Title Defense: Snackdown 2022

I have come to terms with the fact that I don't win awards even though I feel like I deserve them.  I try to tell myself that I don't need a trophy to tell me that I am a success but the fact is, a little trophy here and there validates my efforts to me. I remember someone telling me that the coach only notices the first guy and the last guy. As compelling as that is, having won so few awards, I have managed to celebrate my shortcomings and to pat myself on the back hard enough to propel myself forward. 

But two years ago things changed. Woodblock Chocolate was invited to compete in an event that would lead to one of the greatest accomplishments of my life and change the course of history. The event was called Snackdown and it took place at the end of Portland Beer Week, June somethingth, 2019,  a rowdy celebration. The WWF themed event teamed 10 local breweries with 10 local chefs with the goal of creating a tasty pairing that would garner the most votes from the participating public. The winner gets obnoxious bragging rights and the honor of being in possession of the most sought after, iconic and coveted trophies in all of Beer Week. The Belt! Like the lesser known Stanley Cup, The Belt is to be defended or passed on, for it know no allegiance but to the reigning champion.

We were fortunate to be teamed up with Great Notion Brewery. We were late to the game and had little time to prepare but managed to come up with a stellar offering. It was a dish of Woodblock Chocolate's signature chocolate pudding with a malted whipped cream, dusted with ground cocoa nibs and a disk of Meridian hop enfleuraged 70% dark chocolate. This was paired with Jammy Pants, a red hued, berry forward kettle sour beer. The complex but accessible combination of the flavors took everyone by surprise. It was a case where 1+1=3. The combination of flavors and textures was bigger and better than the individual components. It was a symphony, an orchestra on the tongue. 

The result was a coup. We walked away with the belt held high above our heads to protect the patina from the salty tears of the weeping losers. To the jolting shock all of those culinary school cowboys, we won! This was no small feat! We were up against extremely accomplished culinary superstars but their tears are as salty as their food and the belt is mine. 

But then came the global pandemic.  

To many, this was a bad thing but to me it was an opportunity. If the pandemic we horrible enough, maybe Beer Week would be cancelled! Maybe I could keep the belt FOREVER! But Beer Week has prevailed and we are ready to defend! We have a plan and we are not screwing around. We have called in the ice cream geniuses at Fifty Licks to assist on the recipe development and have had many deeply intense meetings with high level people throughout the multiverse. I feel the target on my back and it is the closest thing I have had to a massage in years! Look out Snackdown 2022! The belt is ours and we intend to keep it.