FORK & CORK: Huske Hardware House Restaurant & Brewery

The is Fayetteville's only gastropub. The British term gastropub means 'pub with a groove,' and aside from their fine selection of crafted beer and after-hours good times, they brew up some mean pub fare.

Huske's collection of brews perfectly compliment American and British Pub cuisine. Coined HHH, it is the only beer brewery in Historic Downtown Fayetteville that serves as a one-stop-shop for food, drink and entertainment. 

HHH's seven craft beers, brewed in house, are an anchor, or choose one of their nine guest beers. The signature HHH Brew is a fond favorite. With three layers of beer separated in the glass by color, it's almost too pretty to drink.

Not sure which brew is for you? Partake in their mini-brew sampler for a great brew tasting experience, only found downtown at HHH. Brew tasting's are getting as popular as wine tasting, and learning the intricacies of pairing beer with food is certainly an adventure I enjoyed.

I ordered the 'Beer Flight Sampler,' consisting of six mini samples of beer ranging from dark to light in color and flavor, that I could pair with my meal. 

Their best known appetizer, fried green beans, arrived in a cone shaped holder with the brew sampler. I tried a sip of Irish Red then bit into a crisp golden beer-battered green been. It was a harmony of flavors and additive appetizer. Simply put, delicious. Served with ranch dressing or dressing of choice, they were a funny little pop-it-in-your-mouth type of appetizer that paired perfectly with brew.

Onto the main course: a thick-cut, mushroom and Swiss cheese burger with a side of seasoned, thick, homemade potato-wedge fries and a heaping side of beer-battered onion rings. I hanker for a good burger sometimes, and it's hard to find one that beats this 1/4 pound Black Angus burger. 

It was done to my request of perfect medium rare, grilled to perfection on the outside, slightly pink in the center. It was topped with a generous layer of mushrooms and onion, and then served on a lightly grilled pretzel roll, complete with a hearty layer of melted Swiss cheese.

The side of onion rings, my ultimate favorite, were beer battered, sliced thick and served crisp yet subtly sweet. They paired perfectly with a lighter colored pale ale that I sipped.

The manager, Jerry, had given me a small brew lesson. He said beer pairs with food much as wine does: Red wine goes with red meat, while white wine goes with white meat. So pair red meat with red brew, and light food with light brew.

I really liked the presentation. It was playful and Pub-like.The portions were plentiful, and my palate thoroughly enjoyed the pairing of the burger with the brews.  

What a fun learning experience it was. 

Hat's off to Team Collins for a great dinning experience. With so many items to choose from on their menu, like a juicy, 12-ounce New York strip, or southern fried chicken, there is something for everyone. Try some UK fare, like the scrumptious bangers and mash paired with the signature HHH brew – perfect gastropub fare. Cheers!

(For information on hours, menu items and entertainment dates, find Huske Hardware House on the , Facebook or the restaurant website.)