Oktoberfest Beer Tasting and Food Pairing at Rhythm on Monroe
Chef Becky Vibbart is creating some seriously good food out at Rhythm on Monroe, and I have been a big fan of hers since the restaurant opened in 2020. I recently attended a special Oktoberfest meal there on my birthday, with the bonus of German beer samples!
Our first beer of the evening was a Hofbrau lager, and it was served with a tasty potato pancake appetizer. Flavored with dill and plated with radishes and bibb lettuce, it was so creamy! My favorite touch was the crème fraiche dressing drizzled on top. The lager was light and refreshing and its crisp flavor was the perfect complement to the pancake.
The second course featured a Weihenstephan Festbier paired with a curried meatball sandwich on a fresh pretzel bun. I loved the mustard that was spread on the bun, and the kraut added a nice crunch to every bite. The cucumber tomato salad it was served with was in too small of a container, because I sure could’ve eaten a much larger portion of that! The smooth festbier had a lovely blonde color to it, and a bit of sweetness that helped tone down the strong curry spices in the sandwich.
I was most looking forward to round three, since I love schnitzel! I’ve never actually had chicken schnitzel, so this was a nice surprise for me. The cheese sauce on top was made from Jarlsberg and was rich and creamy. Sadly, warm beets are just not my thing. I do enjoy them cold in a nice arugula salad, though. My husband was happy to eat my portion of beets, so alas no food went to waste! The pilsner was a lovely golden color, and the floral aroma worked well to cut down on the smell of the fried coating on the schnitzel.
Next came a warm and hearty stew full of tender angus beef and onions. The gravy was thick and rich with flavors of caraway and paprika. A crunchy rye crostini on the side for dipping was a fun addition. A Dunkel was served with this course, and it was my favorite beer of the bunch. Maybe what I enjoyed so much about it was the nutty flavor that reminded me of Fall.
Even with full bellies, we devoured the Bee Sting Cake dessert. The crunchy honey and almond topping was delicious! The cake itself was more like a biscuit, and the filling was a light and fluffy pastry cream. The fruity wheat sweetness of the Hefeweizen went down smooth with this final course.
I am so happy that Rhythm on Monroe is part of Downtown Huntsville! Make sure you visit for a meal, especially if you have an event at the VBC. Their location is so convenient, and they take reservations which is helpful for planning a great night out!