The Bier Markt on Esplanade is a well known downtown spot; whether you’re going for the food, the music or the bier, you know you’re going to have a good time – especially in the summer if you manage to get a table on their perfect-for-people-watching patio.
Last night we were able to taste their new summer season menu on the beautiful patio. Despite warnings of rain and thunderstorms, it was a perfect spring evening for BBQ and bier in the city.
The sampling station gave us the opportunity to taste the Hasseröder Pilsner, a light, flavourful beer that was smooth and simple, perfect for a refreshing after-work pint. We were also treated to the new Alexander Keith’s Hop Mason IPA which was a little heavier, caramel in colour and surprisingly easy to drink for a non-IPA drinker. And finally, we tired the Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA, which had a delightfully hoppy flavour with a slightly leathery finish.
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While the beer was wonderful, it was the food pairings that I wanted to write home about. The BBQ was going all night and Executive Chef Michael Cipollo prepared four different types of Bier Can Chicken, or Poulet au Bier if you’re being fancy. Along with the chicken, there were two different types of sausages – a pork and orange zest sausage that was spiced perfectly and a lamb and fennel sausage that would wow any BBQ fan.
As we sat with our last pints of the evening – the Hasseröder Pilsner won out as the fan favourite – the friendly servers passed around a King Prawn sitting atop a fingerling potato and apple salad complemented by a heavenly crème fraîche sauce which was to die for; I would never have thought to include apples in a potato salad but the chef at Bier Markt obviously knows more than I do. The sweet green apple crunch was a perfect partner to the softer potatoes and mild crème flavour.
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If you have the chance this summer, stop by the Bier Markt patio on the Esplanade with a close friend who loves to foodstagram, or a hot date that you want to wow with your knowledge of the perfect summer beers.
Thanks to Bier Markt, I’m officially ready for summer BBQs, patio season, and ice -old pints in the early evening sunshine; that is… if I wasn’t already.
