Top 7 Foods that Pair Perfectly with Beer

Food pairing is mostly about personal preference, but there is food science behind creating the perfect duo. As much as we all love an exceptional fine dining experience from time to time, there is nothing quite like kicking back with a brewsky and tucking into foods that technically aren’t so good for you. No one should ever tell you to pair a beer with a salad, and if they do, they are filthy liars. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life. As much as I hate to YOLO, this is a YOLO-type situation, so pick your favorite beer and pair it with the handy guide below. These are the top seven foods that pair perfectly with your fizzy friend.

• Spicy Food

The right beer can either compliment or tame the spice in your dish effortlessly. Lighter beers pair the best with hot foods; these usually contain less alcohol than their darker counterparts, which make them the perfect beer to drink at lunchtime; or even brunchtime if you’re feeling brave. Certain spicy foods do need to be paired with a beer with a backbone to enhance the spiciness in the dish. Medium beers like amber ales and certain pilsners will help to tame the heat, so if you’ve overcommitted to a hot choice, you can reach for one of these bad boys to help you out.

• Steak

Remember that not all steaks are created equal because not all cows are treated the same way. Your job with steak and beer is to make sure your steak is a quality cut that is cooked perfectly. If you get those two things right, then all you need to do then is to find a beer that’s body matches the intensity of the meat. Fattier cuts of meat pair better with bitter beers – just make sure that your steak is hot, and your beer is cold. This is much easier to do if you live in one of America’s best beer cities.

• Snacks

The most natural of food pairings have to be beer and snacks. There are so many great snack options to choose from like crisps, corn nuts, and jerky, you will never run out of delicious pairing options. Lighter beers pair better with lighter foods, and heavier beers like stouts pair better with bold flavors. If you’re more into pretzels, then pair them with a cold pilsner to balance out the saltiness. Snack mixes are normally gently spiced with just a touch of sweetness, for this you should choose a malty beer that is moderately alcoholic.

• Pizza

Lightly hopped ales and lagers will be best friends with a greasy, cheesy pizza. Their mild bitterness has a great way of balancing out the acidity of the tomato base, together with the saltiness of the cheese. These beers will also effectively function as tasty palate cleansers in between bites or slices. A pale ale pairs best with your classic pizza flavors, the malt in this beer doesn’t overpower the cheesiness of the pizza. If your favorite is a traditional pizza, like a margarita, then pair that with a lighter, more delicate beer like a pilsner.

• Seafood

Beer might not be the immediate choice for pairing with seafood but hear me out. Not all seafood is snooty and not all wines are worth it. Instead, try pairing your next seafood meal with a trusty beer. Sure, beer is trickier to pair with seafood, but the result is so worth it. The right beer can elevate the flavour of the dish and take your tastebuds on a whole new adventure. Choose a low fermentation beer like a pilsner, they are perfect for seafood dishes with shrimp, squid, and fish.

• Stew

There comes a time in every man’s life when he falls in love with beer. There also comes a similar time in that same man’s life where he will fall in love with stew. Why not combine these two things to create a mind-blowing experience that you will never forget? Pair a beef stew with a dark ale or a stout like Guinness. Guinness is a firm favorite for stew lovers, but any stout will work too.

• Chocolate Desserts

When you think of chocolate desserts, you generally don’t automatically pair them with beers – but you could. The right beer will either compliment or contrast the flavors in the dessert, and either one of those paths will be an exciting one to follow. With desserts, you want to keep the beer sweeter than the chocolate you are pairing with it. You would be surprised by how successfully beer can pair with desserts.

There you have it- seven simple foods that taste better with beer. Drop the wine from your culinary duo immediately. Beer is often more compatible with food than wine and it can quickly turn an ordinary meal into something special. Cheers!