Gary Fry, owner of Craft Ale House, is confident that he, through the complex world of beer, can help you indulge in a hopped concoction ideal to your tastes.
Fry and his wife, Melissa, have maintained their beer fanatic business on Ridge Pike for over a year's time, and have continued to reveal that there is a beer for everyone, reiterating that there is "much more to beer than Coors, Miller and Budweiser.”
Since the couple is fond of all things found in a frosty pint, it is appropriate that besides offering top-notch gastropub fare and hard-to-find sips, they also host a slew of food and drink events.
Most recently, on Wed., May 19, the Frys invited Joel Armato of New Holland Brewing Company and Jay Montgomery of Calkins Creamery to premiere their beer and cheese flights to the evening's guests.
Armato of Phoenixville, working with Montgomery of Honesdale, sculpted a pairing promoting five of New Holland's most approachable samples aside five of Calkins' most diverse raw cheese pleasures.
New Holland Brewing Co., based in Michigan, promotes creative, artisan concoctions that are driven to improve everyone's beer experience. As a small microbrewery, currently only providing for 13 states, New Holland excels in crafting interesting blends, such as their El Mole Ocho, as seen at Wednesday's tasting.
Part of the High Gravity Series of the Michigan-based brewery, the rich liquid explores the flavors of the legendary central Mexico sauce while being ridden in cocoa, coffee and Pocono-grown chiles.
As a spiced sipping beer, El Mole Ocho paired beautifully with Calkins Creamery's Udderly Hot, a 60-day aged American Havarti produced with hot peppers. Calkins Creamery, based near Scranton, has been a mainstay of Craft Ale's cheese menu for over a year, as well as a regular provider for Talula's Table, the Fair Food Stand at Reading Terminal Market and Di Bruno Bros.
The aged, raw milk cheeses, with production led by Jay Montgomery's wife, Emily, are made “using only the freshest milk possible from our very own herd of registered Holstein cattle” in several micro-batches that do not exceed 180 pounds. With over 16 varieties, the couple allows their natural creamy pleasures to be aged across the street from their farm, in the caves of Calkins Creek Vineyard.
Additional matches made for this week's local affair included New Holland's Golden Cap Saison with Calkins' Skinners Falls; the Mad Hatter IPA with a Welsh cheddar, Misty Morning; Poet Oatmeal Stout with a semi-soft brie, Noble Road; and, the Imperial Hatter IPA with a Montasio painted with olive oil and tomato, Lida Gold.
Next on the agenda for Craft Ale includes an “Iron Chef” competition, held Tues., June 1 from 7 to 10 p.m. The contest is sculpted around the art of homebrewing, where entrants are required to brew with a defined list of ingredients, plus a mystery ingredient (this month, honey), and then, bring finished product in for competition.
Craft Ale House, 708 West Ridge Pike, Limerick, 484-932-8180, Mon. - Thurs., 11:30 am - 11:00 p.m., Fri. - Sat., 11:30 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Also published here.
Also published here.
