In Roger's defense:
Stone Brewery 'Out and About...Beer v. Wine Dinner'
Craft Beer vs. Fine Wine: Stone Brewing Co. & Trinchero Winery Square Off
this meal was paired with food by Chef Gavin Kaysen - of the Rancho Bernardo Inn's equally celebrated restaurant El Bizcocho - who is a 2007 Food and Wine 'Best New Chef', a Bocuse d'Or competitor, and was a competitor on 'the Next Iron Chef'
(note: Chef Kaysen has now taken over the top toque job at Cafe Boulud in NYC)
and the outcome...?
i'm with Roger.
there are plenty of beers that taste similar to the mass marketed Macros, and exposing these options to a naive dining public is no more insulting than having a sommelier come tableside to suggest a wine selection for the guest.
thankfully a few handful of chefs/restaurateurs understand this argument .
Of note - Paul Kahan (chef/owner of the much celebrated restaurants Blackbird and Avec in Chicago), has been in the works of a beer-centric 'gastropub' in Chicago (that as far as i know has yet to open). (
Great Beer From Around the World Meets its Food Match
another well placed example of this is the much lauded (and Michelin starred!)
Spotted Pig in NYC.
Roger's argument doesn't go entirely unfounded -
perhaps Louisville isn't ready for this sort of 'progressive thought' in finer dining.
For a city that has such a vibrant dining scene and dining culture, it's a farce to think that Louisville is not capable of this; nor that Roger does not make a valid argument.
Sadly, quality beer lists and beer education seem to be lacking across the board in the majority of our cities 'nicer' places.
The only place that comes to mind that breaks this standard is Maido - and the efforts that Jim Huie has made to do just that - educate.
'Afterthought' is the first word that comes to mind on this subject, along with how this city tends to view anything that isn't from an a la carte menu , an appetizer, an entree, or priced under $25.
...I feel Roger's pain in the beer world, and how similar parallels fall in place for the world of dessert in Louisville.