EPISODE · May 14, 2026 · 37 MIN
Beer vs. Wine: Which Pairs Better With Food? | Garrett Oliver
from The Restaurant Guys · host The Restaurant Guys
This is a Vintage episode from 2006Why This Episode MattersLong before craft beer became mainstream, Garrett Oliver was arguing that beer belonged at the fine dining tableThis 2006 conversation captures the early days of American craft brewing before the explosion of brewery culture and IPA dominanceGarrett explains why beer may pair with food better than wine — then challenges Francis to prove him wrongThe episode explores brewing philosophy, Belgian traditions, and the business pressures of growthIncludes a fascinating snapshot of how small Brooklyn Brewery still was in 2006 — despite already becoming influentialThe BanterMark Pascal and Francis Schott discuss Frank Bruni’s four-star review of Jean-Georges in The New York Times and what happens when great chefs expand into restaurant empires. The conversation explores restaurant identity, and whether excellence can survive scale.The ConversationGarrett Oliver, brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery and author of The Brewmaster’s Table, joins The Restaurant Guys for a spirited conversation about the early days of American craft beer, brewing philosophy, beer aging, Belgian traditions, and pairing beer with food. Things get competitive when Oliver argues beer pairs better with food than wine — prompting Francis to challenge him to a live beer-versus-wine showdown at Stage Left. BioGarrett Oliver is the brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery and one of the most influential figures in American craft beer. He is the author of The Brewmaster’s Table: Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer with Real Food and editor of The Oxford Companion to Beer. Oliver has received numerous honors for his contributions to brewing and beverage culture, including a James Beard Award.InfoBrooklyn Brewery https://brooklynbrewery.com/Garrett Oliver http://www.garrettoliver.net/On Friday, May 22 we'll be celebrating our 34th Anniversary with a 34 Bottle Walk Around Tasting. Join us!https://www.stageleft.com/event/52226-34th-anniversary-party-ft-34-bottle-wine-spirits-tasting/ Subscribe: Restaurant Guys' Regularhttps://restaurantguysregulars.buzzsprout.com/Magyar Bankhttps://www.magbank.com/Stage Left Wine Shophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Our PlacesStage Left Steakhttps://www.stageleft.com/Catherine Lombardi Restauranthttps://www.catherinelombardi.com/Stage Left Wineshophttps://www.stageleftwineshop.com/Reach Out to The [email protected]
What this episode covers
This is a Vintage episode from 2006 Why This Episode Matters Long before craft beer became mainstream, Garrett Oliver was arguing that beer belonged at the fine dining tableThis 2006 conversation captures the early days of American craft brewing before the explosion of brewery culture and IPA dominanceGarrett explains why beer may pair with food better than wine — then challenges Francis to prove him wrongThe episode explores brewing philosophy, Belgian traditions, and the business pressures ...
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Beer vs. Wine: Which Pairs Better With Food? | Garrett Oliver
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