Reader: A glass act at Colt & Gray

While a few readers poured criticism over Laura Shunk for her recent review of Freshcraft, Mantonat took the discussion a useful step further, pouring out some mouth-watering suggestions for anyone going to Colt & Gray, one of three more restaurants featuring beer and food pairings:...

By Patricia Calhoun

January 17, 2011

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While a few readers poured criticism over Laura Shunk for her recent review of Freshcraft, Mantonat took the discussion a useful step further, pouring out some mouth-watering suggestions for anyone going to Colt & Gray, one of three more restaurants featuring beer and food pairings:

"...a brew to go with the food, which is heavy and pub-inspired: a perfect match for beer." This is the stereotyped view of beer and food to go with beer that has kept people from enjoying beer and food pairings in the first place. Here's a sample list of menu items from Colt & Gray; hardly heavy or pub inspired. I've added beer pairings that I thought might match well.

Arctic Char & Sea Bass Crudo, Fresno Chili, Orange, Fennel, Sea Salt & Olive Oil Berliner Kindl Weiss

Oysters on the Half Shell, Citrus-White Wine Mignonette Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noire

Grilled Diver Scallop, Braised Leeks & Caviar Beurre Blanc Orval Trappist

Grilled Octopus, Arugula, Citrus, Chick Peas, Red Pepper, Onion, Sweet Potatoes & Champagne Vinaigrette Fantome Pissentlit dandelion beer

Ingrid's Steamed Bouchot Mussels Cider, Leeks, Cream, Garlic, Fennel & Toasted Country Bread Girardin Geueze Black Label

CioppinoSea Bass, Prawns, Clams & Mussels, Tomato-Fennel Broth Firestone Walker Double Barrel Ale

Seared Arctic Char, Roasted Potatoes & Sorrel Sauce An unfiltered German zwikl from a gravity-fed cask would be perfect but probably unavailable. Uerige Sticke may be a good bottled pairing.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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