Walk A Mile In My Heels: Beer School

We went to our third "Beer School" a few weeks ago. Desert Edge Brewery hosts this event the first Thursday of every month. It is SUCH a great experience! Even if you aren't an avid beer drinker, you will learn a lot about what you like and don't like in beer, and the food is amazing!

First, you get a tour of the brewery with the Brew Master, Chris. He shows you the whole beer-making process and teaches you random tidbits about all types of beer. For examples, ales taste fruity while lagers taste crisp. Then, it's onto tasting all 8 beers they have on tap. Their beers change every few weeks, so Beer School is always a new adventure. You learn the correct way to pour, taste, and enjoy your beer. The beers are paired with a special 4-course meal that is never on their menu because it is made especially for Beer School. Most of the courses even contain beer!

Beer School is so popular that it is sold out many months in advance. We make it a point to book all 16 seats one month each year so we can share the night with our friends. We were excited to have some old and new friends join us this year!

Course 1
Quinoa and arugula salad with coriander hefeweizen topped with yams, feta, and red onion
Paired with: Munich Lager and Happy Valley Hefeweizen

Course 2
Smoked Gouda, white cheddar, and gold potato British Mild soup
Paired with: Centennial Steamer and Pub Pilsner

Course 3
Grilled salmon with creamy polenta and vegetable caponeta
Paired with: British Mild and Utah Pale Ale
Kinda forgot to take a pic. Whoops. It was super good, though!

Course 4
Stout-braised bratwurst with potatoes and kale*
Paired with: Latter-Day Stout and Espresso Stout

*Usually the 4th course is a dessert, but the chef told us that people like eating dessert more than he likes making it, so we got bratwurst. It was a little weird, but we were too drunk to care at that point.

From left to right: Mindy's friend, Chris Hass (the Brew Master), Rebecca, Lew, Jordan, Kirtley