The Commons Beer Dinner

Last night's four course beer dinner at Simpatica Dining Hall in SE Portland featuring the beers of The Commons Brewery was simply amazing. The meat-centric meal was rich course after course and was so overwhelmingly good I took very few notes. Therefore I'll let a few videos and pictures do most of the talking for the rest of the post.

Course #1 - Montreal Smoked Meat Open-faced Sandwich with Marrow Bone Poutine & Urban Farmhouse Ale

Poutine is a greasy, salty pile of food in the absolute best way possible. And this is one of the best variations of it I've had. The crispness of Urban Farmhouse, their flagship beer, did a great job of countering the richness.

Palate cleanser - Myrtle

Myrtle tastes exactly the way Sean described it in the video and a delicious, new seasonal addition to their lineup. Recently released, I understand if you haven't tried it yet, however I implore you to get some, soon.

Course #2 - Duck and Onion Shepherd's Pie with Baked Egg & Flemish Kiss

What the dish lacked in photogenic qualities it more than made up for in flavor. This example of pure comfort food was paired with a beer that has enough Brett character for this sour head to enjoy yet remaining approachable for those on the fence about the style.

Course #3 - Ham Steak with Molasses Bean and Duck Fat-roasted Turnips with Persillade & Biere de Garde

This was the pairing that I was least enamored with although both the dish and the beer were enjoyable on their own. Like the shepherd's pie, this dish was comfort food that Simpatica elevated to a whole new level of deliciousness.

Course #4 - Peanut Butter Mousse Eclair with Applewood Bacon and Maple Glaze & Oatmeal Stout

By this point in the meal I was in such heaven that I dove in before taking a picture. And then proceded to devour the whole thing, probably without even taking a breath. Thankfully The Commons showed more restraint so you could take a gander at this dessert. Peanut butter, bacon, stout - over the top goodness.

This marks the second beer pairing dinner we've attended at Simpatica and we've been very happy with both experiences. While they offer many more wine pairing dinners than beer pairing ones, they do come up from time to time. The next time you hear about one, don't ask questions, just call and make your reservation.