by Aude
Ok, I know it is not chic and glamour like you would expect from a Parisian girl but I must confess something: I love beer. But here is my Parisian side, I am kind of snobbish about it. Just like I would rather like not to drink wine rather than drinking cheap plonk, I tend to be peaky when it comes to beer (but never say no to a good old Chiang when eating Thai food but that’s totally different … the girl is full of paradoxes). A place that has been satisfying me lately? Blue Supreme !
Ok, I know it is not chic and glamour like you would expect from a Parisian girl but I must confess something: I love beer. But here is my Parisian side, I am kind of snobbish about it. Just like I would rather like not to drink wine rather than drinking cheap plonk, I tend to be peaky when it comes to beer (but never say no to a good old Chiang when eating Thai food but that’s totally different … the girl is full of paradoxes). A place that has been satisfying me lately? Blue Supreme !
I first discovered Blue Supreme on Instagram. The place is just so Instagram friendly and they take the most beautiful and appealing photos … good job guys, half of the job is done already when people see your pictures and think “ok, I must try this place”. Looking for more info, I ended up on their Facebook page and loved their description:
We are a neighbourhood restaurant nestled on the quiet Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan. At Blue Supreme we focus on live and bottle conditioned beer; beers that are bottled with live yeast and culture that allows a secondary fermentation. The resulting beer has more nuanced and layered flavours; secondly, the natural carbonation gives a more lively and spritzy mouthfeel, allowing even full flavoured beers to be refreshing.
The kitchen at Blue Supreme showcases new American cuisine weekly, with a limited but constant evolving menu. The food here pays respect to Chef Leonard's American roots; featuring craftsmanship in a variety of sub ethnic, regional American delights. We want to serve many overlooked culinary delights found across different regions of the U.S. that are perfect for this beer-centric establishment.
Live and bottled conditioned beer? New American cuisine? Limited and constant evolving menu? Craftmanship? … Game on!
We are a neighbourhood restaurant nestled on the quiet Upper Lascar Row, Sheung Wan. At Blue Supreme we focus on live and bottle conditioned beer; beers that are bottled with live yeast and culture that allows a secondary fermentation. The resulting beer has more nuanced and layered flavours; secondly, the natural carbonation gives a more lively and spritzy mouthfeel, allowing even full flavoured beers to be refreshing.
The kitchen at Blue Supreme showcases new American cuisine weekly, with a limited but constant evolving menu. The food here pays respect to Chef Leonard's American roots; featuring craftsmanship in a variety of sub ethnic, regional American delights. We want to serve many overlooked culinary delights found across different regions of the U.S. that are perfect for this beer-centric establishment.
Live and bottled conditioned beer? New American cuisine? Limited and constant evolving menu? Craftmanship? … Game on!
The place is small but very welcoming. You’ll have to be patient because they don’t take booking and they are quite full but believe me it’s worth it. Let’s start with a beer, shall we?
The beer menu is nothing like I’ve ever seen before in Hong Kong. First of all, it’s quite extensive. Then do not look for an Asahi, that’s not the right place. Bottled beers are sorted according to their intensity:
- Sour and Funky
- Fruity and Spicy Yeast aromas
- Malt Driven
- Hoppy and bitter
- Crisp
My choice (upon recommendation of the bartenders of course as I have absolutely no idea what to go for): a Sour and Funky one, the Rodenback Vintage 2014 (HKD 295 / 750 ml) with tasting notes of balsamic, vanilla and wild honey. Surprising it is definitely! Sour and funky it is too! It actually seems like you are not even drinking beer but something different.
Ok, beers are reaching expectations. Should we try the food now?
I had no idea what to expect of “new American cuisine” and yet it was nothing like what I could have expected. Every bite was surprising and super elegant, not the kind of words I would usually associate with American cuisine:
Ok, beers are reaching expectations. Should we try the food now?
I had no idea what to expect of “new American cuisine” and yet it was nothing like what I could have expected. Every bite was surprising and super elegant, not the kind of words I would usually associate with American cuisine:
Snow pea, pancetta, mint, fiore sardo (HKD 98), the freshest and most surprising salad
Shakshuka, dill and feta (HKD 150), super pornfood
Iberico chop, Brussels sprouts, hazelnuts, green apples (HKD 210)
Ok so that’s two hits. On the drinks and on the food! I definitely needed to shave a little chat with Ted, one of the co-founder.
Why a craft beer dedicated place?
As a beer advocate, personally, I find the selection in Hong Kong limited. It does not paint a full picture of craft beer. There are a lot of interesting beers and styles yet to grace Hong Kong. We aim to create a one of a kind beer experience in Blue Supreme by sourcing interesting beers and presenting them coherently through our menu.
How do you source and select your beers?
The central theme of the beers is that they are bottle conditioned. Bottle conditioned means that the beers are bottled with live yeast and culture that causes refermentation in the bottle. The process gives the beer more nuanced flavours and spritzes carbonation - allowing the beer to carry flavours and still be refreshing. We would like to paint a full picture of what craft beers should be with a focus on farmhouse style ales and sour beers.
How have you build your drink menu?
Navigating through an extensive beer or wine list can be daunting, and I would like to avoid this at Blue Supreme. Therefore, our menu is arranged by intensity. As you go down the list, he beers become fuller flavoured. Moreover, by arranging the menu by flavour profile instead of beer style will help our customers understand the flavour of the beers better.
And the food menu?
The food menu was created to accompany the complex flavours and aroma compounds of the live beers. Therefore, Chef Leonard Cheung created a simple, yet sophisticated menu with a variety of regional-focused American delights such as the Lowcountry Cornbread with Smoked Butter and Duck Confit Burger with Fennel and Pomegranate Salad. The menu frequently rotates as the Chef Leonard favors fresh, in-season produce and local producers in the neighborhood.
What about the name Blue Supreme, where does it come from?
The name Blue Supreme comes from the song “My Blue Supreme” by Interpol; it reminiscences of new found love and heart break. “Cruising in my Blue Supreme” was his metaphor for finding happiness.
Blue Supreme
G/F, 21 Tung Street, Sheung Wan
Beers (all served from 3 different temperature zones):
Blue Supreme
G/F, 21 Tung Street, Sheung Wan
Beers (all served from 3 different temperature zones):
- By the glass from HKD 75 (250 ml) to HKD 150 (420 ml)
- Bottled from HKD 75 (330 ml) to HKD 295 (750 ml)
Food menu is short and seasonal
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