Menu Re-vamp: Mad Fox Brewing Company

By:  Jennifer Duff
Capital Cooking Contributor

DC Beer Week is August 11 - 18th and one of craft brewers participating in the week long celebration is Mad Fox Brewing Company, based out of Falls Church, VA.  Mad Fox Brewing is a brewpub featuring craft beers (brewed in house in a 15 barrel brewing system) paired with pub-style menu options that range from traditional American fare (like burgers and specialty pizzas) to dishes with an international flair (like Korean or German).  The creative, fun menu and clever craft brews highlight the overall atmosphere at the brewpub -- relaxed and fun, with a focus on people and community. 

Brewmaster, Bill Madden and Executive Chef, Andrew Dixon, teamed up to prepare a food and beer paring that builds on local farms, seasonal produce and growing a brewing community. 

We sampled German-style schnitzel, lightly breaded pork tenderloin topped with ham and gouda cheese, accompanied by potato puree, roasted cherry tomatoes, arugula and an ale demi glaze.  The tender and succulent pork just about melted in your mouth and the demi glaze added a savory finish to the meat.  Paired with the Praha Pils, which was inspired by a trip to Prague, the craft beer had a delicious spicy hop flavor that was a tasty compliment to the pork.

The crab cakes, crusted with house-made potato chips and served with avocado puree, ginger emulsion, and a melon salsa, had a crunchy shell with a creamy center.  The ginger emulsion added a bright flavor to the crab cake and was the perfect finish to the dish.

My absolute favorite plate of the night was the bulgogi lamb tacos, served with kimchi slaw, cucumbers, scallion, and cilantro.  The tacos were were wonderfully spicy with a cool cucumber crunch to temper the heat.  The spicy lamb paired perfectly with the Orange Whip IPA, a rich, malty IPA with a hint of sweetness.  The spicy/sweet blance of the food and beer was outstanding - truly a great pairing.

Mad Fox Brewing Company takes your traditional brewpub and steps it up a notch with inventive dishes and fantastic flavors.  Take advantage of tasting some of the fantastic brews from Mad Fox Brewing during DC Beer Week or head out to Falls Church to pick up a growler and enjoy some delicious pub food with a twist.