I just finished the Alley Cat's Winter Beer Tasting Dinner and if you did not already know that the Alley Cat is one of the top places to eat in Carrollton, you would after tonight's dinner. Â
If you have never been to one of their Beer Tasting Dinners, you need to drop whatever else you are doing and make time to come out for these quarterly events. Â First and foremost, the food is excellent. Â Even if you don't drink beer, you would be hard pressed to find a better example of locally sourced menu items. Â
From tonight's opening artichoke bruschetta to the main course of roasted duck (or vegetarian option of paella) the menu was a tour de force of available local ingredients. Â For the craft beer lover the beers were also exceptionally well matched to each course. Â Bellhaven's Wee Heavy and the duck were exquisitely paired. Â The use of the excellent local Amber Ale from Strawn Brewing (Fairburn, GA) added to the excellent regional and international beer selections. Â
Having been a regular attendee at comparable beer dinners in California, Arizona, and Atlanta at twice the price, the Alley Cat offers exemplary beer and food pairings without the hour drive at each end of the evening. Â
Another great night of locally sourced food exquisitely paired with the best of local and international beers. Â If you have not been to one of these dinners, clear your calendar for the Spring event now. Â You will not regret it.