Pair win NHHSF brewmaster, sommelier honors
(Photo courtesy LORI STRATTON) Tom Wilbur, left, presents Ed Tomlinson of No-Li Brewhouse of Spokane, Wash., with the 2018 Brewmaster Award at the Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation’s fifth annual Iron Sommelier and Brewmaster Event
(Photo courtesy LORI STRATTON) Tom Wilbur, left, awards Charlie Walker of Vehrs with the “2018 Iron Sommelier” title in a race that marked his third consecutive victory.
PRIEST RIVER – The Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation’s fifth annual Iron Sommelier and Brewmaster Event was a tremendous success.
Held Saturday, Feb. 24 at the Priest River Event Center, the event grossed over $12,400 for the Newport Hospital and Health Services Foundation. Guests voted on wine or microbrew flights paired with six gourmet “small bite” courses prepared by executive chef Steven Swanson of Nectar Catering and Events out of Spokane. Swanson is a 2002 graduate of Newport High School and a Pend Oreille County resident.
Event newcomer Ed Tomlinson of No-Li Brewhouse of Spokane, Wash., beat incumbent Cory Lobdell of MickDuff’s Brewing Co. of Sandpoint for the 2018 Brewmaster title with his creative pairings of No-Li’s craft brews and the six courses served.
As typical for this event, the race for “brewmaster” was separated by only one vote.
Tomlinson and Lobdell’s pairings for each course proved to be a tight competition until the last course where an honest mistake truly turned the tables for No-Li.
Instead of bringing the chosen Falls Porter to pair with the final dessert course (lemon devonshire cream tarts with macerated berries) Tomlinson accidentally brought the Red, White & No-Li Pale Ale that event-goers actually preferred with that course. The mistake clinched the victory for No-Li.
Charlie Walker of Vehrs, Inc. in Spokane won the “2018 Iron Sommelier” title in a race that marks the third consecutive victory for Vehrs. Walker’s pairing of the 2014 Antica Primitivo with Chef Steven’s chorizo and manchego gourges gave him the greatest lead, edging out competitor and event veteran Starr Jensen of Idaho Wine Merchant for the coveted Iron Sommelier title.
Spokane musician, Kicho Forrest, provided spirited acoustic guitar with country and classic rock vocals. Forrest was accompanied on hand drums by Bret Smith of Newport. In recognition of his achievement, a custom, hand-crafted metal plaque created by Priest River Lamanna High School metal shop was awarded to Chef Steven Swanson.
Twelve Newport High School Health Occupation Students of America Club students served each of the six food courses and graciously accepted the generous audience’s tips of over $900 toward their clubs’ fundraising efforts.
The Iron Sommelier and Brewmaster Event is an annual event and partnership with Jim and Kerri Martin, proprietors of the Beadmore Bistro, Wine Bar and Tap House of Priest River.
Information: NewportHospitalAndHealth.org