- ful, hoppy beer such as Muskoka’s Mad Tom IPA to pair with yummy nachos, lots of zippy citrus and floral aroma for a perfect match. Pass the guacamole!

SIERRA NEVADA BOTTLE BY ERIK ROTTER

FOOD & DRI NK HOLIDAY