Beer with foie gras anyone? The fine dining scene in Hong Kong, like the rest of the world, snubs ales for fine wines, the latter bulking up drink menus more so than the former. But is that about to change? Ferran Adrià, one of the most celebrated chefs in the world, introduces an arisanal beer that challenges the traditional preconception of ale as a casual beverage sipped with curries or burgers and fries.

Adrià, the world class chef of El Bulli in Spain, has teamed up with Spanish commercial brewer Estrella Damm to create the world's first beer aimed for more upscale dining experiences. Inedit, priced at €7.56, is presented in wine-like bottle, a blend of wheat and barley malt, also mildly spiced with coriander, liquorice and orange. The Spanish beer is similar to the Belgium-style witbier.

Beer lovers worldwide, however, are sipping the news with a dose of scepticism. On the "witbier style saison" that is to be chilled tableside and served half-full in a white wine glass, here are some comments from the site RateBeer.com:

Rand from Switzerland posted on August 3: "Bottle 50 cl from El Cortes del Inglès in Marbella (Spain). All the visual characteristics of a white, slightly more amber. Flavour orange, freshness and yeast. Taste of wheat and yeast, rather than fruity touches. Very orangy, and coriander stands out well. Ideal and refreshing after a day ‘a la playa'."

JensenTaster from Denmark wrote on July 28: “I now understand why chefs are so unwilling to work with beer in their job. Because if this is the best the "El Bulli" founder could come up with... what should the others do? Slightly thin and soft wit, actually the label tells it all: a mix of pilsner and witbeer. No re[a]l pomerans (bitter orange) or coriander, no real hop or dryness. One of the more boring style-blends."

Others like Mcberko from Vancouver, Canada concluded the beer was "decent" while BelgBeerGeek from Antwerp in Belgium said it smelled like "bubblegum" and had a "grainy aftertaste."

And while Inedit beer is currently only available at stockists in US and Europe, it may soon come to your favourite Hong Kong fine dining restaurants. To learn more about the beer, watch this short clip introducing Estrella Damm Inedit: http://www.estrelladamminedit.com/en/ferran-adria-beer.html. Or see chef Adrià describe ‘how to serve it': http://www.estrelladamminedit.com/en/elbulli-ready-beer.html.

Source: AsiatatlerDining.com/Relaxnews