Pride Pub: Orlando City at Toronto FC

It’s finally here, you hosers! Our first Canadian edition of Pride Pub for 2017, eh? Orlando City heads into the Great White North to take on Toronto FC after a quick turnaround from Saturday’s 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. So go get your drinking toques on (look it up, ya hosehead), and get ready for an Eastern Conference kerfuffle.

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 Canada, eh: A Tout Le Monde, Unibroue

As patrons of Pride Pub, you’re all familiar with Unibroue. However, this brew is pretty darn special. Most of their beers are higher ABV (Alcohol by Volume), but this saison comes in at a very drinkable 4.5%. It was a special request brew by a rock and roll legend. Evidently, brewmaster Jerry Vietz and Megadeth lead vocalist Dave Mustaine are buds. Well, when you get two guys like that together they’re bound to come up with a beer that is a tribute to the song A Tout Le Monde by Megadeth.

According to the brewery:

"This saison ale was brewed at the request of Dave Mustaine, lead singer of heavy metal band Megadeth. It uses a dry hopping technique and, to date, has the lowest alcohol content of any Unibroue beer.”

Pair with: Cedar Plank Salmon. Saisons are a pretty complex beer. The light malts allow spicy fruity flavors to come through, while the hops don’t overwhelm, but result in a dry finish. That allows saisons to pair with many different flavors, including the strong taste of salmon.

Dave’s Recommendations: Maple Roasted Root Vegetables. Roasted vegetables with the salmon is an obvious side, but adding the maple...pure Canuck!

From Florida: Diver Down Imperial Red Ale, Brew Hub

Located in Lakeland, FL, just west of Orlando, Brew Hub is a different type of brewery. While they have some of their own labeled brews, they also provide the infrastructure for other craft brewers to brew, package, and distribute their beers. It’s a great concept, and we’re featuring their imperial red ale. Additionally it’s in keeping with the rock and roll theme, since Van Halen had an album named Diver Down.

According to the brewery:

"This is an imperial red ale brewed with two-row caramel Munich barley and Magnum and Williamette hops. The beer is a rich, malty ale with a ruby-red hue and a thick, frothy head of foam"

Pair with: Thai Red Chicken Curry. Imperial red ales are bold and require a bold food to stand up for them. Curry is exactly the spice for the job.

Dave’s Recommendations: Steamed rice. Let’s keep it simple. Make it old school or get the boil in a bag if you’re feeling pressed for time.

We appreciate your patronage, Mane Landers. We hope you think these pairings are a beauty, while you sit on your chesterfield and watch the Lions take on Toronto FC at BMO Field this Wednesday, Let us know which pairing you went with in the comments below. Take off hosers (and Go City)!

P.S. Go back and read the whole thing in a Canadian accent. It’s a whole lot better, eh?