A Perfect Pairing: Finding Great Food at Local Breweries
Nothing pairs better with food than beer. The flavor combinations are absolutely endless making it much more versatile of a pairing partner than wine. In fact, there is even a section of the Certified Cicerone (equivalent to a sommelier in wine, or beer expert) exam that requires pairing different food with the perfect beer. So it’s no wonder that you’ll often see breweries offering food options in their tap room with some even serving as Brew Pubs with a full kitchen.
Bent River Brewing - The original Moline Brew Pub location offers a full menu of classic American entrees with great appetizers as well. With new specials weekly it’s worth stopping in often for bite and brew. My new personal favorite item is the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich. Pair it with an Undercurrent IPA. The bitter hop bite will accentuate the spice and turn it up another level while the carbonation will prepare your palate for the next delicious bite.
Front Street Brewing - The original Brew Pub location offers delicious pub fare with vegetarian options. The Blackened Grilled Mahi is my go-to. Pair with a Vanilla Porter for a sweet and roasty harmony.
Geneseo Brewing - Located in downtown Geneseo, this Brew Pub offers a full menu with burgers, sandwiches, and artisanal flat breads with delicious rotating special items. Head Brewer, Rachel Leiby made this pairing suggestion:
“I’d pair our scallops with Set Phasers to What?! Hazy IPA. The hops in the beer are citrusy which compliment any seafood dish.”
Great Revivalist Brew Lab - While I usually fill up on their large portioned appetizers, the wood fired pizzas here are magnificent. For me though, it’s the deserts. Go with a “Better Than… Takes The Cake” and pair it with a Mexican Chocolate Cake Stout because let's face it, cake goes great with more cake.
Twin Span Brewing - With so many food and beer options available here at Twin Span I decided to ask the expert on this one. After all, Head Brewer Adam Ross is a Certified Cicerone. His suggestion is:
“Try the Hot Waffle paired with the Davenporter. The chocolate and roast notes of the porter stand up well with our house made syrup that uses the porter in it.”
COLLABORATION IS KEY
Crafting great beer is always a brewery’s number one priority, so many times breweries will team up with a restaurant to offer food options for them. Here are some great food options with breweries not providing food under their brand:
5 Cities Brewing - While they do not have their own kitchen on-site, you can order food from Central Standard directly from your 5CB server or bartender and they will run your order over for you! Grab a Brisket Melt with a Dunkelpants Dunkelweizen. The coffee BBQ sauce and the roasty notes from the malt in the beer are a match made in heaven.
Midwest Ale Works - Located at the Rust Belt in East Moline, Jennie’s Boxcar offers street tacos mere steps away from the Midwest Ale Works tap room without even having to go outside. Snag some Barbacoa tacos from Jennie’s and enjoy them on the patio with a Crimson Simcoe Red IPA and let the hops make that spice really pop! (Pro tip, you can also order LoPiez Pizza from the Moline location and they will waive the delivery fee to the Rust Belt. I know, you’re welcome.)
Stompbox Brewing - For the time being they are hosting a rotating selection of food trucks. Soon though you’ll be able to enjoy the fare from Kitchen Brigade, a new restaurant under construction INSIDE the tap room of Stompbox.
Rebel Lion Brewing - The beer brand located at the Rebellion Brew Haus in Moline is connected to Bad Boy’z Pizza. You can now walk between the two and order from either one without having to walk outside. I love everything spicy so I’m going with the Habanero Hot Chicken Wings and extinguishing the heat with a ‘Bout Damn Time German Pilsner.
ROTATING FOOD OPTIONS
Just because they don’t have food available every day of the week doesn’t mean the rest of the breweries in our region aren’t providing great food options. The following are just a few of the great Food Trucks making their rounds at Crawford Brew Works, Radicle Effect Brewerks, and Wake Brewing.
Floyd’s Burgers & Sliders - You’ll find them regularly at Wake Brewing, Crawford Brew Works, and Radicle Effect Brewerks. I recommend the Huckleberry western style burger with a Re-Ignition Coffee Lager from Wake Brewing.
Cushman’s Food Engine - This menu is absolutely packed with great options but you can’t go wrong with the Birra-style tacos and a Chilly Nelson Hazy IPA from Stompbox. The juicy and fruity hops boost the juicy savory flavors of the taco. YUM!
You'll find several rotating food options available at these locations including great food pop-ups at Radicle Effect Brewerks on their weekly “Food Friday's” events.
For daily updates about what food trucks and special food events are taking place at the different breweries, go to CraftQC.com or follow Craft Quad Cities on social media.
About the Author:
Charlie Cole is a professional brewer and multimedia beer promoter. He is a graduate of St. Louis University in Brewing Science and Operations, a previous brewer at three different Quad Cities breweries, and hosts the What’s Tappening podcast and weekly local beer segment on 97X FM. Follow him on Instagram @BrewedByGC