Still looking to get your hands on a unique holiday beer?! Boleo is your place! Boleo is a rooftop bar and lounge in the heart of the loop. They specialize in South American small plates and delicious drinks. First off, I want to be completely honest. I am a super picky eater, like I only ate PB&J for the first 8 years of school lunches. I didn’t get much better after that, but I’m slowly working my way towards normal person status. My point is… South American street food sounded scary, but it was anything but scary. The great people at Boleo teamed up with Band of Bohemia (aka first Michelin starred brewpub) to make some very unique brews to accompany them.
Pairing #1- Tocino & Jasmine Rice Lager
Tocino- Pork belly, Sweet potato lucuma puree
Jasmine Rice- Rice Lager 5.5% ABV
I really really enjoyed this pairing! The pork belly was so tender, literally melt in your mouth! The sweet potato puree over top added a nice touch of sweetness to the char-grilled pork. The Band of Bohemia Jasmine Rice Lager was a nice addition to the plate. It didn’t mask any of the flavors of the food, just quenched your thirst. It had a nice, soft mouthfeel that was a nice change from a traditional crisp lager.
Pairing #2- Arroz Chufa & Trigo de Navidad
Arroz Chufa- Jasmine rice, shrimp, chorizo, potato, aji mirasol-soy, cancha furikakke
Trigo de Navidad-Wheat 4.5% ABV
Another awesome pairing! I have no idea what half of the ingredients are in the Arroz Chufa but man it tastes amazing! It’s a bit heavier of a dish with a lot of Peruvian flavor packed in. The hoppy, fresh taste of the Trigo complements it nicely by cutting a bit of the heaviness. The celery seed is a very interesting addition that I have never seen in a beer before. Even if you’re not a fan of celery, I think this beer is worth a try, just make sure you try it with the dish. Just as the beer cuts the dish’s heaviness, the dish cuts the celery flavor of the beer a bit. Definitely a match made in heaven!
Aside from the great food and beer, Boleo has a fantastic atmosphere. Located on the 15th floor of the Kimpton Gray Hotel, it has fantastic views of the city. The decor is modern yet keeping with the South American theme. I would love to come back in the summer when the roof is open! A big thanks to the people at Boleo for having me in to try! I really had a great time and I’ll be back for happy hour soon!
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