Smoke, craft beer and Latin flavors came together Thursday night as The Beerstro at Wolf Branch Brewing Co. introduced “Smoked & Brewed,” a six-course tasting dinner highlighting the brewery’s evolving food program and its new chef.

Owner and master brewer Jose Villafana teamed with chef Pasquale Placanica and pitmaster Jeremy Gullickson to create a menu built around smoked meats, beer pairings and unexpected twists.

“We called the event ‘Smoked & Brewed’ because we wanted the theme to be smoked barbecue meats incorporating beer elements in the food and smoked elements in some of the beer,” Jose says. “For the Old Fashioned, we used our bourbon barrel-aged stout in lieu of bourbon. We tied it together with a Latin twist.”

That twist showed up throughout the evening’s menu. Guests sampled cured sausage tartare, Thor’s Hammer beef shank served on a sweet plantain waffle, blueberry porter pork belly over a mofongo waffle, a Brazilian-style pork slider on pão de queijo, a smoked sausage arepa cup and guava and cheese bread pudding finished with vanilla ice cream and a beer caramel swirl.

“We’re big fans of fusion and twists in food,” Jose says. “Marrying American Southern barbecue with Latin elements, united by beer, is a big part of our identity.”

For regulars Katie Sartoris and Sheldon Jacobson, that’s exactly what keeps bringing them back.

“We love their beer and we love their food,” Katie says. “These food events are so special because they have such a talented brewing team and cooking team. Chef Pasquale is amazing.”

“It really feels like family when they do these elevated dining experiences with beer,” Sheldon says. “It’s incredible.”

Carol and David Hass have watched Wolf Branch grow from its early days.

“I’ve home brewed for a long time, and I met Jose when he first started brewing because we knew we could get that same quality product coming here,” David says.

“We got rid of all the brewing supplies and because Jose is so talented so we just come down the street and taste all the great beer he has,” Carol says.

The tasting drew a room full of regulars, many eager to see the brewery continue expanding its culinary program alongside its award-winning beers. With chef Pasquale now leading the kitchen, the evening offered a glimpse of what’s next for The Beerstro, where smoked barbecue, Latin flavors and craft beer continue to find common ground.

Photos by Gina Horan, Katie Sartoris, Sheldon Jacobson, Carla Garcia and Andy Colon.

If you go:
The Beerstro at Wolf Branch Brewing Co.
707 W Main St., Leesburg / 352.429.0210
wolfbranchbrewing.com