When a brewery turns healthy- an afternoon at TJ’s Brew Works!
A legend in Pune, this brewery was actually one of the first joints that the hubby took ( back then we was just engaged) me out on a date to. TJ’s is one of the first breweries in Pune and has recently undergone a massive revamp. The place looks airy, has a good vibe and even has a new menu which features “spent grain”.
Spent grain or “brewer’s waste” is the byproduct of the brewing process. As beer contains a mash of barley, hops, hot water, malt ( and more!), the residue after the fermentation is rich in protein and fibre and can be used as food. ( Source:hobbyfarms.com) Generally this residue is used ( at least internationally) in animal feed, but TJ’s has found a unique way to incorporate it into its new dishes.
I had the opportunity to taste some pretty interesting concoctions! Using the residue eliminates waste and that is why I am a huge fan of what TJ’s is upto. Also this is LEGIT healthy, so beer indulgence won’t make my belly feel so bad now :)
While all of the above are unique ways to include spent grain in a diet, my personal favorite was the simple bread served with the soup. I honestly expected it to taste bitter — as a beer aftertaste and have a crumbly texture, but it was far from that! Smooth, yummy and refreshingly delightful. I really hope TJ’s starts selling loaves soon, I’ll be the first in line!
They also have 2 special beers to go with the spent grain fiesta- a buckwheat and quinoa. I jumped at the quinoa one as it had such stark flavors of lemon- much yum!
The brewery has also introduced a new pizza concept called “Nudo” — a spread of grain free, guilt free and vegan options. Nudo means “naked” in Italian, these are made with interesting bases such as cauliflower, amarnath, almonds, whey protein and more! Unfortunately though, the little baby boo had to be taken for his doc appointment and I couldn’t taste the pizzas at all. :(
Hey, but that gives me another reason to go back to TJ’s! Frankly, I am not a big fan of anything vegan, but I am super curious to find out what cauliflower tastes like as a pizza base. As a cook, these pizzas are innovative and a great way to introduce healthy eating into your party nights ( because we lose count of calories as the pints load up!). The pizza lover in me wants to hate it- because maida is bae!
All in all- it was a great afternoon, and I whole heartedly recommend you guys try it. Because har ek grain zaroori hota hai !
Special thanks to the staff for making us feel extra comfortable :)
