BrewNost pairs international beers with food

CEDAR RAPIDS - Forget the milk. How about a glass of beer with that piece of chocolate cake?

Doug Alberhasky, store manager and “Bier Guy” at John's Grocery in Iowa City, says that is a natural pairing.

“Chocolate and beer go very well together,” he says.

BrewNost, an international beer tasting benefiting the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, will feature such pairings from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave. SE.

Nine area restaurants and caterers will serve appetizers paired with beers from the Czech and Slovak republics, Belgium, Austria, the British Isles, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy and the United States.

Kristeena Opfer of Kristeena's Café and Catering, Cedar Rapids, is serving Austrian chocolate chunk cookies and Sachertorte (chocolate cake topped with apricot or raspberry) with her selection of Austrian beers. She is also serving Austrian Wurstsemmel (spiced bratwurst) with a roll and sweet pepper and sauerkraut chutney or horseradish piquant.

The Stiegl with lemon soda goes well with the apricot on top of the cakes as well as the acidic sauerkraut, Opfer says.

“A lot of flavors blend together,” she says.

Red's Alehouse in North Liberty is taking a traditional approach to pairing appetizers with Belgian beer.

“When they presented Belgium as our country, we wanted to provide an experience with different beers and different food,” says kitchen manager Tyler Leiss. “We want to offer very unique and hearty recipes, and to stay true to the Belgium recipes.”

The Tripel Karmeliet beer ends up being very sweet and a little bit chocolaty, Leiss says. It will be paired with Belgian meatballs. These traditional Belgian appetizers are made with beef and veal and simmered and seared in a hearty stock made with Tripel Karmeliet. They will be served with a baguette and butter.

The Petit La Chouffe beer from Belgium is brewed in spices, and the taste finishes quickly, almost peppery, Leiss says. It will be served with Flemish stew made with beef, onions, fresh thyme, bay leaves and red currant jelly. It which is simmered with the beer or “golden ambrosia” as Belgians call it.

This is the fifth year of BrewNost. It originated in 1999 when Alberhasky returned from a beer tour in the Czech Republic and suggested a beer education event at the Czech and Slovak Museum.

Last year, BrewNost raised $60,000 for the museum. This year's goal is $65,00, says co-chair Hilery Livengood. The event is again at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art as the Czech and Slovak Museum continues to recover from last year's flood.

In the Czech Republic, beer is an integral part of the lifestyle, Alberhasky says. Kids even drink a low-alcohol beer in school because it is healthier than sugar-filled soda, he says.

“It is not a forbidden fruit,” he said. “You'll have beer with lunch or dinner. They drink responsibly,” he says.

Through BrewNost, Alberhasky wants patrons to have a “deeper understanding of how beer and food go together.”

“We give the chefs the ability to do what they want,” he says. “After so many years, they try to find something new.”

The more off-the-wall pairings, the better, Alberhasky says.

“BrewNost introduces people to different taste experiences,” he says. “It's taken a couple years, but people are really getting into new beer.

BrewNost beer pairings

• Daniel Arthur's, Cedar Rapids - German beer paired with Gaisburger marsch-beef stew with spaeztel and potato and German cheesecake with dried fruit and nuts
• Devotay, Iowa City - American-style Belgian beer paired with pumpkin mousse with spiced toasted pumpkin seeds, sweet potato and chevre pave, and smoked and braised pork sliders
• Dostal Catering, Cedar Rapids - Czech/Slovak beer paired with dumplings, roast pork, Czech kraut and pork gravy
• Kristeena's Cafe and Catering, Cedar Rapids - Austrian beer paired with Sachertorte (chocolate cake topped with apricot or raspberry), Austrian Wurstsemmel (spiced bratwurst) and Austrian chocolate chunk cookie
• Red Frog, Czech Village, Cedar Rapids - Czech/Slovak wine paired with goulash over dumplings
• Red's Alehouse, North Liberty - Belgian beer paired with Flemish beef stew and Belgian meatballs
• Riley's, Cedar Rapids - American craft beer paired with habanero spiced meatball with homemade sweet berry barbecue sauce and espresso rubbed pork loin w/almond butter
• Vernon Inn, Cedar Rapids - Greek, Croatian and Italian beer paired with risotto with Parmesan and Moretti beer, Mediterranean pizza, stuffing with spicy sausage and nuts, and baklava
• Zins, Cedar Rapids - United Kingdom beer paired with chicken curry pasty, blue cheese rarebit, scotch quail eggs and lamb chutney

BrewNost beer pairings

• Daniel Arthur's, Cedar Rapids - German beer paired with Gaisburger marsch-beef stew with spaeztel and potato and German cheesecake with dried fruit and nuts
• Devotay, Iowa City - American-style Belgian beer paired with pumpkin mousse with spiced toasted pumpkin seeds, sweet potato and chevre pave, and smoked and braised pork sliders
• Dostal Catering, Cedar Rapids - Czech/Slovak beer paired with dumplings, roast pork, Czech kraut and pork gravy
• Kristeena's Cafe and Catering, Cedar Rapids - Austrian beer paired with Sachertorte (chocolate cake topped with apricot or raspberry), Austrian Wurstsemmel (spiced bratwurst) and Austrian chocolate chunk cookie
• Red Frog, Czech Village, Cedar Rapids - Czech/Slovak wine paired with goulash over dumplings
• Red's Alehouse, North Liberty - Belgian beer paired with Flemish beef stew and Belgian meatballs
• Riley's, Cedar Rapids - American craft beer paired with habanero spiced meatball with homemade sweet berry barbecue sauce and espresso rubbed pork loin w/almond butter
• Vernon Inn, Cedar Rapids - Greek, Croatian and Italian beer paired with risotto with Parmesan and Moretti beer, Mediterranean pizza, stuffing with spicy sausage and nuts, and baklava
• Zins, Cedar Rapids - United Kingdom beer paired with chicken curry pasty, blue cheese rarebit, scotch quail eggs and lamb chutney