HELL'S KITCHEN — Beer: it's what's for dinner.
Eight of the city's craft beer bars are getting together over the weekend to show discerning drinkers that high-quality brews can be paired with the finest food. Beer Bar Fest NYC, happening at the 404 Space at 404 10th Ave. on Saturday, will serve up food and beer pairings aimed to titillate even the most finicky of foodies.
With pairings like scallops, tiger scrimp, and garlic-mayo cod served with Stillwater Stateside Saison Belgian ale, or a braised short rib chili served with Bronx Brewery Pale Ale, the beerfest's organizers hope to show that New York's craft beer can have a classy culinary side.
"For too long, [New York] has been overlooked as one of the nation's top craft beer towns," said Patrick Donagher founder of Get Real NY, the craft beer organization organizing the festival.
This isn't the first craft beer event in Manhattan — Craft Beer Week in September had a huge turnout, and the city saw its first beer-guzzling marathon run in November.
The participating bars are from all five boroughs, including the Guilty Goose in Chelsea, which will serve up bacon cheddar risotto fritters with beer mustard, paired with a Lagunita Doppel Weizen.
In total, there will be about 15 beer-and-food pairings, along with an oyster festival and cask beers served throughout the festival. The food might be necessary: it'll take a hearty constitution to try each one of the dozens of other beers on tap.
For $35, Beer-lovers can choose one of two opportunities to drink as many brews as they can handle: one from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and a second from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Dec. 10.
If that wasn't enough, for an extra $10, there's a VIP hour with imported beer and a pairing lesson with a beer sommelier.
Tickets for the Beer Bar Fest are available at Thrillist.
