Why do we pair wines with food and not beer! Its a sin! Some of you may wonder what types of beer goes with different kinds of food. People enjoy a variety of beers from IPA's to Barley wines. They range from domestic beers to porters, but which goes best with your choice for dinner tonight.
Lager beers are the most commonly consumed beverage in the beer world. They are our staple beers for football games, card games and community functions. They go well with just about anything, but really go great with those spicier foods. Whether hot wings or nachos and cheese you cant go wrong with an ice cold lager.
If you're looking for that pizza companion, say no more. Next time you get your favorite pie or tray grab an ice cold amber to go along with it. Perfect for medium to spicy foods also.
If your entree of choice is beef you're going to want to choose a porter, nut brown ale or brown ale to go with your meal. Brown ales tend to be really nice when paired with a beef gravy dish. The hoppiness balances the flavors and creates a nice palatable taste when paired together.
If your looking for something to make your night out at the seafood house a good balance then you'll want to pair an IPA especially with lighter fish entrees. A nice pilsner will accompany your firmer fishes such as monk fish and halibut as well as shellfish.
If you like cheese then you'll want to drink a belgian double or triple ale. These ales are also are a nice after dinner beer.
There are alot of beers on the sweeter side of the spectrum. For example, Lambic brews are sweeter to taste and often are made with different types of fruit such as raspberries peaches or apples. These beers are usually tart and sweet to taste and are paired nice with an entree like raspberry chicken or a pork entree seasoned and topped with an apple glaze. Lambics are made with real fruit and come in many varieties.
As with on the hoppier side there are also beers that are on the sweeter side. These go particlarly well with chocolate desserts such as fondue or truffles or desserts that tend to be on the heavier side. Try an imperial stout or bock with your chocolate truffles next time, you'll love it! A bock will also go nice with spicier foods such as hot sausage or jamaican jerk chicken.
Next are some more examples are fruity beers. From organic blueberry lager or an apricot wheat beer, these fruity beers go well with light salads with fruit dressings, and light fruit desserts. Along with fruit beers, wheat beers such as heffeweizens pair wonderfully with citrus based desserts such as blueberry pie or raspberry tart.
And last but not least the ever so potent barleywine ale. This ale is good to drink when eating strong smelling cheeses such as limberger or liverot. Both can withstand each others strengths without killing the hints of how they are perceived on the palate. Barleywine ales are good to drink alone like a good cognac, enjoying its overwhelming smoothness and hoppiness.
So, when you are out on the town or having dinner at home, remember to pair your food and beer accordingly. This will make your meal a much more flavorful and exciting one! Remember to always enjoy and mangia, mangia!
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