Beautiful warm weather may seem like nothing more than a pleasant thought for most of the nation, but it feels like spring has sprung for sunny Florida. Employees of Motorworks Brewing enjoy these gorgeous temperate months by pairing up delightful, award-winning brews with scrumptious foods and heading out to the beautiful beaches of Anna Maria Island to share an all around sensory sensation.

In our opinion, the perfect beer pairing is when each bite of food is smoothly complimented by the lingering flavors of the brew, while gentle flavor bursts from the ingredients of the dish roll over your tongue tease your mouth for just one more sip of beer. The mouth watering flavors of the brew swirl with flavors of the dish quenching your thirst and, in return, making you crave another bite of the delightful dish.

The arugula and fennel salad paired with the refreshing Hudson Hefeweizen is a favorite among the brew crew. The Hudson Hefeweizen is a traditional, unfiltered German style Hefeweizen (translates to yeast wheat beer in German) and features a cloudy yellow color. Aromas of spicy banana and clove are noticeable, but not over powering.

It features a pleasantly full body with apparent banana flavors throughout the palate. A dry subtle clove finish lingers on your tongue with light citrus undertones that pair perfectly with the fennel and citrus notes infused into the salad.

Due to the simplicity and ease of making this salad, with no sacrifice of flavor, this pairing is usually the first to be offered up at brewery gatherings. This pairing has also been spotted being enjoyed on the rare days the brew crew brings their lunch, instead of indulging in the sinfully good food truck options at hand.

As always, our three-time, award-winning V Twin Lager is a favorite beer among the brew family for pairing with delicious mouth watering heartier dishes such as chicken wings, bacon burgers, brats or pulled pork barbecue. V Twin Lager features a bright copper color with creamy head.

The light toasted Munich malt aroma and moderate, but firm, hop bitterness balances out the rich Vienna malt taste. The light body and slightly creamy mouth feel that dries in the finish and quenches your thirst quickly cuts through the spiciness and richness of many popular dishes.

The award winning Midnight Espresso Coffee Porter is bar none always one of our favorite beers for pairing with desserts. It goes well with so many decadent delights including chocolate cheesecake, caramel crème brule and German chocolate cake. There is so much room to be creative in the desert pairing department! If you ever come up with a marvelous Motorworks Brewing food pairing, please share it by visiting us on the web at www.MotorworksBrewing.com! Our award winning brews are available in 12-ounce cans at retailers everywhere. Cans and Growler fills are offered seven days a week at the brewery located at 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton, FL.

Arugula-Fennel Salad

The recipe is lightly adapted from Chris Siek.

This refreshing spring salad with a lemon dressing pairs perfectly with the Motorworks Brewing Hudson Hefeweizen. It's great for having company over and lounging outside on a sunny Florida day. This makes very large portions of a side salad, so it can be for four to six people depending on the size portion.

• Prep 15 minutes • Ready In 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/3 c. extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1 Tbs. lemon zest

• 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice

• 6 cups arugula

• 2 small fennel bulbs, cored and thinly sliced

• 1/2 c. toasted pine nuts

• 30 grape tomatoes, halved

• 1/2 c. fresh Chevre cheese crumbles

Directions

Make the dressing by whisking the olive oil, salt, lemon zest, and lemon juice together in a small bowl; set aside. Place the arugula leaves into a large salad bowl. Sprinkle the fennel, pine nuts, grape tomatoes and Chevre cheese over top. Toss with the lemon dressing immediately before serving.