Three Beer Dinners Provide Opportunities to Drink Like a Local — and Eat That Way Too

If you are looking for a good beer dinner to attend, you are in luck. Next week there are three great dinners that you can attend. As part of the Drink Like a Local movement, Royal Palms Wine & Tapas at the Beaches, Gas Full Service Restaurant in St. Augustine, and Pele’s Wood Fire in Riverside will each host a dinner at their restaurants paired with local, in-state brews. Chefs at each of the restaurants have prepared special, one-of-a-kind menus to celebrate all that is local in craft beer.

The Drink Like a Local movement has been gaining momentum as beer drinkers look for fresher, local and regional brews. Along with the Jacksonville GoLo (Go Local) and the farm to table movements, the Drink Like a Local movement is a return to the roots of local consumerism. It is a sort of opposition to the corporatization of modern society.

“By supporting local businesses, you are keeping jobs and money in your community,” said Carolyn Graham of Brown Distributing Company, sponsor of the Drink Like a Local movement. “Local businesses link together building stronger communities; local breweries share their spent grain with local farmers who in turn sell the grain-fed stock to local restaurants.”

“It’s a web of economic social environments providing the freshest products to the marketplace,” Graham concluded.

Tickets for each dinner are $60 per person, including tax and gratuity. See each restaurant’s information below for reservation information.

Royal Palms Wine & Tapas Menu & Pairings

Date: Monday, Nov. 12   Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: 296 Royal Palm Dr., Atlantic Beach
Reservations: (904) 372-0052

First Course
Local Mayport Shrimp & Chorizo Brochette
Beer Pairing – Tsunami Szechuan Saison, Green Room Brewing

Second Course
Winter Squash Soup w/ Spent Grain Magdalene
Beer Pairing – Seasonal Pumpkin Ale, Bold City Brewery

Third Course
Scallop & Flounder Roulade w/ Plantain & Serrano Hash
Beer Pairing – Duuuvaaal Belgian Golden Ale, Intuition Ale Works

Fourth Course
Maple Smoked Pork Loin w/ Beer BBQ & Rosemary Potatoes
Beer Pairing – Black IPA, Engine 15 Brewing Co.

Fifth Course
Green Chile Dark Chocolate Truffle
Beer Pairing – Mind Drive Imperial Porter, Pinglehead Brewing Company

Gas Full Service Restaurant Menu & Pairings

Date: Wednesday, Nov. 14   Two Seatings: 5:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Location: 9 Anastasia Blvd. #C, Saint Augustine
Reservations: (904) 217-0326

First Course
Deviled eggs
Beer Pairing – Wildnight Honey Cream Ale, Swamp Head Brewing Co.

Second Course
Local Scallop Ceviche
Beer Pairing – Weissguy, Engine 15 Brewing Co.

Third Course
Heirloom Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad
Beer Pairing – Imperial Red, Pinglehead Brewing Co.

Fourth Course
Chef’s Surprise Course

Fifth Course
Cartwheel Ranch Pork Chop Chargrilled with Butternut Squash Risotto and Sauteed Swiss Chard
Beer Pairing – Truck Stop Stout, Intuition Ale Works

Fifth Course
Spice Cake made with Sangue Del Mar Saison, topped with an Orange and Rosemary Infused Pastry Cream and fresh local berries
Beer Pairing – Sangue Del Mar Saison, Green Room Brewing

Pele’s Menu & Pairings

Date: Thursday, Nov. 15   Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: 2665 Park St., Jacksonville
Reservations: (904) 232-8545

First Course
Artisan Greens with Blood Orange Saison Dressing
Beer Pairing – Sang de le Mar, Green Room Brewing

Second Course
Seared Scallop and lemon thyme risotto
Beer Pairing – Killer Whale Cream Ale, Bold City Brewery

 Third Course
La Rustica and Beer Cheese Soup,  Oven Dried Tomato, Basil and Swiss
Beer Pairing – Old Battle Axe, Engine 15 Brewing Co.

Fourth Course
Roast Lamb Chop, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Parmesan Reggiano, Marinara, Organic Olive Oil
Beer Pairing – Imperial Red, Pinglehead Brewing Co.

Fifth Course
Maple Creme Brulee, Candied Bacon, Oatmeal Brittle, Candied Walnuts, Sweet Whip
Beer Pairing – Truckstop Stout, Intuition Ale Works