Barbecued mutton and English-style ale at the Ole Hickory Pit Bar-B-Que.

I'll take these and a firkin of Ordinary (photo credit). 

Susan knows her way around a word processor, having served for 15 years as the Courier-Journal's restaurant reviewer. She's authored books about bourbon, food and Kentucky travel, was (and maybe still is) a teacher, and is an accomplished musician.

My grandparents lived in Henderson, Kentucky, which is prime mutton territory. My granddad was a fan; my mom, not so much.

At the family reunions held there, we always had mutton. I remembered this hazy fact many years later, when I was visiting Greece and learning how marvelous lamb can be in all its various edible forms.

A very gentle point, though ... perhaps more than one paragraph devoted to what (in my mind) tastes like an apt beer pairing? I'm not going to tell you which beer it is, so click through and read the whole article.

FOOD & DRINK, PAIRINGS: Barbecued mutton and an english-style ale, by Susan Reigler (LEO Weekly)

There are few sights and scents that warm a dedicated carnivore’s heart like those of a giant pile of wood nestled next to cinder-block building from which the savory scents of wood smoke and cooking meat emanate. Summer is here, and that means picnic and dining tables piled with racks of ribs, plates of pulled chicken and pork, bowls of potato salad and slaw and all the fixings that accompany that favorite American summer feast — barbecue.

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Calendar check: "Barbecue, Blues and Brew" in Jeffersonville on June 17 and 18, 2011.

The newly dubbed event takes place on Friday/Saturday, June 17 & 18. I'm working with BBC and World Class Beverages; with luck, there'll be a way to get other Southern Indiana breweries involved.

Beer tasting will be added to Jeffersonville’s barbecue festival this summer, by David A. Mann (News and Tribune)

The city of Jeffersonville just released its schedule for RiverStage — the floating Ohio River venue off Riverside Drive — and 2011’s Smokin’ on the River event is being dubbed a “Barbecue, Blues and Brew Festival.”

The new title is being used as this year’s event will feature a local beer tasting tent, confirmed Sara Schutz, assistant superintendent of special events and RiverStage for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Six local breweries — including New Albanian Brewing Co. and Bluegrass Brewing Co. — are expected to offer two brews each for the tent. Part of the fun will be pairing different beers with the varying takes on barbecue at the event, Schutz said.

Fondly remembering barbecue and beer on July 4.

Belated thanks to Ronnie and Katie for their stellar Fourth of July barbecue and beer get together in New Albany.

Paired with multiple helpings of ribs, pulled pork and delectable smoked beef were diverse beers, ranging from the "new" Schlitz in cans to Clipper City's Loose Cannon Hop3 in bottles. I enjoyed Brian's delectable "imperial oatmeal milk stout" from Browning's, as brought in growlers, and finished the night with Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron.

Looking forward to next year!