Top 5 Beer and Chocolate Gift Combinations You Must Try

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We are all quite familiar with the combination of wine and chocolate, but did you know beer and chocolate can complement each other as well? The right pairing of the bitter and the sweet flavours is an art, and we are here to make you an artist!

Both beer and chocolate have a few things in common. Both are fermented, and they will taste better when made with the proper artistry. Knowing the right combinations will help you to achieve the perfect balance of flavours.

A good old bottle of beer and some dark chocolate can be considered as excellent corporate gifts for your friends and colleagues. Hence, keep reading to find out more about the perfect beer-chocolate pairing and the right combination for you.

How to Make the Right Pairing?

To experience the best flavours, let your beer and chocolate come close to room temperature. Do not serve immediately, after taking them out from the refrigerator.
If you want to try out multiple beers at a time, go for the lightest flavour first and then move towards the stronger ones.
Try tasting the beer first and then the chocolate, and then vice versa. You will be surprised to find out the difference in flavours just by changing the order of tasting.
While pairing chocolate and beer, keep in mind that sweet goes well with sweet and bitter with bitter. While combining the two, your beer must not be as bitter as your chocolate. You can pair Stouts with dark chocolates.
Beers are acidic in nature, with a pH balance of 4 to 5. Tangy beers may be tasty, but they don’t complement well with chocolates. It might be very bitter for you.

However, if you’re open to adventure and experimentation, and want to try out something different, go for what you want and discover the best combination for yourself, even if it is not in our list!

Fun Fact: Unlike wine, you need not cleanse your palate before trying out a different variety of beer. Beer is carbonated and it will automatically cleanse your palate.

1. Oatmeal Stout and Milk Chocolate with Coffee

The beautiful combination of oats, chocolate and coffee are one of the best pairings of beer and chocolate that you can come across. It is important that the ingredients are of fine quality. Its silky texture and the slight sweetness is an absolute favourite of so many. The colour varies from dark brown to black. The roasted malt character delivers a smooth, yet a not-so-bitter flavour. You can even use rye instead of oats. Oats will give the drink a neutral taste while rye will give an additional hint of spice to it. As for the chocolate, cacao nibs and cocoa powder are the easiest when it comes to brewing. The strong, beautiful aroma of the drink wakes you up and clears your palate. This combination is a must-try if you haven’t tried it already.

2. IPA and Dark Chocolate with Spice or Salt

There are a wide range of IPAs (India Pale Ale) like American, Belgian and English and they make the best pair when combined with dark chocolate. The taste will vary, depending upon the style you choose. When you pair IPA with dark chocolate and add a hint of spice or salt, it gives your drink a very earthy and deep flavour. The American Brut IPA, an everyday gold drink, can be extremely dry. The smoothness and richness of the chocolate, along with a hint of bitterness, will give your palate a citrus flavour. Some people suggest that Halloween chocolate candy go well with IPAs. Some also suggest that caramel go well. We recommend you keep experimenting till you find out the combination that suits you best for you.

3. Pilsner and Semisweet Chocolate

The sweet, earthy drink is the best for those who aren’t real fans of beer. The Pilsner goes well with semi-sweet chocolate, that isn’t too dark. Pilsner is an excellent palate cleanser. The best time to have it is after a good fatty meal. Try your drink with a good flourless chocolate cake. The sweetness of the cake, paired with the bitterness of the beer, will complement each other perfectly. The semi-sweet chocolate lifts the spices in the beer and blends with them ideally to give birth to a new flavour. There is no correct or wrong way to pair beer and chocolate; what tastes good is the best pair for you.

4. Brown Ale and Dark Chocolate Covered Nuts

Elements like roasted malt, caramel and chocolate, in medium concentration, make the best Brown Ale. The American Brown Ale was adapted from the British Brown Ale but is quite bitter compared to the latter. The colour can vary from a dark red to brown. The drink tastes best with dark chocolate covered nuts, like almonds which add a new taste to it. The traditional English Brown Ale has low alcohol content to make the drink more drinkable. The Altbier is a German variety of Brown Ale and can taste a bit spicy or herbal. Some types of Brown Ale can be fruity while some are nutty. With its medium to high bitterness, this drink is a must-have!

5. Belgian Tripel with Dark Chocolate and Citrus

The cocoa and citrus elements of the chocolate complement the Belgian Triple perfectly and give it a unique, tropical flavour. The bitterness of both the chocolate and the beer will provide a fruity and nutty flavour. Lemon filled doughnuts are also a right combination with the Belgian Triple. The citrusy element of the doughnut perfectly balances out the beer. A simple glazed doughnut as well tastes magical with this drink.

The only rule for pairing your beer with your chocolate is that there’s no rule! The next time you throw a party, you know what should be done. If you’re still scared of experimenting, these are some safe and excellent pairings. So get hold of some beer, cakes, doughnuts and cookies and get ready for some sweet and bitter fun!

Special thanks to Heidi Jones for this Great Beer Now guest post!

References

https://www.ethelm.com/blog-artofchocolateandbeerpairings