In Melbourne, locally crafted spirits, beers and wines are as popular as ever, and it makes total sense to be savvy about where they came from and what went into making them. So, on the banks of the Yarra, Pilgrim is making it a mission to dive a little deeper into the story behind some of our top-notch local booze, with its Talk & Taste series.
Each of the monthly sessions offers punters a glimpse at one of Melbourne’s iconic drink producers, from gin labels, to whisky distillers, to winemakers.
The Plus Ones were lucky enough to be invited to this month’s Talk & Taste event, which just happened to involve my all-time favourite drink – beer. This particular session was hosted by Will Macdonald, ambassador for our very own La Sirene Brewing. The Heidelberg brewery has been winning fans aplenty since launching in 2011, renowned for its traditionally-crafted Belgian and French farmhouse-style beers. On this chilly Melbourne night, it was a pleasure to be camped out in Pilgrim’s underground dining space, as Will guided us through a tasting of four deliciously yeasty La Sirene brews, each one carefully matched with a canapé designed by Pilgrim’s chefs.
We were treated to the light and bubbly Saisonette, teamed with a pear and fetta-topped lavosh cracker; the modern Super Saison, which complemented the punchiness of a mussel and chilli cup; and the newly-released Sour Red, which cut perfectly through a rich slice of air-cured duck breast.
My personal favourite, though, was the final pairing, which saw the dry, dark, chocolatey goodness of La Sirene’s Praline, ingeniously teamed with a bacon jam and cheddar mini toastie. A perfect combination of sweet and savoury.
The hour-and-a-half long event was informative, yet fun, and utterly delicious, leaving me a whole lot more knowledgeable about one of my favourite local breweries, and curious to learn more about some of our other great Victorian booze producers.
– Libby
Libby Curran is a freelance writer, craft beer nut, and lover of all things food. She can usually be found eating and drinking her way around Melbourne, or writing about any deliciousness she’s recently encountered
Pilgrim’s Talk & Taste events are held monthly. See the venue’s website for a schedule of upcoming events and to book tickets. You’ll find Pilgrim at Vaults 15-19 Federation Wharf, Federation Square, Melbourne 3000
