Craft Brews & Food Fair launched
Ely gastropub in Grand Canal Quay hosted the launch of The Alltech International Craft Brews and Food Fair recently. The Fair returns to Dublin’s Convention Centre on February 6th to 8th 2014.
Print17 December 2013
Aimed at brewing and distilling enthusiasts and professionals it opens to trade on the 6th and 7th February with the public welcome to attend and sample craft beverages and artisan foods from 5pm on the 7th and from noon on the 8th February.
Guests to the launch of the event got the chance to try some beer/bourbon and food pairings as well as the opportunity to sample the company’s Bluegrass Sundown. The preparation for this was demonstrated by the company’s Aisling Worth, Marketing Co-ordinator for Consumer Brands at Alltech, who simply added boiling water, topping this with whipped cream. The spirit can also be taken as a liqueur.
The market for craft beers continues to develop and Alltech now has five ales out on the market here: Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Kolsch, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout and Kentucky IPA.
IPA is one of the fastest-growing categories in craft beer and craft beers are now responsible for 10% of the beer market in the US, claimed John Lawlor, Regional Sales Manager for the Beer team at Alltech.
Restaurateurs are learning about pairing their dishes with craft beers and spirits and so to give brewers and distillers that extra edge, the Fair will also feature The Pair and Taste Pavilion where experts in the field will demonstrate how to effectively pair a beer or spirit with various foods.
Alltech’s sensory lounges and expo area at the Brews and Foods Fair will provide the perfect space for visitors to experiment, play and learn about pairings.
The launch itself gave its guests a foretaste by pairing up the following food & drinks:
28 Day Boyne Valley Steak Served with Béarnaise Sauce was paired with Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.
Tiger Prawn cooked in garlic & chili was served with crusty bread paired with Kentucky IPA.
Homemade Chocolate Brownie & raspberries was paired with Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout.
The company’s Town Branch Bourbon and its Pearse Lyons Reserve malt whiskey were also available for tasting and matching with the Irish artisan cheeses by guests:
Sliced Gubbeen Cheese, chutney & crackers was paired with Pearse Lyons Reserve Whiskey.
Sliced Blue Cheese was served with grapes paired with Town Branch Bourbon.
Alltech distributor here is the Carlow Brewing Company – O’ Hara’s – and the Celtic Whiskey Shop distributes its whiskey, bourbon and Bluegrass Sundown spirits.
At the February Fair trade professionals will examine the latest trends in brewing and distilling and explore how distillers, brewers and craft beer resellers can best profit from them.
The Fair will feature a full programme of educational talks and demonstrations covering many facets of craft brewing and distilling.
Also returning this year is the Dublin Craft Beer & Spirit Cup competition.
“The Alltech International Craft Brews and Food Fair is designed to gather brewers and distillers from all levels across the world in Dublin to hone their craft and network with each other,”commented Dr Pearse Lyons, Founder and Managing Director of Alltech, “It has always been a dream of mine to host an international meet-up of brewers and distillers and where better to host such an event than in Dublin, Ireland.”
Tickets go on sales on 6th January 2014 priced €15.
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