As part of its continuing quest to encourage more women to enjoy our national drink, industry group Dea Latis hosted its traditional pre-Easter beer and chocolate tasting earlier this week.
Twenty guests gathered in the Clarence pub on Whitehall to taste five beers, each paired with a chocolate chosen to enhance the flavours in each. Expert guidance to the beer and chocolate matches was provided by beer sommelier Jane Peyton.
Peyton said, “The Mayans described chocolate as the ‘Food of the Gods’ – I know a lot of people who agree with that! Beer and chocolate are perfect partners. Essentially, they both have a balance of bitterness and sweetness. So when they’re consumed together, the tastes and textures complement each other. Add to that the carbonation in beer, which cuts through the fattiness of the chocolate and you have a truly magical match.”
The beers and chocolates tasted by guests at the Clarence were:
- Elgood’s Coolship with Divine Dark Chocolate with Raspberries
- Erdinger Weissbier with Green & Black’s White Chocolate
- Bager Ales Poacher’s Choice with Paul A Young Valrhona Jivara Milk Chocolate
- Hogs Back Brewery Montezuma’s Chocolate Lager with Montezuma’s Lordy Lord
- Left Hand Brewing Nitro Milk Stout with Divine Milk Chocolate with Toffee & Sea Salt
Dea Latis – named after the Celtic goddess of beer – was launched in 2010 as a forum where women working in breweries, pubs or related jobs could share insights and experience.
The group now holds a number of beer and food tastings through the year and regularly communicates with around 260 women including brewers, licensees, quality managers, trainers, writers, bloggers and a growing number of interested beer drinkers.
The next Dea Latis event will be a Brewsters Brunch at the Birmingham Beer Bash, taking place on Saturday 22 July from 10 – 11.00 am.
Dea Latis 