Some flavourful pairings with ‘Bubble Stash’ IPA

I bet when it comes to what beer goes into your cooler ahead of hosting that backyard BBQ this year, the thought of “how will this pair with my dinner” may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Beer… pairs with food? It sure does! I’m here to tell you about an innovative, flavourful new beer being carried at Vince’s called Hop Valley Bubble Stash IPA, and how to help you to pair it with a few things from around the market. Let’s dig in!

First, start with the ingredients and flavour profiles of the beer. For those familiar with the IPA beer style, hops are the core ingredient of the style, taking center stage. Hop Valley uses something called a Mosaic Cryo-Hop to flavour their beer. Essentially, this reduces impactful bitterness and instead brings forward tropical fruit, and citrus aromas and flavours. This makes the beer approachable, drinkable and refreshing.

So how do you go about pairing this with food? Without going too deep, looking for flavours that complement one another is a great way to make a memorable beer and food pairing experience. You heard me say citrus, right? Let’s build three courses that you could serve with a Bubble Stash IPA as a compliment while shopping around Vince’s!

Start off that sunny backyard BBQ with something light and refreshing like a cantaloupe skewer with Tre Stelle Bocconcini pearls and Prosciutto. The compounding flavours of sweet melon, salty meat and the tanginess of the cheese will soften the underlying bitterness, helping to bring out the malt sweetness of the beer, with a kiss of that tropical fruit note produced by the hops.

Moving into your main course, Vince’s offers a wide selection of seafood, including shrimp! I love grilled shrimp in the summer, and if you think about it, there is a lot of flavour harmony when you bring citrus and seafood together. Grab yourself the Triple Crown easy-peel shrimp, toss them with a bit of spice like a coconut curry sauce, grill them up and serve in tacos or even on a bed of Jasmine Rice with a squeeze of lime. Wash that down with a sip of Bubble Stash IPA and it rivals any beachside seafood experience.

And why not have a little fun when it comes time for dessert! Beer surprises me all the time in how well it pairs with some of our favourite sweet treats. To continue to riff on the fruit vibes here, may I suggest a refreshing finish of a bowl of Chapman’s Orange Sorbet as you sip on that can of Eugene Oregon Sunshine? A delightfully playful way to wrap up some fun in the sun.

So there you have it. Grab a Hop Valley Bubble Stash IPA and some of these easy-to-pair items on your next trip to Vince’s, and step up your Summer Grill days!

— Drew Main, Certified Cicerone and Prud’homme Master Beer Sommelier – Six Pints Collective