Mexican beer and fall-themed food. The perfect complement? Well, that’s what were determined to find out when Negra Modelo sent us a “pairing kit” to put it to the test. When presented with the opportunity to taste test, my answer is almost always yes. Negra Modelo sent us a box full of spices from The Spice House, two tulip glasses, a wooden cutting board, and a $50 Visa gift card to purchase the goods. Challenge accepted. Think of it as the at-home version of Chopped. Being seasonal food fans (mainly fall), we began planning a menu of fall foods that would highlight the spices (follow The Spice House recommendations) and pair well with a Vienna (dark) lager. Yes – a European beer style from Mexico. Here’s the menu:
- Aged Cabot Cheese with apples, fig jam, balsamic glaze, and crostini
- Spiced roasted brussels sprouts
- Sweet potato puree with nutmeg and cinnamon
- Ribeye steak with Quebec beef spice
- Cornish Hen with bicentennial seasoning
- Pork with bavarian style seasoning
We had a friend over and made a beer pairing tasting menu. Negra Modelo was served with the appetizer, followed by a taste of each protein with the sides. The beer and food was judged based on the flavor of each, whether the spices complemented the food, and if the beer paired well with each “course.” On to the tasting notes:
Negra Modelo (ABV: 5.4%)
Appearance: Dark caramel with a red hue
Aroma: Sweet scents with subtle scents of toast
Taste: Sweet malts give caramel flavor, biscuit flavor with light herbal and earthy tastes
Mouthfeel: Clean and crisp with lingering sweetness
Overall: A pleasant surprise, Negra Modelo provides more character than expected. While it is an InBev beer, I can forgive that if the brew offers some flavor. For a lager from Mexico, it offers the basic profile of a lager with extra sweetness of caramel and a toasty flavor as well. Tastes like it would pair well with fall foods. So here we go!
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