The Bruery at the Monk’s Kettle

On Wednesday August 5th, the Monk’s Kettle will offer a five-course dinner to complement the beers of the Bruery.  The Bruery, located in Orange County, is what I consider to be one of the finest new breweries in the last several years. The beers from this tiny one year-old brewery are flat out exceptional. Founder Patrick Rue will discuss the beers as they are being poured with each course.

The evening will feature a five-course dinner designed to complement the beers served with each dish.  Mr. Rue will discuss each beer between courses, and Executive Chef Kevin Kroger will oversee the execution of the dishes that incorporate the beer with which it is paired.

The dinner will seek to highlight the flavor profiles of this cutting edge brewery that pushes the boundaries with unusual ingredients. Beers to be featured include a traditional Berliner Weisse, a not-yet-released India Pale Lager, and a Bourbon barrel-aged version of Papier, the Bruery’s first Anniversary ale.  A copy of the dinner’s menu with accompanying beers can be found at the Monk’s Kettle’s website on the Events page.

The Monk’s Kettle hosts a beer-pairing dinner the first Wednesday of every month, to highlight the offerings of a brewery or beer region.  Past dinners have included San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co., Colorado’s  Oskar Blues, and a New Year’s celebration with Belgium’s Malheur (Brouwerij Landtsheer).  The calendar is filled through next year, with future events planned with Northern Californians’ Moonlight Brewery, Belgium’s Brasserie d’Achouffe, and the craft beer importers the Shelton Brothers.

Reservations are necessary to attend the event, and can be secured by calling the Monk’s Kettle (415-865-9523) or emailing co-owner Nat Cutler at nat@monkskettle.com.  The cost of the dinner is $85, which includes all food and beer, but not tax and gratuity.  A happy hour begins for attendants of the dinner at 5:30, during which the entire Monk’s Kettle beer list is available at half-price.  The first course is served at 6:30.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Monk’s Kettle, it is a neighborhood tavern focusing on craft beer and gourmet pub food.  Located in the Mission district of San Francisco at 3141 16th Street, they have a comprehensive beer list

(featuring 24 drafts and over 165 in the bottle). Due to its extensive beer offerings, the Monk’s Kettle puts an emphasis on beer education, with style descriptions on its beer list, and a friendly, well-educated staff to guide customers through the list. An added bonus is the BART station a mere two blocks away for easy public transportation.

For more information about the Monk’s Kettle, contact co-owner Christian Albertson at christian@monkskettle.com or (415) 865-9523.