This is a Vintage episode from 2006

Why This Episode Matters

Long before craft beer became mainstream, Garrett Oliver was arguing that beer belonged at the fine dining table
This 2006 conversation captures the early days of American craft brewing before the explosion of brewery culture and IPA dominance
Garrett explains why beer may pair with food better than wine — then challenges Francis to prove him wrong
The episode explores brewing philosophy, Belgian traditions, and the business pressures of growth
Includes a fascinating snapshot of how small Brooklyn Brewery still was in 2006 — despite already becoming influential

The Banter

Mark Pascal and Francis Schott discuss Frank Bruni’s four-star review of Jean-Georges in The New York Times and what happens when great chefs expand into restaurant empires. The conversation explores restaurant identity, and whether excellence can survive scale.

The Conversation

Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery and author of The Brewmaster’s Table, joins The Restaurant Guys for a spirited conversation about the early days of American craft beer, brewing philosophy, beer aging, Belgian traditions, and pairing beer with food. Things get competitive when Oliver argues beer pairs better with food than wine — prompting Francis to challenge him to a live beer-versus-wine showdown at Stage Left.

Bio

Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery and one of the most influential figures in American craft beer. He is the author of The Brewmaster’s Table: Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer with Real Food and editor of The Oxford Companion to Beer. Oliver has received numerous honors for his contributions to brewing and beverage culture, including a James Beard Award.

Info

Brooklyn Brewery https://brooklynbrewery.com/

Garrett Oliver http://www.garrettoliver.net/

Dale DeGroff Yanquiza Pisco Party @ Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick, NJ

Tickets at https://www.stageleft.com/event/pisco-party-with-dale-degroff/

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Magyar Bank

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Stage Left Wine Shop

https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

Our Places

Stage Left Steak
https://www.stageleft.com/

Catherine Lombardi Restaurant
https://www.catherinelombardi.com/

Stage Left Wineshop
https://www.stageleftwineshop.com/

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