By SCOTT CHERRY Restaurant Critic on Jun 8, 2011, at 12:55 PM Updated on 6/08 at 12:55 PM
TABLE TALK
Canebrake resort, located four miles east of Wagoner off Oklahoma 51, has scheduled a crab boil and wine tasting 6-9 p.m. ...
Chef-proprietor Justin Thompson has scheduled a benefit opening 6-10 p.m. Thursday for his new Tavolo Italian Bistro, 427 ...
Hope Egan, owner of Hope’s Table catering, said Thursday she plans to open a new restaurant called Tallgrass in downtown ...
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Last night I was one of six lucky souls who got to attend a beer tasting at McNellie's Pub with owner Elliot Nelson. I was among the six because my brother won the evening with Elliot at a charity event for the Visiting Nurse Association.
We felt extra privileged because we learned Elliot does only about three of these a year, and beer-tasting aside, it was one of the most educational evenings I ever have experienced regarding food or beverage.
Elliot's knowledge of beer history, the development of the different styles of beer over hundreds of years and what is going on in the beer world today is extraordinary.
We tasted 12 beers -- 14 if you include the Bud Light and Schlitz thrown in to demonstrate a point -- and thoroughly discussed each style as we progressed through 2 1/2 hours of tasting.
Perhaps I was swayed by the conversation, but my personal favorites were beers that rank among the best of the best -- the fabulous, semi-sweet, malty Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock; the Westmalle Tripel, a Belgium beer considered by many the best triple in the world; the malty St. Bernardus quad, another Belgium standout; Saison Dupont, a traditional "farmhouse ale" that was named Best Beer in the World by Men's Magazine in 2005, and, yes, with no apologies, McNellie's Pub ale, a superb beer brewed by Tulsa's own Marshall Brewing Co.
And for those who might be wondering, we had six wives/fiancees/girlfriends plus a daughter/niece for good measure on hand to drive our happy tails home after the event.
P.S. Bud Light ranked just above bottled water; Schlitz was much better. Neither could touch the other 12 we tasted.
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