It’s a trend worth noting – more community agriculture groups are including craft beer at the table. For decades, I’ve thought that vegetables pair more wonderfully with craft beer than wine. Now, there’s some company from both craft brewers and chefs, in appreciation of artichokes, asparagus, heirloom tomatoes, roasted corn chowders, and other veggie cuisine matched with ales and lagers…

On August 26, chef Alec Lopez of the Armsby Abbey and the Pretty Things Ale Project are producing a farm to table beer dinner. “The month of August brings some of the most amazing vegetables from our local farms, the ripest fruits from our favorite orchards, farmstead cheeses… so what better way to honor them then a Farm-to-Table VEGETARIAN Beer Dinner?” Owner/Brewer Dan and Martha Paquette of Pretty Things Ale Project will chat about each of their beers.

And organically raised meats are also alluring matches on a farm to table menu. Jason Ebel of Two Brothers Brewing in Warrenville, IL, hosts a farm to table beer dinner each summer with City Provisions, a Chicago-based catering company with an environmentally conscious ethos. “We take a bus to a local farm, Faith’s Farm in Bonfield, IL, and talk about the sustainable raising of farm animals such as chickens and pigs, on the bus ride down. When we arrive, we tour the farm and have a wonderful beer and food pairing dinner, with all provisions from Faith’s Farm.” It’s almost twelve hours of travel and talk, bonhomie and beer, and a chance for participants to really unwind from city life through a relaxed feast on the farm.