• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Craft Beer Marketing Idea of the Week: Blind taste testings for chefs at Dust Bowl Brewing

October 11, 2017Chris Crowell

As a result of this transcendent tasting moment at the GABF, this event hosted by Dust Bowl Brewing Co. hit us right in the feel spot and became an immediate entry into everone’s favorite most tolerated running segment: The Craft Beer Marketing Idea of the Week. After months of collaboration, the northern California brewery teamed with SupHerb Farms, a nearby supplier of fresh tasting IQF ingredient solutions for foodservice operators and food manufacturers, to host chefs for a day of beer and food pairings along with behind-the-scenes tours of each manufacturing facility.

Dust Bowl Brewing - Blind Tasting
No invite for us? I know we’re not chefs, but, you know. Still hurts.

Taste and flavor have always been essential features of beer, but now more than ever these components are being assessed against a new, colorful canvas of food. What made the event especially unique was keynote speaker, Dr. Hoby Wedler, a renowned pioneer in sensory tasting and co-founder of Senspoint Design. Blind since birth, Wedler teamed with brewmaster Don Oliver, taproom chef Abel Larios and SupHerb Farms chef Scott Adair to create four innovative pairings featuring ingredients from SupHerb Farms and signature beers from Dust Bowl Brewing Co. Wedler led the guest chefs, who were all blindfolded, in a sensory tasting where they experienced the unique interaction of the different beer styles with the food pairings.

“Being cognizant of how the different flavor profiles impact the diner’s experience is essential in menu development,” shared Dr. Wedler. “When you take away the sense of sight, you can really hone in on flavor and texture. You have no preconceived notion of what the food or beer should taste like. My mission is to educate and develop a greater appreciation for the sensory experience of food and beverage.”

The American Culinary Federation (ACF) sanctioned event brought together a variety of chefs ranging from San Francisco’s famous Boudin bakery to Atria, the upscale senior living community.

“I’ve gained a lot of information on the beer making process,” commented Gianpaulo Ruiz, director of culinary services at Atria and ACF Chef of the Year. “Beer pairing is something we can surely add to our menu development. The sensory pairing by Hoby was outstanding. This event will enhance my approach on how to incorporate local craft beer for our residents.”

Dust Bowl Brewing - Blind Tasting Close up - Chef Ruiz

The beer pairing movement in the culinary world is being advocated not only by craft breweries, but by key industry influencers. At the California Craft Brewers Association Summit this past September, Julia Herz, craft beer program director for the Brewers Association, emphasized the need — and her personal mission — to change the perception of beer as related to food. She identifies the opportunity for beer pairing skills to help shift this narrative through classes, dinners and experiences much like the one with Dr. Wedler at Dust Bowl Brewing Co.

“It’s exciting to be a catalyst in the beer pairing movement. Beer is no longer a stand-alone beverage,” said Brett Tate, founder, Dust Bowl Brewing Co. “Chefs are learning to cook with it, they’re learning what foods go with what styles of beers. To be a catalyst in this movement is exciting. As a brewery, we’re learning every day how to be more innovative and creative in connecting consumers with our brand. It’s imperative to stay relevant.”

 

Dust Bowl Brewing - New Brewery Rendering crop
Here’s a quick glance (with cool photos) of Dust Bowl Brewing’s new brewery
Stone Brewing teams with Sanuk for a lineup of summer sandals
United States Bartenders’ Guild now has access to WOTVS Hospitality Assistance Program
Colorado’s Resolute Brewing shares its 2022 year in review (rebrands and invests in local malt)

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. How much do people actually pay for hops? – Fraser Valley Hop Farms Inc says:
    February 20, 2019 at 5:36 pm

    […] Blind taste testings for chefs at Dust Bowl Brewing […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Stone Brewing teams with Sanuk for a lineup of summer sandals
  • Take a look at Jack’s Abby’s renovated Beer Hall and its sweet new Tradition Meets Tech pilot system
  • State of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
  • MicroStar Logistics launches Network Services Division to manage reusable plastic pallets for the beer Industry

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • Take a look at Jack’s Abby’s renovated Beer Hall and its sweet new Tradition Meets Tech pilot system
    March 27, 2023
  • CCBA California Craft Beer SummitState of California Craft Beer: Covid recovery challenged by competition, consolidation
    March 23, 2023
  • Koga-brothers-karben4Karben4 Brewing to relaunch Ale Asylum brand
    March 20, 2023
  • 4 steps to understanding the filtration process in craft beer
    March 20, 2023
  • newbelgium_2023_wildnectar-shopping-basket_family_IMG_2Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails
    March 16, 2023
  • brooklyn 35 featureBrooklyn Lager turns 35 and more beers to know this week
    March 14, 2023

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC