Some people just don’t like to celebrate with roses.
Why not pair your Valentine’s meal with a fine beer?
Brian Tarver, one of only four certified cicerone in Texas (similar to a master sommelier, but with beer instead), has a great list of beers to inspire romance.
If having chocolate, pair it with an imperial stout. These dark beers traditionally have a higher alcohol content to prevent freezing and were made in the style of brewers who supplied the czarist courts. Tarver recommends North Coast Brewing Company’s Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout (9 percent ABV, 75 IBU), which is rated 91 by Chicago’s Beverage Testing Institute and has won a number of gold medals.
Another imperial stout that Tarver recommend is from Samuel Smith (7 percent ABV). This beer has also earned several gold medals and brewer’s website says that it would also pair well with “espresso, stilton and walnuts, New York cheesecake, steak au poivre, caviar, oysters Rockefeller, [and] chocolate baked Alaska.”
A third imperial stout that Tarver suggests is from Samuel Adams (9.2 percent ABV). In addition to chocolate desserts, the brewery suggest also pairing it with strong cheeses, rare roast beef, and oysters, which would be a perfect aphrodisiac.
As an extra special gift for a beer lover, Tarver’s choice is Deus Brut des Flandres – a beer that is brewed in Belgium, transported to France, and riddled like Champagne. The current vintage is 2006 and priced at $31.49 per 750 ml. At 11.5 percent alcohol, it is a strong beer that he says has a little spiciness and could be divided into two Champagne glasses for toasting your Valentine’s Day.
Tarver’s other suggestions for pairing desserts are Lindemans Framboise, a Belgian Raspberry Lambic, and Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, which is great with a scoop of vanilla ice cream floated on top.
All of these beers are available at the H-E-B’s Alon Market, where Tarver is on staff.
No matter what you choose, these beers will warm your sweetie’s heart.
HEB Alon Market
8503 NW Military Hwy.
San Antonio, TX 78230
