Uptown businesses Barons Market North Park and Thorn Brewing invite the public to \u201cBackroom Beer Pairing\u201d on Wednesday, July 25.<\/p>\n
The stockroom-turned-speakeasy event pairs Thorn\u2019s original brews with simple dishes made at demo stations at Barons Market. Barons, a grocery store with seven San Diego locations, has called the North Park neighborhood home since December 2016.<\/p>\n Rachel Shemirani, Barons Market vice president of marketing, explained that the event \u2014 which originated in Point Loma with Mother Earth Brewing in 2013 \u2014 was inspired by San Diego\u2019s unique craft beer industry. So far, the series has raised more than $30,000 for local charities, such as Feeding San Diego.<\/p>\n This is not the first time Barons Market has teamed up with Thorn, one of North Park\u2019s self-described \u201cfirst neighborhood breweries\u201d located at 3176 Thorn St. and surrounded by residential houses.<\/p>\n The market has carried beer from the locally-owned brewery \u201cpretty much from the first day we began canning it,\u201d according to Tom Kiely, adding that Thorn is celebrating its one-year anniversary of canning its beer this month.<\/p>\n Keily, who handles sales, distribution and coordinates the brew schedule for Thorn Brewing, worked directly with the team at Barons Market to decide the beer and food pairings.<\/p>\n For July\u2019s event, there will be four Thorn brews on the menu \u2014 a pale ale, lager and two India Pale Ales (IPAs) \u2014 paired with food crafted with ingredients from Baron\u2019s store.<\/p>\n \u201cRock the Pale Ale,\u201d a California-style pine and citrus pale ale, will be matched with spicy Thai chicken lettuce wraps; the Baja lager, \u201cBarrio Lager,\u201d served with sausage, pepper and onion rolls. For the IPAs, Hopster Pot, a tropical New England-style brew, will be offered with shrimp ceviche; San Diego style \u201cRelay IPA\u201d \u2014 infused with citrus, mango, grapefruit and pine \u2014 paired with carrot cheesecake.<\/p>\n \u201cThis [pairing event] is as approachable as it gets,\u201d Kiely said. \u201cAfter the tasting, you can go into the store, buy all of the ingredients to make that food, and buy that beer.\u201d<\/p>\n Kiely expressed his appreciation for Barons during the collaboration process.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the least corporate office I had ever been in. Everyone [at the table] was allowed to have an opinion and share it,\u201d he said, noting the market\u2019s inviting atmosphere aligns with Thorn\u2019s philosophy.<\/p>\n \u201cIn craft beer, a lot of the good breweries are stiff, and a lot of the fun breweries don\u2019t have the reputation for quality \u2014 I think we do a pretty good job melding the two,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe\u2019re a fun brewery that makes good beer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe really enjoy working with the people behind the breweries; we are a small business and have a lot of respect for local brewers,\u201d Shemirani said. \u201cThey are so passionate about what they do and we know how hard it is to get a business up and running in San Diego.\u201d<\/p>\n Uptown\u2019s \u201cBackroom Beer Pairing\u201d will be held July 25 from 6\u20138 p.m. at Barons Market North Park, located at 3231 University Ave. (There will also be pairing events held at the other six Barons local locations.)<\/p>\n The casual neighborhood event is open to all members of the community ages 21 and up. Tickets are $15 and refundable up to one day before the event; all proceeds are donated to charity. For more information, visit bit.ly\/ThornBarons<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Thorn-Menu-Tasting-1.jpg\")
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