Craft Beer and Locally Inspired Food with Postmark Brewing and the Belgard Kitchen
The Postmark Brewing Company has taken a slightly different approach to the burgeoning craft beer scene in British Columbia. Located in the Settlement building at 55 Dunlevy Ave, a mere block from Oppenheimer Park this unassuming craft brewery shares a space with the Vancouver Urban Winery and the Belgard Kitchen. This trifecta of businesses pay tribute to local and quality embracing the ideals of Vancouver residents.
Locally inspired craft beer and food come together here for a culinary experience truly unique to Vancouver. The businesses running out of the Railtown located Settlement Building work together to infuse flavour and pair dishes with the beverages crafted mere meters from the kitchen.
In visiting the Settlement Building to experience the culinary and brewing wonder Beer Me BC walked through a portion of the share-plate styled menu to experience a diverse and varied line of culinary creations.
First off the line, accompanying the flight of Postmark craft beer was a beet salad. This is not just another beet salad though as both roast and pickled beets were placed over a goat cheese coulis and topped with crispy shallots. Next to this a beet and Postmark IPA puree added a bitter-sweet addition and a craft beer infusion to win over the palates of foodies and beer lovers alike.
Following the Beet Salad, a second starting course was the Mushroom and Bacon Pate. Here, pickled mushrooms and smoked bacon were combined in a creamy and delicious Pate served with assorted breads. Topped with bacon bits and greens this spread was rich yet whipped into a light spread at the same time with a delicious combination of flavour. No craft beer infusions here but the richness of the mushroom paired particularly well with the contrasting, lightly hop-bittered flavour of the Postmark Pale Ale.
Moving down the menu into a list of more entree-styled share plates the foraged Mushroom Risotto came from the kitchen and was yet again delicious. Compared to the pate, the risotto is made with a much earthier variety of mushrooms. This creamy and hearty flavoured dish is topped with olive oil and a few sprigs of greens. With a serving size equitable to the big flavour, this risotto was best paired with the cleansing and light contrast found in the Postmark Pilsner.
Last up on the menu for the evening was a new dish to the Belgard Kitchen – their Espresso & Dark Chocolate Braised Beef Shortrib. Here a slow roasted short rib literally fell apart with a pan-braised swiss chard. Served in a cast iron pan lined with a celeriac & horseradish mash, the richness of the braised beef melded with the celerac and chard to give a fantastic combination of flavours. The espresso and chocolate seemed to simply add a carmelization and light bitter-sweetness to the beef’s edges while the chard added diversity in texture and flavour. This was yet again another delicious concoction of flavours. Without a doubt, this dish was also the best beer pairing of the evening. The Postmark Dry Irish Stout had a richness and chocolate flavour that mirrored the short ribs while also adding a diversity and lightness that was rather delicious!
The settlement building is home of delicious food and craft beer that is both flavourful and approachable. The Postmark brewing philosophy is to make beer that everyone can enjoy while remaining true to the craft name. Both the Vancouver Urban Winery and Belgard Kitchen also take this mentality for a collaborative approach to flavour and locally inspired food and beverage. If you have not yet been by to visit the Postmark Brewing Company it is time that you did.
Do not forget to bring your thirst, appetite and a growler to fill and bring home to enjoy later!
