Christmas Time in New Orleans: Abita Beer Dinner in Alexandria, VA.

My friends at Del Ray Pizzeria, in Alexandria, Virginia, are throwing a New Orleans Christmas party, a couple of weeks early, and one thousand miles north, Tuesday, 13 December 2011.

Del Ray's Chef Eric Reid, has designed a 5 course/6 beer dinner, pairing New Orleans-style fare with beers from Abita Brewing, a brewery located in Abita Springs, only 30 miles north of the Big Easy.

Abita has been celebrating its 25th anniversary of operation this year. They're sending their local representative, Nick Smith —himself, a past brewer for the brewery— to co-host the dinner.

Here's Chef Reid's menu:

SALAD

• Smoked Duck Salad
  
  with currants & figs, blood orange vinaigrette
  
  
• Served with Abita Amber Ale
  
  Munich style lager brewed with crystal malt and Perle hops. the brewery's first beer and still its top seller. 4.5% alcohol-by-volume (abv)

FIRST COURSE

• Red Fish Étouffée
  
  Sautéed Redfish served over rice
  Smothered in Crawfish Étouffée
  
  
• Served with Abita Jockamo IPA
  
  "Jockamo is named for the tribes of dancing, singing, chanting “Mardi Gras Indians” who have marched in New Orleans for over 250 years." An India Pale Ale made with pale malt and light crystal malts that give the beer a copper color and malty flavor. Hopped and dry hopped with Willamette and Columbus hops. 6.5% A.B.V.

SECOND COURSE

• Oysters Bienville
  
  Oysters baked with bacon & cheese crust.
  
  
• Served with Abita Save Our Shore Weizen Pils
  
  For every bottle sold, Abita donates 75¢ to the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. This unfiltered Weizen Pils is made with Pilsner and Wheat malts, hopped and dry hopped with Sterling and German Perle hops. 7% abv.

THIRD COURSE

• Grillettes & Grits
  
  Sautéed Veal Medallions
  In a Creole demi-glace over creamy grits.
  
  
• Served with Abita Christmas Ale
  
  Generally a dark ale, the recipe changes each year. This year, a hoppy brown ale. 5.5% abv

DESSERT COURSE

• Bananas Foster Bread Pudding
  
  Chocolate Raisin Bread Pudding, topped with Bananas Foster.
  
  
• Served with Abita 25th Anniversary Vanilla Double Dog
  
  Abita's 'standard' brown ale —Turbo Dog— is the inspiration for a 7% abv version. Brewed with pale, caramel, and chocolate malts, and Willamette hops. Whole natural vanilla beans are added during maturation.

BONUS BEER

Abita Select Honey Rye. Brewed with pale malt, 4 different caramel malts, wheat malt, rye malt, wildflower honey, and Willamette hops. Limited, and draft-only. 7% abv.

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• UPDATE: Photos added to this post, after the dinner. More pics: here.
• Caveat lector: As a representative for Select Wines, Inc. —a wine and beer wholesaler in northern Virgina— I sell the beers of Abita.