Standing Stone Brewing Company

beer & food pairings

By in Brewery & Beer 0

Latest Specialty Beer: 2014 Barley Wine

Get ready to make merry with this annual specialty beer. The 2014 Barley Wine is flowing through the taps, and at 11% abv, its sure to warm your spirits this winter season. The rich, full-bodied brew is served in a 13 oz. Belgian glass for you to better enjoy the complex flavors and aromas: think strawberry jam, currants, raisins and toffee, to name a few.

At Standing Stone, we’ve brewed an annual Barley Wine every winter since 2005. We’ve aged them in whiskey and wine barrels, and each year has been dramatically different from the last. We brewed this year’s batch back in August, and aged two-thirds of the brew in oak barrels from Weisinger’s Winery in Ashland, previously used for red wines.  Three months later, the 2014 Barley Wine turned into flavor magic, and we’re especially thrilled with this year’s vintage.

About 2014 Barley Winebarley wine

Aged for three months in oak barrels from Weisinger’s Winery in Ashland, this year’s batch has aromas of dried fruit, wood, and vanilla. Along with the full body, you’ll taste flavors of toffee and currants. 11.0% abv, 55 IBU (estimate)

 

Malt

  • Crisp Organic Pale (English)
  • Briess Aromatic
  • Briess Organic Chocolate

 

Hops

  • Bittering: Organic Magnum
  • Flavor/Aroma: Organic Sterling, Organic Hallertau

 

Food Pairing Suggestions

teriyaki ribsWe love, love, love this beer with blue cheese. So much so, we’re pairing it with a 2011 Reserve Rogue River Blue from Rogue Creamery at our 2015 Winter Beer Dinner in January. We would also pair this beer with rich, hearty and deeply satisfying food. The big body and bold flavors will stand up to some of the richest dishes. Here are some suggestions from our menu:

Fig & Bacon Pizza

Black & Blue Burger

Chardonnay & Goat Cheese Fondue

Grilled Reuben

Charbroiled Teriyaki Ribs with Sweet Potato Fries

Come check out the 2014 Barely Wine (and some hearty comfort food, if you feel so inclined) and let us know if you love it as much as we do!

By in Brewery & Beer 0

Meet Our New Regular: Milk & Honey Ale

Good news, Part I: Milk & Honey Ale is back on tap!

Good news, Part II: Milk & Honey Ale is here to stay!

We hear customer and employee requests for this specialty brew all year long, and we decided it’s about time we dedicate a year-round tap line to this favorite. So, for all you Milk & Honey lovers out there, come grab a pint, pitcher or keg and rest easy; we won’t be running out any time soon.

Milk & HoneyAbout Milk & Honey Ale

This ale presents a polished copper color, silky smooth medium body and nuances of honey, which comes from a proprietary honey malt. We add lactose, an unfermentable milk sugar, to provide body and a slight residual sweetness. 6.0% abv. 25 IBU

Malt

Organic Pilsner

Honey Malt

Acidulated

 

Hops

Bittering = Organic Centennial

Flavor/Aroma = Organic Golding

 

Food Pairings

The medium body and light sweetness of this beer make it a great pairing with like-bodied comfort foods. You can also use it to cut some heat when eating spicy meals, as the malt character will cool your palate in between hot bites. Here are a few pairing suggestions from our menu:

Turkey Reuben

Bread Pudding

Fish Tacos

Roasted Beet & Chevre Salad

Want to hear even more good news? We’ll feature this beer in one of the six courses at our annual Winter Beer Dinner in January – more info on the beer and food pairing extravaganza coming soon. In the mean time, come down and say “hi” to this new regular on tap.

 

By in Brewery & Beer 0

Latest Specialty Beer: Whittle Wheat Hefeweizen

hefe patioI say, “Hefe,” you say “Weizen!”

“Hefe-Weizen! Hefe-Weizen!”

That’s right, summer is officially here – happy solstice, everyone! There may be no better way to kick off summer than with a seasonal hefeweizen (pronounced HEH-feh-vite-zehn). Come get yours and cheer to patio dinners, pleasant bike rides, sunshiny days and sweatshirt nights.

This year we’re giving our annual specialty beer a fresh new name: Whittle Wheat, named after the builder of our historic brewery site. Floyd Whittle constructed our concrete, one-story building in 1925 for a total cost of $6,000 (a tad less than our half-million dollar brewery renovation in 1996). 101 Oak Street has been home to Morris’s Oak Street Garage, Pioneer Glass and Cabinet, and, eventually, Standing Stone Brewing Company. We love our brewpub’s open spaces, exposed concrete and brick, downtown location and back-patio mountain views. Thank you Floyd Whittle, and cheers to you!

About the Beer

This German style wheat beer is hazy yellow with mild banana and spice aroma, light mouthfeel, and a clean, clove flavor. 4.9% abv, 18 IBU

ssbuild1

101 Oak Street before Standing Stone Brewing Co.

Malt
•        Organic Wheat
•        Organic Pilsner
•        Acidulated

Hops
•        Bittering:  Organic Magnum
•        Flavor/Aroma:  Organic Hallertau

Yeast
•        Southern German Munich Wheat

 

Food Pairing Suggestions

Belly up to the bar with a pint of Whittle Wheat and fresh, local fare to match. We love this beer with flavors of the season: strawberries, goat cheese, fresh greens and seafood. Hefeweizen is versatile; it’s light enough to enjoy with salads, but the full mouthfeel helps it stand up to heartier fare. The yeasty fruit and slight spice complement a wide range of flavors. Here are our suggestions from our menu:

Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
Marionberry Cobbler
Pea Shoot Pizza
Thai Mussels (daily special)
Calamari with Fried Lemons

Come imbibe this summertime favorite while it lasts, and order with a wedge of lemon or orange for a fruity twist. Savor your beer outside on the back patio, or inside the brewery with views of Floyd Whittle’s historic garage.

By in Brewery & Beer, Food, Restaurant & Menu 0

What Can You Do with a Sampler Tray?

chelsea pour 2While some craft beer lovers tend to stick with a favorite style, like hoppy IPAs or crisp lagers, some like to explore the full spectrum of craft beer possibilities. Either preference is great, as along as you’re supporting your local craft brewery! But if you’re the latter, our Sampler Tray is calling your name. For $5 you can try 2 oz. pours of all our house-made beers on tap (8 currently), from the pale I Heart Oregon to the deep, dark Noble Stout. Here are some ideas for enjoying your Sampler Tray to the fullest, either by yourself or with your beer-tasting buds:

 

Pair with a few dishes

We feel that one of the best ways to appreciate all the flavors in craft beer is to pair them with food. A great pairing combination can serenade your taste buds, making for one great culinary experience. Try ordering three appetizers from the menu and making your own great flavor combos. Our suggestions: Kimchi, Goat Cheese Fondue and Beef Satay Skewers. You’ll have a broad realm of spiciness, heartiness and sweetness with this food combo, perfect for tasting with all eight beers currently on tap.

 

Pair with one dishsampler

Understanding great beer and food pairings is easier when you try pairings that may not go so well. Order a sampler tray with your favorite dish off our menu, like the Lemongrass Beef Salad or Roast Beef Sandwich. Alternate tastes of beer with bites of food, and take notes on why each beer does or does not work. Is the Stone Swing Saison too light to stand up to roast beef? What about the Steel-Cut Stout? Does the Twin Plunge 2IPA make your tacos spicier, while the Dear Abbey calms the spice? Compare notes with your co-tasters and see if you come up with the same conclusions. Remember, there are no right or wrong preferences! What you like is all that matters.

 

customer samplerPlay some beer-tasting games

Craftbeer.com recently posted an article titled Beer Tasting Games to Train Your Palate. Try a few of these fun ideas with a handful of friends: Play a beer identification game, where everyone writes down five descriptors for each beer and then award points for repeated words or most creative words.  You can also rank beers by categories, and see how the ranking changes when you switch rounds. Try lightest to darkest color, then change to lightest to boldest flavor and see how the rankings change.


Join our weekly Sunday Beer & Food Pairing

Our pairing enthusiast, Meg, leads a weekly guided five-course tasting at 3pm on Sundays. You’ll discuss complementing, contrasting and matching flavors in beer and food, and taste some great combos. No need to make a reservation; just show up and we’ll take care of the rest! Pairing is $25 per person.

 

 

By in Brewery & Beer, Events 0

4 Beers to Pair This Mother’s Day

Is it any coincidence we celebrate Mother’s Day right as we jump into American Craft Beer Week? We think not. It’s time to take a break, Moms, and enjoy the freshness, flavor complexity and food pairing opportunities provided by delicious craft beer. Grab a glass, toast your family, and relax with your favorite brew…no one deserves one more than you!

women enjoying beerThis Mother’s Day, bring your mom to the brewpub for an afternoon beer & food pairing, starting at 3pm. Our in-house guide, Meg, will walk you through five tasting courses of Standing Stone ales and foods that make great flavor matches. The sampler is $25 per person, and you and Mom can learn something new while spending quality time together. After all, she always stresses the importance of education, right?

If you’re planning a celebration at home, here are a handful of beer and food pairing ideas for meals throughout the day. Check your local co-op or grocery store for great craft beer selections, or (even better) swing by Standing Stone and grab fresh beer to-go in growlers.

Brunch: Stout & Doughnuts – The roasted, bitter character of stouts gives them similar qualities as coffee. The dry mouthfeel cleanses your palate between each sweet bite of delicious doughnut. For a little morning caffeine kick, try our Noble Stout with cold-brewed coffee.

Picnic: India Pale Ale with Blue Cheese – The astringent bitterness of hoppy IPAs plays well with the creamy richness of blue cheese. Our favorite version: Twin Plunge Double IPA with Rogue Creamery Crater Lake Blue.

flowers and beerDinner: Amber Ale with BBQ – If you’re lighting up the grill for Mom, give her a glass of Amber to pair with her meal. The toasty malt character plays well with a charbroiled chicken breast, burger, or pork chop. If you add a little spice, the malt profile of the beer will help cool her palate.

Dessert: Stout & Vanilla Ice Cream – This dessert pairing is great as a float, or side-by-side. What’s easier than pouring ice cream and beer in a glass for a tasty way to end the day?

Happy Mother’s Day to the amazing craft beer-loving women in our lives! Don’t forget, American Craft Beer Week kicks off on Monday, May 12th. Continue the celebration all week long with your own family, the greater craft beer family, and Mom.

By in Brewery & Beer 0

Latest Specialty Beer: Dear Abbey

“Dear Abbey,

I’m a craft beer lover with a craving for Belgian-style ales. I love the fruity Belgian yeast, smooth malt profile and a little spiciness. I enjoy locally brewed beer and I want one right now. Can you help me?

Sincerely,

Everyone, Everywhere”

barleyOur newest specialty beer, Dear Abbey, is a reflection of traditional Belgian styles. Here’s a bit of history: Trappist ales were traditionally brewed only under direct supervision of monks at breweries on monastery grounds. Abbey beers are similar in style, but have the freedom to be brewed by those not connected to a monastery or abbey (Fun fact: our brewer once attended seminary school and chose to be a brewer instead!). While these styles were brewed in ancient times, modern abbey styles have grown popular in the U.S. – think New Belgium and Blue Moon breweries.

About Dear Abbey

This Belgian Trappist-style ale is reddish-brown in color and has an enticing bubblegum aroma. A mildly dry finish follows the light mouthfeel and up-front fruitiness. 6.3% abv, 15 IBU

Malt

• Organic Pilsner

• Belgian Dark Rock Candi Sugar

• Cara Aroma

• Acidulated

Hops

• Flavor/Aroma: Organic Hallertau, Organic Sterling

teriyaki ribsFood pairings

This dynamic ale will pair well with a wide range of hearty foods. Though the body is light, the big flavor and aroma play well with meats, cheeses and desserts. Try any of these suggestions from our menu:

  • 5-Spice Teriyaki Ribs
  • Sweet Potato Fries with Harissa Aioli
  • Beet and Chevre Salad
  • Stir Crazy Chocolate Cake
  • Noble Stout Crème Brulee

Just for fun, we’re serving Dear Abbey in a Belgian-style glass for optimal aroma and tasting. Come try a 13oz glass for $4.

By in Brewery & Beer 1

New Specialty Beer: Hop Night is Back!

casmapA brewpub favorite, Hop Night is back offering the best of two worlds to the craft beer lover: big hop flavors found in an IPA combined with the malty notes of a stout or porter. Relatively new to the beer world, this style is known as Cascadian Dark Ale.

Cascadian Dark Ale gets is name from its dark-as-night color and the big hop flavors favored in many Northwest ales. Our Hop Night balances the piney, citrus like characteristics of an IPA without overpowering the smooth, roasted malts used in the brewing process. You will notice prominent hop-forward notes with a creamy smooth body and a medium mouthfeel.

Hop Night is a big beer, which will pair well with foods that can stand up to its bold flavors. Our Ginger Teriyaki Ribs, Standing Stone Cheese Burger, Italian Sausage Pizza, or Black Bean Chili are perfect matches. But don’t be afraid of the Night, and try experimenting with anything you think might complement its dark side, such as the caramel flavors of Deep Fried Brussels Sprouts or Stir-Crazy Chocolate Cake.

About the beer:

blackandblue burger

Style:  Cascadian Dark Ale/Black IPA

Color:  Opaque Black
Aroma:  Pine and Citrus
Mouthfeel:  Medium to Full
Flavor:  Resinous pine, black currant, lingering bitterness
Alcohol:  6.0%
IBU:  65

Malt

  • Organic Two Row
  • Organic Munich
    pilot rock
  • Briess Blackprinz
  • Organic C-60

Hops

  • Bittering:  Simcoe
  • Flavor/Aroma:  Golding, Cascade, Simcoe
  • Dry Hops:  Cascade, Simcoe
By in Food, Standing Stone Farm 0

The New Take-Out: Beef & Beer From Your Local Brewery

We’re beefing up our farm-fresh food offerings with Standing Stone’s Onebutchering Mile Farm beef to-go. Our grass-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free Black Angus cattle are the source for our burgers, shredded beef quesadillas, nachos, soups and daily steak specials. Now you can take One Mile Farm beef home for your own sustainably-raised fare for the dinner table.

We started One Mile Farm over two years ago, located just down Oak Street a mile from the brewpub. There we raise cattle, chickens and lambs that give us lots of local protein for our kitchen. We value knowing our own Standing Stone employees raise these animals humanely, with care to their environment and diets. They graze around our 265-acre pasture in a rotational system, benefitting the land and animals with natural farming methods.cow

So why is grass-fed beef a smarter protein option? Grass-fed beef has been shown to have less overall fat and calories and higher Omega 3s than their grain-fed counterparts. The animals consume a natural, grazing diet, rather than beefing up on soy, corn, grains and other supplements in closed feedlots. Our happy cows are free of antibiotics and hormones because they stay healthy naturally, getting plenty of fresh air and space to roam.

We think these happy cattle give us the best-quality beef for our tables! Our kitchen staff has been trained to butcher all our meat in-house, and now they are preparing specialty cuts and ground beef patties for our customers to take home.

Here’s how it works: We have rotating specialty cuts available everyday. Come in or call to see what’s wrapped and ready to go. If you’re planning a special event, we can also put you in touch with our butcher who can prepare cuts for special orders. Then, you take home your local, free-range beef and cook up delectable meals for yourself and loved-ones!local beef burger on focaccia

Please call the brewpub to learn more about today’s retail beef offerings and pricing: (541) 261-0021. When you pick up your beef, grab a growler of Standing Stone beer to-go and make a full meal of locally crafted fare. We suggest Twin Plunge Double IPA with burgers, I Heart Oregon Ale with spicy Mexican-style dishes, and Steel-Cut Stout with a grilled filet. Make your next meal exceptional with local beef and beer from your neighborhood brewery!

By in Brewery & Beer, Events, Restaurant & Menu 1

Tasty Photo Recap: 2014 Winter Beer Dinner

Last week’s Winter Beer Dinner was our most delicious yet, with six table set upcourses of Standing Stone craft beer paired with a delectable menu of winter-themed food. Our brewer, Larry Chase, and chef, Eric Bell, were both on scene to offer guests the background behind each course, including where the ingredients came from and why the pairing worked.

We want to say “thank you,” to everyone who joined us this year. We love that you all share our fondness for flavors, and enjoy imbibing good food and beer as much as we do!

Below are some of our favorite photos from the evening, taken by our crafty house photographer, George Rubaloff. Please share if you have any of your own photos from the event and we’ll happily post them on our Facebook page.

Cheers to kicking off the new year with great craft beer and food!clam stew coursedining room 2shrimp coursechicken coursedining roombeer pourlast course

By in Brewery & Beer, Other Good Stuff 0

7 Beer-Themed Holiday Gift Ideas from Standing Stone

Here at the brewpub we have what you’re looking for to make the beer-lover in your life swoon with joy this holiday season. Many of these items have shown up just in time at our new Online Store! Order goodies from our website to be shipped to your home (excluding beer), or stop by the brewpub to view our merchandise up-close-and-personal. These beer-ific gifts make great stocking stuffers, and check out our larger Gift Packs with everything you need to wrap up your holiday shopping.

Drink It – Beer To Goglasware and bottles

We love bringing fresh craft beer to holiday parties (how else are we going to get invited back every year?). Take any of our beers on tap home in classic logo’d glass bottles, or try one of our stainless steel Hydro Flask bottles to keep your beer cold for up to 12 hours. For best quality, be sure to keep your beer refrigerated and sealed until you’re ready to enjoy. You can also make your own gift pack with a to-go bottle and gift certificate for a growler-fill of any favorite brew.

Half Gallon Glass Bottle…$10 + $12 fill
Liter Glass Bottle…$8 + $6 fill
Hydro Flask…$45 + $12 fill

Wear It – Apparelapparel

Make your beer-loving friends outrageously happy with a Standing Stone shirt or sweatshirt – just look at how happy these shirt models are! Our tee selection includes the “Powered by Beer” Bike Series Tee, Classic Black Logo’d Tee, and SSBC Farm Tee. We also have long-sleeved Tech Tees and Logo’d Zip-Up Sweatshirts. Sizes and styles available in both Men’s and Women’s, Small-XXL…$20-$50

Serve It – Glassware

Great drinks should be accompanied by great glassware. We’ve got logo’d pint, half pint and taster glasses, as well as our new, curvy barley wine glasses, for a great beer tasting experience over the holidays. We also have vintage-style glass water bottles with our “Tap Into It” logo, available in liter and half-liter sizes…$3-$8

Give It – Holiday Gift Packs

The Six Packsixpack

Want a little bit of everything? This wrap-ready box includes your choice of Standing Stone T-shirt, two logo’d pint glasses, four logo’d coasters, a growler (half-gallon) bottle and a gift certificate to fill with your loved one’s favorite Standing Stone beer on tap…$45

Sunday Beer & Food Pairing

Treat your beer buds to a Sunday afternoon at Standing Stone tasting brews and food. Our weekly five-course pairing features tasters of perfectly matched fare, along with tasting notes and background led by one of our knowledgeable brewery staff. This gift set includes one seat at any Sunday Pairing (3pm every week), and a Standing Stone logo’d pint glass…$28

Brewer for A Day

This full-day package includes one-on-one time with our brewer making a 10 BBL batch of craft beer for Standing Stone in our brewery. The day includes lunch at the brewpub, a sampler tray of all our beers on tap, a full pint of brew, a Standing Stone T-shirt, your choice of two logo’d glasses and a growler bottle to fill with the finished brew. Brew dates are based on Standing Stone’s brewing schedule, so call Brewmaster Larry Chase with questions or for more info (541) 494-8332 …$200

Winter Beer Dinner Gift Setbeer dinner

We’re getting excited for our upcoming beer dinner on Thursday, January 9th, 2014! This six-course pairing affair is our way of bringing craft beer and food lovers together to celebrate the fantastic flavor combinations of the season. This package includes two reserved seats to the dinner, a growler bottle, gift certificate to fill with Standing Stone beer and two logo’d pint glasses …$145

We wish you a savory holiday from all of us at Standing Stone! Remember, we’ll be closed Christmas Day to celebrate with our families and friends and enjoy some yummy beer at home. But don’t fret, we’re open all other days for regular hours, 11am-midnight. Cheers!

NEWS ON TAP

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LOCATION
Standing Stone Brewing Co.
101 Oak Street
Ashland, OR 97520 View Map

HOURS

Closed Monday/Tuesday, Wed + Thurs: 4 PM – 8 PM
Fri + Sat: 4 PM – 9 PM, Sunday: 11:30 AM – 4 PM

CONTACT
541.482.2448
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