Victory Oktoberfest beer dinner

Speaking of Pizzeria Paradiso, Monday was their Oktoberfest beer dinner with Victory Brewery. I think the employees there are starting to recognize me. After Judy said she had never been to a beer dinner on Saturday I invited to Monday’s event. One of the co-owners made the 2.5 hour drive down from PA to represent the brewery. Often you just get the regional rep so that was cool. Pizzeria Paradiso does some very good beer dinners and this one met expectations. The menu...

Pretzel & Pilsner Mustard

Prima Pils

German Panzanella

dice of roasted beets, mushrooms, celery, radicchio, sliced onions & vinegar served over black bread & chives

Kolsh

Sauerbraten & cabbage

wilted cabbage topped with slices of suarbraten sprinkle w/ parsley

Scarlet Fire Rauchbier

German Oktoberfest Pizza

dill & parsley pesto, beer roasted vinegared potatoes, bacon, chicken & smoked mozzarella

Festbier

1810 Rye Pie

caraway, onions, celery root, fontina served on a rye dough crust

Hofstetten Original Munchner Hochzeitsbier

Cinnamon Goat Cheese Apple

baked apples stuffed w/ rustic cinnamon goat cheese filling

St. Victorious Dopplebock

The first course, the bite, was true Oktoberfest style. The pretzel was made in-house. The mustard was spicy with lots of horseradish. And the Victory Prima Pils was just as excellent as it always is. The Prima Pils has a ton of hops but its excellent floral to bitter ratio makes it wonderful.

I wasn’t much of a fan of the salad with beets and celery but it was good enough to eat. The bread was made with the Kolsch and was quite good. Victory only makes one batch of Kolsch a year and is only served on draft at the brewery so this was a nice treat. It was very crisp. Judy compared it to wine with its dryness.

The sauerbraten & cabbage appetizer was pretty good. It was paired with another beer only available at the brewery: their Scarlet Fire Rauchbier. This rauchbier was extremely smoky. The last rauchbier I had was from Allagash and I think that was a one off for them. The Allagash was most excellent with just the right amount of smoke. This one was almost too much but it got better with time. Although it was quite smoky it complimented the food perfectly.

The first pizza was good as usual. All the ingredients fit together perfectly. It had a smoke taste that I first assumed was from the bacon but then noted the smoked mozzarella on the menu. It was served with Victory’s Festbier in true Oktoberfest fashion served in a large mug. Prost!

The second pizza was quite different but just as good. I’m sure something in this pizza was made with the paired beer but I’m not sure what. This was the one course without a Victory beer. The Hofstetten Original Munchner Hochzeitsbier is supposed to be the original recipe from the wedding in Munich in 1810 that started Oktoberfest. I’m sure the beer ain’t bad but this particular keg had a metallic taste that I could get over.

The dessert was the best course. They do some cool desserts, such as the Mango, Proscuitto, Balsamic, & Pliney Mascarpone dish from back in March that I still remember. This baked apple stuffed with rustic cinnamon goat cheese filling was most excellent. I realize my taste buds aren’t at peak performance during the last course but I wasn’t the only enjoying this one. Victory’s St. Victorious Dopplebock was a good pairing as well. Most of their beers were mild at 5 or 6 percent and this was their hefty one at over 8%. I great way to top off the night.

I like the one-off dinners and the great pairings they match up. Good thing they have them once a month. This time we got a souvenir as well. The Victory owner brought us each a pint glass and I managed to get it home in one piece on my bike.