Match of the Day….

Match of the Day….

As well as providing that rich, malty taste in our moo pie (Seven Ale) we have a special affinity with Bristol Beer Factory because we’re both Bristolian brands who just so happen to be the same age (10 and a ½ years to be precise!) Their award winning beers are brewed just round the corner from us and you’ll find them behind the bar at our flagship pie shop on Stokes Croft Bristol as well as our restaurants in Manchester, London and Cardiff. So, well aware already that our classic pies taste great with Bristol Beer Factory beers, we thought we’d see what worked with our new topless range (which can be eaten chilled as well as hot).  Sam (one of Bristol Beer Factory’s lucky beer experts) met Tristan (our chief pie expert) at Stokes Croft for a bit of pie and beer matching with a difference: chilled, topless pies and not a bit of mash or gravy in sight!  They brought the beers.  We dished up the pies…

Sam and Tristan get down to some serious pie and beer tasting. After much swigging and nibbling (and serious talk of ‘aromatic boosts’ and ‘hop character’) we came up with these perfect pairings:

• Southville Hop & Kooky Chook (our free range British chicken, sweet potato, coconut and chilli pie)

Southville Hop is an American-inspired IPA, full of tropical fruit flavours and aroma.  Its string of awards includes National Champion bottled beer 2012 (SIBA) and Beer of the Festival at the 2014 CAMRA Bristol Beer Festival. The guys agreed this went wonderfully with the punchy Thai flavours in the kooky chook pie.

• Seven Ale & Chickalito (our free range British chicken and dry cured ham pie)

Seven is a Premium Amber Ale made with English malt and hops.  The toffee malt flavours are perfectly balanced with a smooth hop bitterness and aroma and really hit the spot when served with our chickalito chicken and ham pie. (Interesting fact: Seven got its name because it was the seventh brew tried on the Beer Factory’s testing kit back when the brewery opened.  They clearly made the right choice; it’s been in production ever since).

• Independence & Light as a feta (our butternut squash, feta and sun dried tomato pie)

Independence is a pale ale full of big hop character, made using carefully selected American hops added throughout the brewing process to give a fresh aromatic boost.   It was awarded National Champion Bottled Beer 2014 (SIBA) making it officially the best bottled beer in the UK.

Come and try these perfect pairings for yourself at your nearest Pieminister in Bristol, London, Cardiff and Manchester.