The Creole Chicken Sandwich certainly satisfied my craving for some good fried chicken on a bun. Photo by Galen Simmons
By Galen Simmons
What’s better than a beer and a fried chicken sandwich?
How about a whole flight of beers and a perfectly fried, sweet and mildly spicy chicken sandwich outside on the back patio at Cowbell Brewing on a pleasant summer evening in June?
Before Julia and I saw the opening-night production of Sisters of ’78 at the Blyth Festival, we stopped, as we always do, at Cowbell Brewing for a bite to eat and a couple drinks.
Now, I’m a creature of habit. I love my beer and I love my friend chicken sandwiches, and that was what I was in the mood for before the show. I like to try a many seasonal brews as I can when I’m at Cowbell, so that’s what I was hoping to do.
While I was mildly disappointed Cowbell was out of the Chocolate Raspberry Pudding Cake Stout, I began my tastings with the Grill Sergeant Pale Ale – a refreshing, nearly amber-coloured, light-tasting beer with a mild bite and no strong after taste.
I moved on to the Zesty Lemon Sour, my favourite of the new beers I tried. Though I’m not a fan of sours that are too sour, this one suited my tastes perfectly. It was refreshing, lemony and way too easy to drink. I think I brought about four of this beer home to drink out in the backyard.
I would say I tried the Bobcat Red Ale next, but I’ve had this beer so many times, I knew exactly what I was getting into. This beer has an almost fruity caramel flavour with a mild bite and a smooth finish. This is probably my favourite of Cowbell’s permanent offerings.
Finally, I tasted the Oatmeal Vanilla Black Lager. I had been hoping for a stout or a porter, but this dark lager satisfied my craving. Not as heavy as a stout or a porter, the warm vanilla smell invites you in for a drink. The flavour is well balanced, sweet and isn’t overbearing with the vanilla. The oatmeal offers a smooth-drinking experience that really brings the whole thing home.
While I was finishing my beers, our food arrived about as fast as you could expect a fried chicken sandwich and fries. Both Julia and I ordered the Creole Chicken Sandwich, and we both enjoyed it thoroughly.
The chicken was crispy, juicy and cooked and seasoned well, and it was topped with a tangy, crunchy apple cider vinegar coleslaw, house-made pickles that still had a nice bite to them, and honey butter adding a touch of sweetness and rounding out the flavours. It was served on a beautifully soft and warm brioche bun, which didn’t fall apart as I was eating the sandwich.
The sandwich was served with house-cut fries that were crispy and seasoned well.
Overall, I found the service to be excellent, the atmosphere welcoming and the food fantastic. If you’re heading to Blyth to see a play or just passing through, Cowbell Brewing is worth a stop.
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