Last night we launched our first-ever Dublin City Brewing Co. Tasting Club. The first in our series of virtual events was a sell-out session with our Head Brewer Fergal taking the floor with top Dublin Chef Kwanghi Chan of the Bowls by Kwanghi restaurant on Marlborough Street.
Our Dublin City Brewing Co. Tasting Club is designed to give beer and food fans the chance to get to know our community superstars, as well as our very own Fergal on a personal level.
Questions are encouraged throughout the tasting in the ‘chat’ box of Zoom, and our fantastic guests did not hold back last night. Branding, brewing, bars… you ask it and our wonderful hosts answer! It was a great way to give our beer fans an interactive virtual experience until we can share a beer with you in person.
Kicking off with the ever-so-refreshing Liberator Irish Lager, Fergal described this beer as a “challenge to make, but easy to drink, a beer best enjoyed on a sunny summer’s day in Dublin.” Painting a picture like only Fergal can.
Kwanghi is delighted to have DCBCo as his new neighbours, he gave a background to his impressive resume, growing up surrounded by Asian flavours and working at his family’s Chinese restaurant in Donegal, before settling in Dublin.
“It’s great to see some new neighbours!”
The talented chef also makes sauces and seasonings with his company ChanChan, and his ChanChan Mala Black Garlic Peanut Rayu is now available in 600+ stores across Ireland and last night, the lucky 60+ Zoom participants received their very own pot to be paired and experimented alongside Dublin City Brewing Co beers.
Moving onto the Renegade Red Ale, Fergal talked passionately about this beer, saying this is particularly recommended with food, a “spectacular beer” that encourages drinkers to be different, just like the renegade Countess Markievicz who inspired the red ale.
Bursting into action, Kwanghi whipped up a mouth-watering spring salad (full recipe here) of rice noodles, fresh crunchy vegetables with a rich-in-colour Black garlic Mala dressing, which had our guests eyes wide and mouths watering. If that wasn’t enough to get our guests’ hearts racing, Kwanghi said, “you can just imagine enjoying this fresh, crunchy summer salad with an ice-cold Liberator Lager, sat in the Dublin sun by the river.” Yes Kwanghi, yes we can.
“Best Thursday I have had in 12 months.”
There was great synergy between the Fergal and Kwanghi, boosted with some great interaction from our guests, with one participant claiming it was the best Thursday they have had in a year. Our guests also agree with Fergal that, “It’s about time Dublin had its very own Independent Brewery.”
Fergal finished off with a tasting of the Patriot Pale Ale, described as a “different beast” and perfect for the winter months. A fruity, full-bodied beer, a perfect finish to round off a perfect tasting. Check out Kwanghi’s recipe here.
Our next Tasting Club is on March 25th at 7:30 pm with Mexican Chef Lily Ramirez and involves a “drunken salsa”. Intrigued? We look forward to seeing you all there.
Tickets available from Monday 1st March so watch this space.
Here’s to many more Tasting Clubs!
