5. Hop-cured salmon with marinated fennel and onion, served with the Howard Street West Coast IPA
West Coast brewers are renowned for the amount of hops they cram into their IPAs, making for very hoppy beers. Thirsty Bear’s Howard Street West Coast IPA is distinct even in the West Coast IPA category, and has complimentary grapefruit notes from its Cascade hops.
This dish is one of the brewery’s most fun food and beer pairings. McCarthy grinds the Cascade hop pellets to cure the salmon, along with salt and sugar. The grapefruit notes lift the silky richness of the fish and play beautifully with the matching essence in the beer.
“This is my favorite of our beers,” McCarthy said. “It’s a great all day kind of beer, light and citrusy. Our brewers use copious amounts of American hops, which add resinous, piney flavors and aromas that I love [pairing] with our house-cured salmon.”
McCarthy tops the salmon with a lightly marinated fennel and onion salad bringing a fragrant touch to the plate. The dish’s simplicity makes for a relaxed lunch, and allows for an appreciation of the nuances and mild bite of the beer.
