Wine is well known to be paired with cheese and light hors d'oeuvres, but what about beer? When it comes to pairing beer and food, it ultimately comes down to matching both the food’s flavor and the beer’s flavor. With so many styles of beer, here’s a breakdown of the best style to pair with your favorite bites and some expanding breweries.
Hooker Beer Company - https://hookerbeer.com/
Forest and Main Brewing Company - https://www.forestandmain.com/
Benchtop Brewing - https://benchtopbrewing.com/
Beer is broken down into two broad categories, and those categories are broken down further into different styles and brews. The two categories? Ales and Lagers.
Countless numbers of beers fall under the umbrella of these two categories, and it’s important to know what you are trying to accomplish with your pairing.
Light Lagers have a soft body, low alcohol by volume content, and a clean, light, and crisp taste. They are the most versatile of all beers and can be paired with anything. Burgers, noodles, buffalo wings, hot dogs, and even salty treats complement, cleanse, and contrast. Lagers also cut through spicy flavors and can contrast heavier foods. These are best for Italian cuisines and American fare.
Amber Ales are the beer that shows wine how to truly pair. This beer has a medium body, a mid-range ABV, and has a malt, caramel, and sometimes toffee style. It pairs perfectly with sharp cheeses and is often found in pizza restaurants.
Stouts are touted for their medium body, low ABV and creamy, coffee and malt flavors. Perfectly paired with steaks and decadent chocolate desserts, it’s no wonder they are often found in steakhouses. A growing popular and more contrasting pair is oysters and stouts due to the stout’s creamy nature.
IPAs are continuously growing to become a flavored favorite. With its high ABV, medium body, and sometimes piney, floral, or herbal taste, it can be challenging to pair. Their best contrast comes along with fried or salty foods, so allowing them to complement bold foods and flavor are advised. Best place to supply IPAs? A restaurant with an abundant selection of fried options. But beware, IPAs do tend to intensify spicy flavors.
Sours are notorious for their citrusy, salty flavor (hence the name). They are medium-bodied with a low ABV, which makes them perfect during the summertime. It’s essential to keep in mind the acidity, so these are best paired with seafood.
Wheat beers also reside in the perfect summertime category. Its light body, mid-range ABV, and citrus flavor give it a familiarity with lagers. Wheat beers are lighter on the taste buds, which makes this pair great with nearly any dish. These are perfect with salads, vegetables, and sushi or seafood.
Check out the short guide below for more quick tips on your beer pairing!
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