Beer and Food Pairing
As the summer winds to a close, it’s time to adjust our beer drinking patterns. Throwing some burgers on the grill and sipping a smooth pale ale just won’t cut it in the fall. Here are some food and beer combinations that will:
Porter
A dark style originating in England, made from brown malt
Suggested Foods:
- Blackened fish
- Barbeque
- Roasted meat, sausage
- Sweets like peanut butter, chocolate frosting
Beer Recommendations:
- Captain Lawrence Smoked Porter (Elmsford, NY)
- Stone Brewing Co Smoked Porter (Vista, CA)
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co Porter (Chico, CA)
- Deschutes Black Butte Porter (Bend, OR)
Sweet Stout
A dark beer with more unfermented sugars, giving it a residual sweet character
Suggested Foods:
- Spicy foods like Mole
- Szechuan Chinese foods
- Rich, hearty beef
- Desserts like espresso cake, cream puffs
Beer Recommendations:
- Cigar City Moat Water (Tampa, FL)
- Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin (Paso Robbles, CA)
- Rogue Chocolate Stout (Newport, OR)
- Lost Coast 8 Ball Stout (Eureka, CA)
Hefeweizen
A German style of wheat beer, unfiltered which gives it a cloudy appearance
Suggested Foods:
- Sushi, light seafood
- Salads with light dressing
- Weisswurst (traditional Bavarian sausage)
- Desserts like key lime pie, strawberry shortcake
Beer Recommendations:
- Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier (Freising, Germany)
- Live Oak HefeWeizen (Austin, TX)
- New Glarus Brewing Co Dancing Man Wheat (New Glarus, WI)
- Mother Earth Brewing Sunny Haze (Kinston, NC)
Amber/Red Ale
Lighter style of beer with primarily a redder hue, balanced and malt focused
Suggested Foods:
- Chicken
- Seafood
- Spicy cuisines
- Desserts like pound cake, pecan cookies
Beer Recommendations:
- New Belgium Red Hoptober (Ft Collins, CO)
- Green Flash Hop Head Red Ale (San Diego, CA)
- Bell’s Amber Ale (Kalamazoo, MI)
- Full Sail Amber (Hood River, OR)
Imperial/Double IPA
Stronger, very hoppy version of IPAs which have higher alcohol contents
Suggested Foods:
- Smoked beef
- Lamb
- Southern-fried meats
- Very sweet desserts like cheesecake, Crème brûlée
Beer Recommendations:
- Russian River Pliny the Elder (Santa Rosa, CA)
- Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA (Milton, DE)
- Lagunitas Hop Stoopid (Petaluma, CA)
- Great Lakes Brewing Co Chillwave Double IPA (Cleveland, OH)
There you have it folks. Try out some of these beer and food combinations this fall for great lunches, dinners, and desserts. Cheers!
