PIZZA and BEER: UNITED in a GLASS

FEW
THINGS IN LIFE go
together as well as pizza and beer. But what if you could
have a pizza-flavored beer? Chicago real estate broker Tom
Seefurth accidentally invented pizza beer last year while
practicing his home brewing. On a whim he added some
tomatoes, oregano, garlic, and basil to the mix and hence
pizza beer was born. Though it may sound like a gimmick that
would only appeal to college kids, the pizza brew is turning
into a successful business venture. In May, Seefurth reached
an agreement with Walter Payton’s Roundhouse restaurant in
Illinois to serve Mamma Mia Pizza Beer there until the
supply runs out. The beer already has won two local
home-brewing awards and landed Seefurth on a New York food
television show. Though Seefurth sees pizza beer as a
culinary beverage, meant to be paired which different types
of food, he often feels the need to explain his concept to
skeptics, even posting responses online to derisive
bloggers. “People thought we took a bottle of beer and
shoved a piece of pizza in it,” he said. The pizza beer is
served in a 1O-ounce wine glass for $4 and tastes of
oregano, onions and tomatoes. And of course, it is meant to
be enjoyed with pizza and pasta. While it’s only available
in Chicago now, if the beer’s success keeps up maybe we’ll
get a taste out here on the East Coast. Homer Simpson would
be so happy.