Pride Pub: Orlando City at Colorado Rapids

Welcome back to the Pride Pub! This week, Orlando City heads out west to take on the Colorado Rapids. Let’s be honest, it’s going to be a tough one as Colorado sits in second place in the Western Conference. Fortunately, the Pub is here with grub and grog to please your palate.

Just a reminder on how this works: We choose a craft beer from the country/state/city of our opponent and we include an appropriate recipe to go along with it. Of course, we also choose a Florida craft beer to complement our other recipe, and to represent our Orlando City Lions here in the beautiful Sunshine State.

From Colorado - Old Chub Scotch Ale, Oskar Blues Brewery

I had the opportunity to meet Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis many years ago in Colorado. He was catering a company retreat and he had brought along plenty of his namesake Dale’s Pale Ale and Old Chub for those of us lucky enough to attend. Something many people might not know is Dale is quite the barbecue guy, and he was there serving it up himself. All in all, a very cool and grounded dude.

According to the brewery:

"This jaw-dropping Scottish strong ale (8% ABV) is brewed with bodacious amounts of malted barley and specialty grains, and a dash of beechwood-smoked malt. Old Chub features semi-sweet flavors of cocoa and coffee, and a wee-bit of smoke. A head-turning treat for malt heads and folks who think they don’t dig dark beer."

Pair with: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sliders. Old Chub is a strong brew, and so we’re going to pair it with a strong tasting food. Mustard-based barbecue sauces are different than what we’ve recommended before, but I know you’ll enjoy it nonetheless.

Dave's recommendation: Carolina Slaw. We’re going to stay with the slightly different than we’ve recommended before thing with this vinegar -- not mayo -- based coleslaw. Give it a try!

From Florida - Dancing Pierre Belgian Style Pale Ale, Central 28 Beer Company

I recently visited Central 28’s DeBary, FL, tasting room, and met with co-founder Dan St. Pierre. Dan was generous enough to give me a tour of the facility, tell me how the operation works, and let me try their outstanding brews. I also found out that this very week Dancing Pierre is being released in cans. I recommend you go out and get some before they’re sold out. Of course, you can also visit the tasting room and get a growler to go.

According to the brewery:

"This golden Belgian-style unfiltered pale ale dances along the incredibly delicate balance between fruity, spicy aromatics, assertive bitterness, and deep malt character. It’s a difficult balance, depending on taking just the right steps. We think of it as slightly akin to riding on a unicycle while juggling. Never easy but always impressive."

Pair with: Grilled Shrimp Tacos. I asked Dan what he’d pair with Dancing Pierre and he said he’d most recently had it with shrimp tacos, and it was quite good. If the brewer gives you a recommendation, go with it.

Dave's recommendations: Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad. A light and tasty companion for the tacos and the pale ale.

Thank you for stopping by the Pride Pub. As always, please comment below and let us know what you think. Vamos Orlando!