A Marriage of Flavors: Beef Burgundy and American Strong Ale

I'm reading this book called "The Brewmaster's Table."  It is a complete guide on how to pair real food with real beer.  I've only read 100 of the 350 pages but I applied what I've learned so far to a dinner I made the other night: Beef Bourguinnonne (also known as Beef Burgundy).
Recipe as follows:
6 strips of bacon
3 lbs of beef rump or chuck (cut into small cubes)
1 lg carrot sliced
1 onion sliced
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
10oz can condensed beef broth (or 10oz of water and 1 1/2 tsp of Beef Better than Bouillon
1 1/2 C red or burgundy wine
1 T. tomato paste
2 cloves garlic
1/2-1 tsp. whole thyme
1 whole bay leaf (I don't have bay leaves so I omitted it and it was fine)
1/2 onion (chopped)
1 lb fresh mushrooms
3 T. flour
Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp.  Remove and drain.  Add beef cubes and brown well.  Place browned beef cubes in crock-pot.  Brown carrots and one chopped onion. Season with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper.  Add broth, mix well and add to crock-pot.  Add cooked bacon, wine, tomato paste, garlic, bay leaf and half a chopped onion.  Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.  Saute mushrooms in 2 T. butter and add to crock-pot about an hour before serving.
To thicken: Turn crock-pot to high. Cream 5 T. flour and half cup of water.  Pour into crockpot, bring to a boil and allow to thicken.
Serve a top noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice.

This meal pairs very well with a Brown Ale, an Old Ale, or an American Strong Ale.  The Brown Ale has a maltiness that pairs very well with the thick beef stew like flavor of the Beef Burgundy.  The Old Ale also does well since the malt flavors and fruity aroma easily handles the delicate balance of flavor that is present in the Beef Burgundy.  My favorite, however, is our home brewed American Strong Ale.  The more muscular malt flavor from the beer brings out the more muscular beef characteristics of the Beef Burgundy and pairs well with the thyme.  However, the hops will cut the fat and cleanse the palate making your mouth beg for the next bite.  The slight sweetness will then marry the malt and hops making the food dance in unison as you partake of the divine meal.  


Enjoy!