The Thirsty Hopster

One of the best things about living in San Francisco is that we live in the epicenter of American food culture.  I know NYC has more big name, expensive restaurants, but I feel like a lot of the food innovation comes from the west coast, particularly the whole organic, local foods movement. 

I like great food almost as much as I love great beer, so I’m especially excited about this month’s Dinner with the Beer Chef.  The Beer Chef is Bruce Paton is a Bay Area chef who is currently the Executive Chef at the Cathedral Hill Hotel.  Once a month he hosts a multi-course dinner with dishes he has prepared to match the beer that will be served.  Usually these are Brewmaster Dinners, in which the brewmaster from a West Coast craft brewery is on hand to serve his beers and talk to guests. 

I’ve never been to one of these yet, but the April dinner (Sunday April 20th) is shaping up to be the most exciting beer dinner I’ve heard of yet.  There will be not one, but five, brewmasters on hand from several of the top breweries in the whole country: Allagash, Avery, Dogfish Head, Lost Abbey, and Russian River. 

Check out the Beer Chef’s website for more information about his events.  You can find the menu for the April beer dinner here.  It is $95, which is more expensive than the average beer dinner he does, but the breweries present are truly top-notch.  Make your reservation before April 10th if you want to attend.