Two spot-on beer pairings from beerbistro

This week's trip to Toronto has been so packed with restaurant visits and other activities that I haven't had time to post but here's a quick update in the form of a report on a fantastic beer restaurant called beerbistro which was founded by leading Canadian beer writer Stephen Beaumont.

Despite the impression you get from the rather dark 'beery' image of the website it's a smart contemporary-looking restaurant in the heart of the financial district with a bar at the front and tables at the back. The extensive beer list is divided into clever and quirky categories including Quenching, Crisp, Sociable, Satisfying, Bold, Spicy, Robust, Contemplative, Soothing, Fruity and Unpredictable (the guest beer of the moment which last night was a dark, nutty Denison's Dunkel.)

We decided to explore what Canada had to offer in the way of artisanal brews and picked a couple of taster flights which you can choose from the draught beers on offer at a modest 3 for $6 Canadian dollars. Our picks were Blanche de Chambly and Ephemre, an apple flavoured beer from Quebec, and King Pilsner (Czech-style lager), Neustadt Springs 10w30 (brown ale) St Ambroise Pale Ale and Oatmeal stout, all from Ontario. My own favourites were the King Pilsner and 10w30.

As we had already eaten a ridiculous amount of food that day (of which more to follow) we just ordered two dishes and a salad which proved more than ample, given the size of the portions: a lobster quesadilla which was paired with an Affligem Blond and (possibly a mistake) a riot of a meat feast pizza called Hog Wild which included pulled pork, smoked sausage, beer-cured bacon which came with a Schneider Weisse.

Both beers were expertly poured into their respective glasses and matched really well with the food - the Affligem working with the lobster and grilled cheese of the quesadilla in much the same way as a Chardonnay would have done, the Schneiderweisse cutting through the rich meaty topping and acting as a counterpoint to the smokiness and sweetness of the bacon and pork. No wine, to be honest, could have done that.

The service from our waitress Lori was terrific - she was able to rattle off the background on every beer she served.

This is a must-visit destination for any beer-lover or perhaps even more so, someone who thinks they don't like beer.

This week's trip to Toronto has been so packed with restaurant visitsand activities that I haven't had time to post but here's a quickupdate in the form of a report on a fantastic beer restaurant called beerbistroThis week's trip to Toronto has been so packed with restaurant visits and activities that I haven't had time to post but here's a quick update in the form of a report on a fantastic beer restaurant called beerbistro

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