Geaghan Brothers Brewing beer dinner with Maine Girls Pint Out

At my house I am not the only fan of craft beer, my lovely wife Jessica shares my love of beer. Jessica is the Maine chapter Chair of Girls Pint Out, a National organization whose goal is to empower and educate women in the ways of craft beer, because it’s not a boys club it’s a beverage. Usually it’s me who’s heading out during the week to tap takeovers and brewery visits and such, but Jessica has her events and I completely support her, so on her nights I stay home, cook dinner, give the boys baths and put them to bed so that she can be out doing her thing, I asked her to take the next step though and write me a guest post about the event she’s been planning with Geaghan Brothers Brewing, which sounds like it was a success.

Cheers

Chaddah

 

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On Sunday October 19th Maine Girls Pint Out held their first Beer Pairing Dinner at Geaghan’s Pub & Craft Brewery in Bangor, Maine, the event was sold out with nearly thirty women in attendance. The dinner was four courses each paired with a Geaghan’s Brothers beer, before we started we were introduced to Andy Geaghan, head brewer and Matthew Rideout, pub chef.

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Andy Geaghan, head brewer and Matthew Rideout, pub chef.

The pairings were all excellent; I heard many women mention how they were not normally a fan of a particular type of beer but when paired correctly they really enjoyed it.

The Menu

The Menu

Course I – Butternut Squash and Apple Soup paired with Smiling Irish Bastard

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This was a sweet and savory contrasting pairing, I was a little unsure about the soup but I really enjoyed it, I would have loved more but I knew we still had three more courses.

Course II – Spinach Salad with crumbled blue cheese & candied pecans, roasted garlic balsamic dressing paired with Higgings Irish Red Ale

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A complementary pairing, the Irish Red is a malt forward beer which is sweet like the candied pecans but a contrast to the blue cheese.

Course III – Braised Beef Brisket locally sourced beef brisket braised in Bangor Brown Ale, cracked peppercorns, & onions served au jus, mashed sweet potatoes & coleslaw paired with Captain Kool IPA

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The beef, sweet potatoes and coleslaw were all fantastic but what I really remember is Andy talking about the woman Captain Kool is named for, it’s named for a woman who was a Pub regular. Myrtle “Molly” Kool was from New Brunswick, Canada, she was North America’s first female sea captain and spent her final years in Bangor where she took the bus to the pub to drink whiskey. Geaghan’s named their biggest, hoppiest beer after the whiskey drinking female captain.

Course IV – Pumpkin Cheesecake paired with Bangor Brown Ale

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Everyone was excited for the cheesecake, rightfully so, it was a great way to finish a great meal but by the fourth course I was so full I only had a couple bites, don’t worry the rest went home with me.

At the dinner Geaghan’s sold special Maine Girls Pint Out T-shirts for a minimum $20 donation with all proceeds benefiting Cancer Care of Maine, we have since raised over $400! If you didn’t get one that night there are still a few available at the Pub, stop by to get yours before they are gone.

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I can’t wait until our next beer pairing dinner at Geaghan’s, there will be more!

For more information about events and goings on with Maine Girls Pint Out like us on Facebook and Twitter.

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.