AN award-winning brewery is hoping to knock wine off the menu with a special matching event.

Hardknott Brewery is holding the event at Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre to showcase not only the best of Cumbrian produce but also the best of Cumbrian beers.

Dave Bailey, who runs the brewery, has long called for more restaurants to serve a full range of beers to compliment food and the special menu is set to convince diners that beer can be the perfect match to more than just pie and chips.

Brewery Head Chef Ged Quinn create a range of dishes with flavours to marry up perfectly to tasty real ales.

Dave, who runs Hardknott Brewery with his partner Ann Wedgwood, said he took the inspiration for his creations at Hardknott from all over the world particularly Belgian Monastery beers and American craft beers.

He added: “Hardknott has always considered food when designing beers. We believe in beer’s ability to be a great accompaniment to food and we know that the nuances and subtleties of our beers can be emphasised by matching them with the right dish.

"More than that, we like to have a bit of fun. We are serious about beer, but recognise that eating and drinking is a social experience. "We like to rock the boat a little with our beers, make them different and, in itself, that creates a talking point.”

The idea came about after Ged stumbled across Hardknott’s award-winning beers at the Brewery’s mini-festival in March.

After a few conversations the beer banquet was born.

Ged said: “We hit upon the idea of the event as a way of celebrating great Cumbrian real ale with a menu that expressed our passion for innovative dishes using fine ingredients from across the region. We’re looking forward to a great night.”

The evening will feature seven dishes and seven matching beers, such as of Herdwick Roulade of Lamb which will be served with Hardknott’s Infra Red, a strong ruby beer of 6.2 per cent to complement the distinctive flavour of the meat.

Bury Black Pudding and Lancshire cheese hash will be served with an India Pale Ale, celriac soup will be matched with a light ale, a duck, smoked bacon and rocket leek salad will be served with a strong mild 8.1 per cent, and a venison steak with raspberries, apricots in red wine sauce with fondant potato will be served with a robust Gordian Knot IPA 6 per cent.

Two dessert courses will also be paired with strong pale ales and barley wines.

The Brewery Beer and Food event takes place on 13 November at 6.30pm. Tickets are £35 and include food and beers. For more information, or to book, visit www.breweryarts.co.uk or phone 01539 725133.