You gotta have something to wash that spicy food down with, so as a lover of craft beers I will be reviewing the ales, lagers, pilsners, and more brewed by the many craft breweries out there from time to time. And I am starting off with one of my favorites: Grand Cru from BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse (even if it isn’t the best option to pair with spicy foods).
The Grand Cru is a seasonal selection from BJ’s that arrives yearly as a holiday gift around Christmas time, but sadly is disappears all too soon (my in laws usually stay longer than this beer remains on tap). It is one of the chain restaurant’s rotating selection of specialty brews, and it is usually the one most anticipated throughout the year by fans of BJ’s. (Side note: I happen to know a particular location—sadly not close to me—that orders enough to last a couple of months or more each year. But I ain’t telling you where it is unless you agree to buy me dinner and at least two Grand Crus!)
The Grand Cru is a Belgian-style golden ale known as a Tripel. According to Wikipedia:
“The name ‘Tripel’ first appeared in the brewery Westmalle, in the 1930s. It was used to name their new beer since they started using a tripled amount of ingredients as before.”
It has actually become quite popular in the States over the last few years, and I have to believe that BJ’s may have helped with that seeing as they started brewing Grand Cru over twenty years ago. (Unrelated side note: Can somebody please explain the sour beer fad? Sour and beer DO NOT go together!)
The Grand Gru is a very rich-tasting beer with a honey-infused sweetness to it. If you have ever had mead, it has some similarities to that, though not as sweet. It also has some fruitiness to it, with perhaps the taste of cherries coming through (though I don’t believe that fruit is actually used in the brewing process). This year’s batch is not as sweet as what they have put out in prior years, and that’s a good thing. I like the sweetness and taste of honey, but in the proper moderation. This is also a strong beer, coming in at 10% alcohol, thus the reason for the twelve once glass instead of a pint. Most BJ’s will not serve you more than two, and trust me that is quite enough (especially considering these pack 300 calories per glass). And if you do have two, you may want to hand the keys to somebody else while leaving the restaurant.
While I love the Grand Cru and visit BJ’s as much as possible when they have it in stock, it’s not necessarily the best beer to drink with spicy food. Not that it is a bad option, but you really want to enjoy the taste of this brew on its own, and the spicier foods might overpower it. But then BJ’s is not noted for venturing too far into the fiery realm with its menu options. The wings are pretty good, but their hottest sauce barely pushes the heat boundaries. And the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich is a good choice, just don’t expect it to set your mouth on fire. And the Jambalaya brings some heat, but you have to ask for it extra spicy.
One positive side effect of the pandemic is the fact that restaurants are now serving alcohol to go. (At least they are here in Texas. And if your state does not allow alcohol to go, why aren’t you living in Texas?) This year, for the first time ever, you can take Grand Cru home with you (without pouring it into a bottle under the table and stashing that in your wife’s purse). They are selling it in 750ml bottles (at the rather hefty price of $12 each), though my local BJ’s ran at almost right away (I did at least manage to get one). Hopefully more will be coming in soon, and in any case this one is best straight from the tap (as is pretty much any beer). So head to your local BJ’s soon and hopefully they will still have a keg or two of the Grand Cru behind the bar!
Among the chain restaurants, BJ’s is definitely one that rises above the casual dining rut. They have an extensive menu with mostly hits and only a few misses. The restaurant’s pizzas are considered among their best items, and they do make a darn good pie. But they also have great burgers, a fabulous pork chop, some tasty ribs, a nice assortment of appetizers (Hey BJ’s, bring back the small bite mac and cheese!), and plenty more. And their beer selection compares well to the smaller craft brewers with standouts like their Hopstorm IPA, the Harvest Hefeweizen, the Jeremiah Red, and more (all three of those pair well with spicy food, I should note). This is a restaurant with wide appeal that does not descend into the mediocrity of most chains, and I have found it to have consistently good food, service, and beer. It has locations across twenty-eight states, and if you are going to a chain restaurant, this one definitely rises above the pack.