Category Archives: Food Pairing

From Definition Ale:

“Beer and Jazz are seldom mentioned in the same circles, however craft beer and jazz are increasingly finding the same home. The North Coast Brewing Co. has celebrated this fact with their Belgian Dark Strong Ale called Brother Thelonious. Anyone passionate about jazz music should instantly pair the name to Thelonious Monk, a marvel jazz pianist who is known as one of the giants of American music. The name pairs so well with this beer because it is a style traditionally brewed by monks. So there you have it, the Brother Thelonious is a Belgian Abbey Style beer brewed in a style made famous by monks, and to honor Thelonious Monk.

“What we have here then is one of America’s most masterful breweries brining to us a historic beer style mastered by Belgian Monks, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Brother Thelonious goes to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, which allows the world’s most promising young musicians the opportunity to learn under the tutelage of America’s jazz masters. I’m impressed. Not to mention that the beer is 9.4% abv, and claims a classic mahogany red color – I’d say that so far Brother Thelonious has hit all the right notes.

“The mouthfeel is soft and easy with a light silky character and moderate carbonation. It will finish clean and lightly crisp at first when it is colder, but eventually becomes a warming and more soothing drink as the ambient room temperature gets to it. I would enjoy this beer with just about anyone, and with a wide variety of foods. Creamy and old cheeses will work very well here, so will roasted meats, anything from the grill, or chocolate or fruit based desserts.”

Read the whole review here.