pairingsfoodandwine.com
6001 Shady Oak Road, Minnetonka, MN 55343
952-426-0522
Pairings is a terrific restaurant and bottle shop located near Highway 62 and Shady Oak Road in Minnetonka. With over 400 types of craft, regional and imported beers you will find something for everyone. Add to that an excellent restaurant serving lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, it’s the perfect stop. The best part is being able to purchase your beer (or wine) in the bottle shop and enjoy it next door in the restaurant for absolutely no corkage. You’re going to love retail pricing for your dinner beer!
Capital Brewing
Supper Club Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Supper Club is a light bodied lager from Capital Brewing out of Middleton Wisconsin. Pouring a pale straw color with a light creamy head, this brew has a minimal hop profile. The taste is redolent of honey with floral and fruity notes. One might consider drinking a couple while grilling out on a hot summer day. Overall, this beer is easy drinking and tasty. The perfect post-lawn mowing beer!
Left Hand Brewing Co.
Left Hand Sawtooth Ale
ABV: 5.3%
Left Hand’s Sawtooth ale is an English-style ESB. Dark copper in color with a large malt profile and has just enough hops for balance. A thin white head and light carbonation suit this beer wonderfully. Although the B in ESB stands for bitter, Sawtooth Ale is quite smooth, not bitter and not too sweet just like its British cousins. At 5.3% ABV, it continues its similarities to the British versions. This being Left Hand’s flagship beer, it is definitely worthy of notoriety. This beer will go well with just about anything you drink it with.
From burgers to foie gras, this beer is made to suit food pairings.
Bells Brewery
Bell’s Third Coast Beer
ABV: 4.8%
Bell’s Third Coast Beer is an American blonde ale. You don’t see too many of these around and it’s a shame. It pours a beautiful golden color and crystal clear. It’s a medium bodied beer with good head retention. Although it isn’t a huge robust beer, it has a solid toasted cereal base and is lightly hopped to give it a nice crisp citrus finish. As an added bonus, this bottle-conditioned ale is only 4.8% ABV which makes for a good summertime session beer.
Sweet BBQ ribs beckon this beer.
Victory Brewing
Victory Summer Love Ale
ABV: 5.2%
Summer Love is a golden ale brewed by Victory brewing out of Downington, PA. It boasts a light body from the German Pilsner Malt used in the mash bill; this beer does not skimp on taste however. Whole flower American and German hops are used to give the beer a nice citrus aroma while keeping the IBUs in balance. Clocking in at 5.2% ABV it’s a beer that you can enjoy all day long.
This beer craves a Philly cheesesteak or a brat piled high with fried onions and peppers.
Eric Bordelet
Bordelet Poire Authentique
ABV: 4%
Although it’s not a beer, this cider cannot be left out. It is a stunner! The nose has a wonderful floral quality that is presented beautifully by its champagne-like effervescence. Its light straw color brings the pear fruit to mind. Unlike the fruit, the flavor is not as sweet as you would think. Instead, it is almost dry, but with an astonishing amount of complexity. I’m not usually one for ciders, but this a trip worth taking. Pair this with hard salty cheeses and crusty breads to really make this cider a stand-out. At 4% ABV, a 750ml won’t be too much of a good thing.
