Downeast Cider & Joe’s: Cider Pairing Dinner

Ever been to a cider pairing dinner? Me either…until recently, that is. That’s right, cider can be paired with a multi-course meal just like wine or beer (but even better)! Many people that haven’t tried craft cider think that “all ciders taste the same” or that “ciders can’t be as complex as wine and beer,” but those people are wrong! I recently attended a five-course dinner at Joe’s American Bar & Grill complete with Downeast Cider pairings. I already love their products, but trying each blend paired with a complimentary food highlighted the flavor profile and complexity to perfection. Ciders can range from dry to sweet, they can be tannic, hopped, sour, or have other added fruits of spices, and therefore can be vastly different from one another.

The night started with hors d’oeuvres, including mac and cheese bites, mini burgers, and flatbreads, as well as some of the best sangria you’ve ever tasted. All of the food (and obviously all of the cider) was gluten-free, making it welcoming for those who drink cider due to health reasons. After mingling for a while, it was time to grab our seats and get ready for the main event. The whole set up was pretty casual with a really fun and upbeat atmosphere.

The first course was a “small bite” consisting of an oyster on the half shell with grapefruit and jalapeno granite, paired with Downeast Cider’s Drier Side: Hopped Grapefruit. The drier cider paired nicely with the texture of the oyster and the grapefruit element of each really tied the course together.

The second course was the soup course, but don’t let that fool you! The chefs got surprisingly creative in this round. The soup consisted of gazpacho three ways…jellied gazpacho to be specific. Three little jello-like portions in the flavors of cucumber aspics, yellow bell pepper, and yellow heirloom tomato, and beet lemongrass ginger were served on a plate paired with a shrimp crisp and edible sand. The first two flavors were paired with Downeast’s original Drier Side (sans grapefruit), a less sweet, lighter version of their Original Blend, now available in cans. The third soup selection was paired with their Dark and Stormy Cider, a crisp ginger and lime infused blend aged in rum barrels and sweetened with molasses. An interesting round, but all of the flavors blended well together.

The third course, or appetizer round, was a phenomenal purple Peruvian potato skin stuffed with Double Blend and chipotle braised pulled chicken and topped with a chicken skin crackling. The potato skins were paired with Downeast’s new Double Blend, an “amped up” version of their Original Blend, also recently released in cans. This was a fun course, ready to get the party started. Perfect for a tailgate or summer BBQ.

The entrée course was mind-blowing. The chefs prepared an Aloha pork wing over coconut pineapple rice with hazelnuts, wrapped in a banana leaf…yup, a banana leaf…paired with Aloha Friday. Aloha Friday is a pineapple cider with all of the flavors of a tropical luau in Hawaii. The coconut pineapple rice and pork wing were the perfect pairing, combined with Aloha Friday and you have yourself a heavenly meal. All of the flavors melded so deliciously, and the flavors from the cider added the perfect depth and really helped draw out the flavors of the course.

Last, but certainly not least, dessert. A creative spin on an old classic, Denise Mariarz, local dessert shop owner, prepared house-made ice cream floats with chocolate cookies and cream ice cream, and topped with a Roasted Joe reduction and floater. Similar to the root beer floats we all grew up enjoying, but with a grown-up twist: coffee bourbon cider. Served in an unused Downeast can, you couldn’t possibly not enjoy this dessert!

A huge thank you to not only the gang over at Downeast (who have now become close friends) but also to everyone over at Joe’s who made this night possible, including Executive Chef Scottie Gagne and Sous Chef Lylly Pomales for making all of the delicious and creative food! If you have ever been to a cider pairing dinner or have any recommendations of upcoming events for us to attend, shoot us an email to team@ciderscene.com!