“I used to be a beer racist, but you changed me.” – April A
Ninkasi’s Believer Red has long been a beer that makes me smile. Yes, it’s delicious. More importantly I really like the philosophy around the name: Believer.
We all want to believe in something and last night I made believers of new beer & chocolate tasters. April’s quote, my host of a recent private tasting event, nails it: remove your prejudice and simply fall into the possibilities.
As part of the annual Oregon Chocolate Festival, I deliver lively & tasty “Beer & ____” sessions each year. This year – my 5th year doing so – I also introduced what I dubbed the ClassPort. Everyone who attended all three of my tasting sessions over the course of the Friday – Sunday weekend event was eligible to win a private beer & chocolate tasting; they got their ClassPort stamped at each class.
Last night I delivered the first of the three private tastings to 8 game and mostly unfamiliar-to-this-concept folks. Suffice to say minds were changed!
Here’s what I find are 3 of the consistent surprises when people put beer and chocolate together.
- Most people have never even thought of putting beer and chocolate together, never mind attended an actual planned tasting event. The element of Surprise & Delight is on my side!
- The tasting first of the beer alone, then the chocolate alone, then the two together is a good pattern for the S & D factor. “Wow! Who Knew? Really??” are all rallying exclamations from guests.
- Since beer is so incredibly diverse, it’s easy to blow minds multiple times with however many courses you choose to feature. I planned 3 last night (menu below).
- The next time you think of beer, think of chocolate.
- The next time you think of chocolate, think of beer.
- Then invite some friends over and make some new believers out of them.
Choose the beers and chocolates you like, mix and match, and simply have fun exploring. Discovery awaits!
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You can find Ginger at the links below and also follow her on Twitter. Welcome back Ginger!
Entertainer, Flavor Maker, Speaker & Presenter, CEO Ginger Johnson & Women Enjoying Beer TEDxNapaValley Talk
