Pour for Thought at The Masons Arms

September 2009

The Masons Arms at Strawberry Bank has for many years enjoyed a well deserved reputation for a fabulous selection of beers, both local, national and speciality beers from distant shores.

So when their exclusive supper club were looking for some exciting flavours to add a fresh sparkle to accompany their dinner, they found the answer was beer.

“I was approached by John and Diane Taylor [landlord and landlady of the Masons Arms] to come along to the evening and provide some of the speciality world beers I represent in the UK.” explains Nigel Stevenson, himself a former landlord of the Mason's and credited with putting the pub on the 'beer' map.

Joining Nigel at the event was Rupert Ponsonby, co-founder of The Beer Academy and well respected authority on wine and beer, who introduced the selection of beers which were chosen for their unique tastes and qualities to match and accentuate the flavours of the delicious three course dinner.

“Any good meal should start with an aperitif,” began Rupert, “and we'll start with Deus: quite literally a champagne beer.” The guests were rather taken aback to be drinking beer out of flute glasses, but this was indeed a delicate drink with champagne-like qualities and the perfect start to the evening.

The starter, a fine platter of smoked and cured fish, was accompanied by a delicate Kolsch beer from Cologne, a sour 'gueuze' Lambic beer from Belgium and, most intriguingly, Schlenkerla: a smoked beer from Bavaria created by roasting barley over beech-wood fires which imparts its flavour in the brewing process.

To taste each beer, the diners were served with the various beers in wine glasses. “These are fine drinks which have been crafted over and lovingly produced as much as any wine - why shouldn't they be revered in the same way?” continued Rupert, “Drinking out of a wine glass allows you to savour the aromas and really experience the delicate flavours individual to each of these beers.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, our main course this evening will be a classic of the Masons Arms: caramelised Peking duck.” announced Nigel, “And to accompany, there could only really be one beer: Kwak!”

Kwak indeed turned out to be one of the highlights of the evening: a rich, amber coloured beer with a thick cream head and aromas of malty fruit, spice and a vanilla sweetness. An unusual Belgian beer, most notably for the fact that it is traditionally served in a 'stirrup' glass – rather like a squat version of a yard of ale.

A wheat beer and a classic pale ale from America (seen by many as the new leaders in craft brewing) followed on, and a rich chocolate fudge cake dessert completing the meal with a strawberry fruit beer and a robust, dark imperial porter.

“Beer is a wonderful choice for the dessert course!” exclaims Rupert, “Just last week I was invited to the prestigious Brown's Hotel in Mayfair (officially the best place for afternoon tea in London) where I was asked to pair beer with all sorts of desserts: quite interesting when posed with the question, what beer do you recommend with Spotted Dick?”*

“The evening was a huge success and we hope to have more like this in the future.” commented John Taylor, “The Masons is a real part of the Lakeland landscape and this sort of event really helps us bring an exciting new element to our customers.”

“This year we have been shortlisted by Country Life Magazine in their 'Country Pub of the Year' competition. Hosting social events like this is exactly what our customers have been asking for and this is once again being recognised on a national level.”

The view on the evening from the dining guests was equally as glowing, with many declaring that they would be looking to pair speciality beer with food again in the future, rather than the obvious choice of wine.

“In a time when many pubs are struggling, it's fantastic to see people like John and Diane at the Masons Arms really take the lead with innovative events like these.” concludes Nigel, “It gets people into the pub and they have an enjoyable, educational and sociable evening to remember.”