FOOD PAIRINGS

MUSKOKA CREAM ALE

Unmistakable with its rich amber colour and inviting floral tones, this laid-back, English pub-style ale is smooth and easy-going.

Roasted Chicken:
Cream Ale’s malty sweetness contrasts with the saltiness from a roasted chicken, while at the same time pairing well with the sweet, caramel-like notes from the roasted skin. A classic pairing, especially for those new pairing food and beer together.

BBQ/Smoked Ribs:
Maybe the perfect pairing for Muskoka Cream Ale. The tang of the BBQ sauce contrasts the smooth malt body and floral hop character. Depending on your sauce, you may pick out certain hop profiles, or you may get more of the sweet flavour from the darker malts used in Cream Ale.

Montreal Smoked Meat:
Montreal smoked meat is the perfect base for Cream Ale. This juicy meat requires a beer that won’t overpower the distinct smoked meat flavour. Add your favourite mustard to your sandwich, and discover how Cream Ale’s sweetness brings out the sweet mustard flavours.

Grilled Salmon:
An oily fish, salmon requires a beer that can interact with the delicate flavours. Muskoka Cream Ale is the perfect complement for grilled salmon because the hops cut through the oil, while the sweet malt ties accents the grilled smokey flavour.

CRAFT LAGER

Handcrafted to be uniquely flavourful, this classic lager is remarkably easy-drinking.

Summer Salads:
Craft Lager’s a great beer to pair with salads; the high carbonation mirrors the garlic-y zip from balsamic and Caesar dressings, while the flavour profile lets different ingredients take centre stage. Try Craft Lager with a goat cheese, pear, and cranberry salad, and see how it cuts through the thick cheese flavour while letting the cranberries and pears stand out.

Grilled Chicken:
Our humid Canadian summers often call for a refreshing lager, especially when navigating the BBQ. Grilled chicken and Lager complement each other with similarly light characteristics, so one does not overpower the other. Brush the chicken with your favourite BBQ sauce and the malt cereal sweetness will lend a delightful contrast to the smoked tang of the BBQ sauce.

Chicken Fajitas:
Everyone presents fajitas differently, so be creative. Craft Lager’s malty backbone will blend right in with the tortilla and work with everything in between. The sweeter malt balances out the spicy salsa, the carbonation cuts the rich and creamy guacamole and cheese and the light body will quench your thirst, leaving you ready for the next bite.

MUSKOKA DETOUR

We dry-hopped this lower alcohol IPA, creating a truly sessionable brew with a rewarding aroma, big hop flavours and a clean finish.

Garden Salad:
A fresh garden salad with peach or mango is a perfect match for Detour. Fruit accents bring the tropical fruit notes from Detour’s El Dorado, Citra and Sorachi Ace hops front and center. The fresh bed of lettuce mimics the similarly crisp character of Detour, and a balsamic dressing adds a tangy, yet sweet kick to balance out the hop bitterness.

Thai Mango Chicken:
The famously sweet-yet-spicy Thai flavour expertly contrasts our ‘light with a bite’ Detour. The mango in this dish brings out the tropical fruit hops which simultaneously cut through the Thai spice for a well-balanced pairing.

Sesame Chicken Salad:
Thinly sliced Napa cabbage with grilled, marinated chicken breast will bring balance to a pairing full of flavour. Sweet toasted almonds, crisp wontons, sesame seeds and sweet sesame dressing will combat the bitterness of the hops. Step it up by adding in fresh red bell peppers, green onions and juicy mandarin oranges to play up the hops’ refreshing tropical fruit notes.

Shrimp Cocktail:
Shrimp cocktail has some great flavours that you won’t want to over-power. Our refreshing Detour will balance the slightly salty flavours of the shrimp while standing up to the sweet, tangy sauce with its tropical hop power.

MUSKOKA MAD TOM IPA

Dry-hopped with Chinook and Centennial hops, this IPA has a vibrant aroma, depth of flavour, and crisp, citrusy undertow like no other.

Spicy Dishes:
The intense amount of hops in this beer cut through spicy flavours really well. A spicy curry is a classic pairing for this beer filled with bitter notes of pine and citrus, but also think jerk spice, wasabi or your favourite spicy gourmet wings. Sweet chili spice will play up the sweeter citrus notes while standing up to the bold bitterness.

Smoked Fish:
Smoked fish like salmon or trout have a delicate, yet rich flavour. The variety of West Coast hops we chose for Mad Tom IPA provide a great contrast to the flavours of smoked fish while cutting through any rich oils.

Burgers:
We’ll leave this one to you. Build your favourite burger with some unique and flavourful toppings – bacon, old cheddar, avocado, etc. The hoptitude of Mad Tom IPA will complement some of the stronger flavours, cut through the rich mouthfeel and cleanse your palate between bites. The best of both worlds!

TWICE AS MAD

An aggressively double dry-hopped Imperial India Pale Ale that delivers a definitive hop aroma and unabashedly big, bold flavor, with a rich smoothness.

Grilled Meats:
The big, bold flavor of Twice As Mad pairs well with grilled meats smothered in sweet BBQ sauce. The bitterness of the hops captures the carmelization of the meat, and the higher alcohol accents the sweet flavour in the sauce.

Indian Cuisine:
The marriage between double IPA’s and Indian cuisine dates back to the late 1700’s, when English brewers would ship beer from England to India for the troops to enjoy. Twice as Mad is no different from its ancestors. The intense hop profile cuts through spicy flavours and accents medium – hot curry chicken or chicken korma extremely well.

Pulled Pork:
The roasted sweet flavour from the meat, along with a spicy rub, expertly contrasts the bold flavour of Twice as Mad. Higher alcohol content lends to a sweeter balance of bitterness, but is still strong enough to stand up to the spice for a balanced pairing.

Sharp Cheese:
Sharp cheddar or strong blue cheese is a great pairing with Twice as Mad. These cheeses have the flavor intensity to hold their own with a double IPA. The salty cheese plays well with the bitterness of the hops, and all of these cheeses leave a creamy, mouth-coating film that the hops and alcohol will clear away.

HARVEST ALE

A bold, hoppy ale with a subtle grassy character reminiscent of the harvest.

Curry:
Curry is a whirlwind of spices and flavours. The complexity of these dishes call for a sturdy beer that can cut through the heat and add flavour to the dish. Harvest Ale acts as an ideal companion with slight caramel malt flavours, and plenty of grassy hop bitterness to cut the spice. The spicier, the better!

Blue Cheese:
Not for the faint of heart – this is a bold pairing, but a rewarding one. Blue cheeses need a bold and well-hopped beer to cleanse the palate. Our grassy, hopped Harvest Ale is just the beer to serve with this cheese. The carbonation and lingering bitterness will continue to boldly contrast as the intensity of the cheese increases.

Crab Cakes:
With crab cakes you want a beer that won’t be overwhelmed by the sweet flavours of the crab. The match depends upon the spiciness of the crab cake and the sauce. Harvest Ale has a slightly sweet malt flavour and a predominant hop presence that matches the crabmeat, but doesn’t overpower. This is also a great pairing if the sauce has some spice to it.

Pesto:
Pesto contains strong olive oil, herbal and nutty flavours, meaning a nice, hoppy ale is a great match to combat these intensities. The full flavour of our Harvest Ale has the hop bitterness to lift and cut through these heavy flavours before overpowering the dish.

SHINNICKED STOUT

A rich, velvety oatmeal stout infused with Muskoka Roastery’s signature Lumberjack coffee.

Dark Chocolate Truffles:
The cocoa notes in the stout are amplified when accompanied with the rich cocoa of a truffle, while the slight bitterness of dark chocolate is balanced by the velvety smooth mouthfeel.

Cinnamon Coffee Cake:
Coffee + coffee = a perfect pairing, just like our smooth oatmeal stout infused with Muskoka Roastery’s Lumberjack roast and a cinnamon coffee cake. You can’t lose with the sweet spice of cinnamon and brown sugar, perfectly complemented with dark roasted notes of coffee for a well-balanced treat.

Camembert Cheese:
A natural pairing is a creamy, buttery Camembert with a velvety smooth stout. The nutty coating is cut by the moderately dry finish of the stout. Top the cheese with a strawberry spread to play into the subtle sweetness of the stout.

Hickory Smoked Ham:
Think salty-sweet; this delightful contrast of flavours is tried and true. The subtle sweet undertone and dark roasted notes in the stout are enhanced by rich, smoky flavours in the pork.

WINTER BEARD (DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY STOUT)

Rich and sturdy with roasted dark chocolate malts, real cocoa, 70% dark chocolate, and freshly harvested local cranberries.

Cheesecake:
Our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is a rich and sturdy beer allowing it to complement rich & sweet flavours. The bitterness from the dark chocolate is a beautiful pairing with the cheese and the cranberries are a natural match. Instead of a cup of coffee with your cheesecake, try a serving of our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Chocolate:
What goes great with chocolate? More chocolate. The dark roasted malt brings out distinct notes in the chocolate and the chocolate evolves the flavours of the beer. It is truly a magical pairing that has a world of possibilities. Pair the beer with fudge, mousse, your favourite chunk of dark chocolate or cake. Each will take on a life of their own when paired with Winter Beard. Go one step further and add in some fresh raspberries, strawberries or cherries.

A Frigid Day:
Is this a food pairing? No. Is it one of the best pairings we recommend? Absolutely! Winter Beard is a beautiful beer for a crisp winter’s day. The chocolate adds comfort, the cranberries contribute to the body and the slightly higher alcohol makes it a perfect beer to sip on during a day outdoors.

SALTED CHOCOLATE STOUT CUPCAKES

Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Makes: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable or canola oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup full-fat sour cream
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cups cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 1 cup Winter Beard Nitro Latte Stout
• Chocolate buttercream, for frosting
• Smoked flaked salt, for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325(f) degrees. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with parchment liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl whisk together sugar, oil, vanilla, eggs & sour cream until well combined.
3. Sift in flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt & espresso. Mix until the batter just comes together.
4. In a saucepan over medium heat add the stout. Bring to a gentle simmer. Slowly pour the stout into batter & continue mixing until batter is smooth.
5. Evenly divide mixture amongst the two prepared muffin tins. Bake until the top bounces back to touch, about 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
6. Pipe with a dollop of buttercream & finish with a sprinkle of flaky salt.