A tasty new partnership has blossomed in Midtown: William Johnson of The Creamery Memphis and Taylor James of Madison Growler & Bottle Shop have teamed up for “Beer-lato Happy Hour” on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m. at the Growler Shop inside the Madison Cash Saver.
A few weeks ago, Johnson met James’ girlfriend Angelina at the Cooper-Young Community Farmer’s Market where he sells his gelato every Saturday. After sampling Johnson’s Guinness-flavored gelato, she asked if he had ever considered using local brews in his frozen desserts. She introduced him to James, and the two concocted the idea for “Beer-lato Happy Hour” featuring beer-flavored gelato.
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With some help from James’ beer expertise, Johnson incorporates local and regional beers and coffees into his “Beer-lato” menu items, which visitors can sample before buying scoops ($3), pints ($5), or gelato sammies ($4) (which are like creampuffs with a scoop of gelato in the center).
This past Thursday was the third happy hour event and James and Johnson say they have had a great turnout. Johnson sold more than 50 pints the first week, and the partnership has brought exposure to both The Creamery and the Growler Shop.
There were more than 10 flavors on this Thursday’s menu, including “Stone Levitation with Sea Salted Caramel,” “Pumpkin Reverb Coffee,” “Rogue Chipotle Jalapeno & Goat Cheese,” and “Yazoo Fall Lager and Popcorn,” which sounds odd but is unbelievably good.
I couldn’t decide on a favorite, so I went halvsies and ordered a pint that was half of the popcorn flavor and half of a pancake flavor that wasn’t on the menu but would make for a kick-ass breakfast. I didn’t have the guts to sample his “Abita Root Beer with Bone Marrow,” but I’m sure it would have been as delicious as the other flavors.
Between James’ beer expertise and Johnson’s gastronomic know-how, “Beer-lato Happy Hour” is an event you do not want to miss.
