SF Beer Week - Delarosa

SF Beer Week commenced last Friday, and the first thing we've been able to make it to is a beer pairing menu offered at Delarosa in SF's Marina district. The food and pairings were great, and we'll be returning in the future to try more of their regular menu. Here's a rundown of the pairings:

Danish Lager and Meatballs: Moist pork meatballs in a spicy tomato sauce - The Danish Lager (Devil's Canyon Brewing, Belmont, CA) is slightly sweet, smooth, and crisp with a good bit of hop flavor. It paired great and the alcohol content didn't cause the spiciness to become overpowering.

Steam Beer and Chicken: Grilled chicken over white beans, mushrooms, and rosemary - The Imperial Common (SF Brewer's Guild) is a rather hoppy, in the range of a strong pale ale or mild IPA, strong steam beer. It really pulled the earthiness out of the bean mixture. This was my favorite pairing of the day.

Sparkling Beer and Donuts: Fresh sugar coated donuts with a chocolate dipping sauce - The Sparkling Cassissona (Birrificio Italiano, Lurago Marinone, Italy) is a weird one. It at first reminded me of an orange Fanta, as it was that fizzy and orangey. Separately, I'd probably not drink too much of this one, but a slight citrus flavor in the donuts complemented it nicely and this was a good dessert pairing.