Symon Says: Summer Starts with Pyramid Beer Paired Perfectly With Food

SEATTLE, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Food celebrity and culinary star Michael Symon – known for his award-winning recipes and restaurants – has teamed up with Pyramid Breweries to create three exclusive beer pairing recipes, just in time for summer. Symon worked closely with a cicerone for Pyramid Breweries to build the recipes complementing Pyramid's signature brews. The program, dubbed "Symon Says," celebrates great food and beer pairings around social occasions.

Symon, best known for his Food Network appearances, Iron Chef America role and several others, has a love for craft beer that shows. A James Beard Foundation Award winner, Symon has masterfully developed recipes that focus on bringing flavors together to create a unique beer and food experience.

According to Symon, great pairings start with the ingredients. "With food and beer pairings, ingredients are key. When I first sat down with the Pyramid brewing team, we examined the ingredients in its Hefeweizen, Outburst Imperial IPA and Apricot Ale brews and discussed how that translates to food. For example, an unfiltered wheat ale like Pyramid Hefeweizen brings out the flavors of the meat in a great burger. When we created the recipes, ingredients were top of mind," Michael Symon said.

Symon's new recipes feature some of Pyramid's most iconic and popular brews, including Pyramid Hefeweizen (5.2% ABV), Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA (8.5% ABV), and Pyramid Apricot Ale (5.1% ABV). Each beer takes on a life of its own in Symon's recipes. 

"One of the things that makes Michael Symon perfect for Pyramid is his appreciation for real, authentic flavors and bringing people together," said Kim Brusco, Head Brewer of Pyramid Breweries, Seattle. "Pyramid beer is much the same. Bringing our beers to life through Symon's creativity is just another way we can pair the universal love of food with the universal love of authentic, craft beer."

Whether you're entertaining for a small crew or planning a backyard bash, consider trying one of these Michael Symon recipes for your next summer gathering:

• Outburst Bratwurst with Bacon & Onion Chutney  featuring Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA. Beer, bacon and brats… not much more is needed for a savory, flavorful experience. Perfect for entertaining friends, the Outburst Bratwurst will quickly become a favorite that will have guests begging for more time and again.
  Symon says: Try cooking your brats 75 percent of the way through, and finish them off in a beer bath of warmed Pyramid Outburst Imperial IPA. The brats continue cooking, while absorbing the incredible taste of the beer.  Remember, beer is delicious to drink, but it's also great to cook with. The key: when cooking with beer, use something you like to drink!
• Apricot Ale Pork Tacos are infused with Pyramid Apricot Ale. This tenderized, slow-cooked pork with Pyramid's Gold Medal Award Winning Apricot Ale is the definition of a true crowd pleaser. The secret behind this dish? The pork is braised in Pyramid Apricot Ale. Just remember, when braising, keep your meat 75 percent covered; do not fully submerge it in the liquid.
  Symon says: Nothing goes better with pork than stone fruit flavors – and apricot is tops. Remember to crack open another Pyramid Apricot Ale as you devour these tacos!
• The Lola Burger features Pyramid Hefeweizen. Symon's definition of a perfect summer afternoon includes firing up the grill with his buddies for this tasty burger, paired with a refreshing Pyramid Hefeweizen. Follow the simple steps, add fresh lemons to a cold Pyramid Hefeweizen, and sit back and enjoy with friends!
  Symon says: to make a great burger extra delicious, you need 20-25 percent fat. Try a combination of sirloin, short rib and brisket, and grind coarsely. Don't pack your burger too tight. Tip: put a thumbprint in the middle of the meat patty, creating a dimple. This helps to prevent the burger from shrinking during cooking.

Consumers interested in trying the Michael Symon food pairing recipes can visit www.PyramidBrew.com/SymonSays  for full details, ingredients and videos. A mail-in-rebate offer also is available at retail or by downloading an online form. Visit Pyramid Breweries for more information or join the conversation at www.twitter.com/pyramidbrew or www.facebook.com/pyramidbrew.

About Pyramid Brewing Co.
Based in the Pacific Northwest, Pyramid Breweries, Inc. began as Hart Brewing in 1984 and launched the flagship brand of Pyramid Ales. In 1996, the company was reborn as Pyramid Breweries and currently offers craft beers produced under the Pyramid family of ales and lagers. With breweries in Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, and Berkeley, CA, Pyramid also owns Alehouses at all three locations and two additional Alehouses in Walnut Creek and Sacramento, CA.

Pyramid brewers have earned 15 medals at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), including the honor of Mid-size Brewery of the Year in 2008. The brewery also has been awarded seven medals in international competition at the World Beer Cup.

For more information about Pyramid Breweries visit, http://www.pyramidbrew.com/ or http://twitter.com/pyramidbrew.

About Michael Symon
Chef Michael Symon cooks with soul, creating bold, deeply satisfying dishes at his six restaurant concepts in America's heartland: Lola, Lolita, Roast, B Spot and Bar Symon. The Cleveland native shares his exuberant, approachable cooking style and infectious laugh with television viewers as an Iron Chef on the Food Network, as a host on ABC's The Chew and on his newest show, Symon's Suppers, on the Cooking Channel.  Michael has received honors including The James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Great Lakes in 2009 and Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine in 1998. His first cookbook, "Michael Symon's Live to Cook – Recipes and Techniques to Rock Your Kitchen," was published in 2009 and in October 2012, Michael will release his second cookbook, "Carnivore," featuring recipes for his meat-loving fans.  

Pyramid Breweries reminds you to Please drink responsibly.

SOURCE Pyramid Breweries