It doesn't get any better than Food & Beer....Beer&Food Pairing!

Pizza and beer, wings and beer, pretzels and beer, burgers and beer; all some great simple combos we all think of when it comes to beer and food. I am still pretty new to pairing food and beer, but I feel that pairing a specific beer with a specific food is quite amazing. The feel, taste, and style of a beer can really decide what meal would go perfect. The food and beer compliment and work well as one rather than one flavor outshining the other. It is all about balance. When a beer and a food work together well, it is something quite exciting and very enjoyable. I do drink wines and like to pair wine and food, but I feel that beer is easier to pair on get an exact match with all the varieties of styles and ingredients that can be found in a beer. I plan on talking quite a bit about beer and food pairing, so here is a basic outline and cheat sheet for beer and food pairing with some great ideas that helped get me started:

Blonde Ales, Kolsch, Cream ale, Lighter Lagers, Pilsner:  (Light and mild foods: chicken, poultry, salads, salmon, Bratwurst) Think of summer time, with light,cold and refreshing beer and light food like classic spring/summer time food fresh from the grill or served cold.

Beer Brand Examples: Sam Adams Light, Sam Adams Noble Pils, Thomas Hooker Blonde ale, Reissdorf Kolsch, Thomas Hooker Munich Style Golden Lager, Ipswitch summer ale, Sierra Nevada Blonde Ale, Sierra Nevada Summerfest, Eibecker Premium Pils, Lagunitas Sirius Ale, Genesee Cream Ale, Heavy Seas Classic Lager.

Dish ideas to pair: Vietnamese spring rolls, Cobb salad, Paella, shish kebab, Honey-BBQ chicken, Bratwurst, Grilled Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Grilled Chicken Cesar Salad, Grilled Shrimp over rice, Grilled Steak w/ potato salad, Seared ahi tuna, Grilled Lobster Tail, Grilled Teriyaki Salmon, Grilled Sausages, Cole Slaw, Chicken Satay, Grilled Haddock or Mahi Mahi, Fried Chicken w/ macaronic salad, Bruscetta, Nachos, Calamari, Mixed Green Salad, Pulled Pork Sandwich, Fish Tacos, Sushi, Grilled Scallops, Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon, Spinach-Tomato Pizza, Grilled Shrimp Alfredo, Steamed Crab&shrimp, Fried clams&shrimp, Seafood Salad, Guacamole, Mussels, Shrimp Cocktail, shrimp scampi.



British Style Bitter, ESB  (rich flavors, mild spices, fried foods, roasted/baked dishes, fish & chips, roast chicken or pork)
I think of classic british dishes like fish & chips whenever I think of English bitter beers, you want dishes that compliment that slight bitterness. This beer is good with rich and hearty meals that are still not too heavy such as fried seafood, pastas, baked/roasted meats, etc.

Beer Brand Examples: Fuller's ESB, Redhook ESB,Young's Dirty Dick's ale, Thames Welsh ESB, Stoudt's Scarlet Lady ESB, Heavy Seas Winter Storm, Old Thumper ESA

Dish Ideas to Pair: Potato Crusted Salmon, Bow-tie pasta w/ white beans and roasted garlic, Baked breaded pork chops, Fish & Chips, Pasta w/ pancetta and cream sauce, Marinated Steak, Roasted Lamb w/ mashed potatoes, Chicken Pot pie, Fried Ravioli, Fried Pickles, Cornish Beef Pastries, Marinated Short Ribs, Falafels, Herbed Lamb, Baked Stuffed Shrimp, Cheese Omlet, Cajun Shrimp, Veggie Pizza

Pale Ale: (wide range of food, burgers, meat pie, english cheese)

Pale ales are great for classic beer and food combos. Great for classic pub food, pizza, BBQ, cookout foods (burgers, hotdogs, etc) It is a very versatile beer that is just as enjoyable on its own as paired with great food.

Beer Brand Examples: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone Pale ale, Boulder Hazed&infused, Southern Tier  Phin&Matt's Extraordinary Ale, Double Diamond, Bass Ale, Flying dog Doggy style, Thomas Hooker APA

Dish Ideas to pair: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Clams Casino, Stuffed Chicken breast, Oysters on the grill, Corned beef sandwich, Supreme Pizza, Hummus w. pitas, Spinach Artichoke dip, Mac&cheese w. bacon, Fried Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Cheese Fries, Mozzerella Sticks, Sliders, Fried Calamari, Soft Pretzels, Quesadillas, Fried Shrimp, Baby Back Ribs, Stuffed Mushrooms.

India Pale Ale/ Imperial or Double IPA: (strong, bold, spicy food, curry, gorgonzola, thai, indian cuisine, mexican, chili)

I am a huge fan of spicy food and IPAs, and it so happens that they are a perfect pair! IPAs go great with pretty much any spicy and food with a lot of bold flavors. The great hoppiness of IPAs can only be balanced out with foods that are also very flavorful so one doesnt overpower the other. Cuisines that tend to be spicy such as thai, indian, carribean, mexican are great for IPAs as well as classic pub food that is spicy!

Beer Brand Examples: Dogfish head 60 minute IPA, Stone IPA, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Lagunitas IPA, Flying Dog Snake dog, Sam Adams Lattitude 48, Thomas Hooker Hopmeadow IPA, Red Hook Long Hammer IPA, Boulder Mojo IPA, Harpoon IPA, Magic Hat Blind Faith, Samuel Smith's India ale, Fuller's IPA, Dogfish head 90 minute IPA, stone ruination IPA, Lagunitas Maximus

Dish Ideas to pair: Spicy fried shrimp, Spicy Thai Stir-fry, Fried Jalapenos, Hot Buffalo Wings, Spicy Nachos, Spicy Jambalaya pasta, Fish Tacos, Arroz con Pollo, Steak w. spicy bbq sauce, Pasta w hot italianc sausage& vodka sauce, Tamales, smoked beef brisket, grilled lamb, southern fried steak, Buffalo chicken pizza, Spicy Grilled Sausage or chorizo, Spicy Chili.

Amber/Red Ale:   (very versatile, wide variety of foods, chicken, seafood, burgers, works well with some spicy foods)

Amber or red ales could easily be the simplest beer to pair with such versatility. So many of my favor beers beers tend to be ambers or reds, you can't go wrong with this beer as just a beer for every day enjoyment or paired with a special meal.

Beer Brand Examples: Fat Tire Amber Ale, Stone Levitation Ale, Palm Belgian Amber, Magic Hat roxy rolles, Thomas Hooker Irish Red, Long Trail Ale, Otter Creek copper ale, Sam Adams Irish red

Dish ideas to pair: Onion Rings, Cornish hen, hot sausage, Ham, roasted pork tenderloin, echiladas, chicken pesto pasta, pigs in a blanket, crab cakes, braised saurbraten, beef rib roast, fish chowder, Seafood pizza, Grilled fish sandwich, Steak n cheese, Cuban Sandwich, Beef Stew.

Scotch Ale/ Wee heavy (roasted or grilled beef, lamb, smoked salmon)

What better to serve a scottish ale with classic scottish fare.

Beer Brand Examples: Belhaven Wee heavy, Sam Adams Scotch ale, McEwans Scotch ale.

Dish Ideas to pair: Smoked fish chowder, scottish smoked salmon, Grilled scottish salmon, Lamb leg, Roasted lamb, ham, Potato pancakes.

Brown Ale, Altbier: (hearty foods, roast pork, smoked sausage, grilled salmon)

If I had to pick I would say Brown ales are by far my favorite. Brown ales make you think of hearty, "stick to your bones" comfort food great for colder weather, although I can easily enjoy them all year round!

Beer Brand Examples: Dogfish head indian brown ale, Brooklyn Brown ale, Newcastle brown ale, Samuel Smiths nut brown, pete's wicked ale, woodstock inn pig's ear ale, smuttynose old brown dog ale

Dish Ideas to pair: balsalmic vinegar salad, braised ribs, prosciutto, beef stew, grilled sirloin steak with mushroom cream sauce, Beef vegetable barley soup, leek and potato soup, Mac n cheese w/ pancetta, Grilled ham-cheese-tomato sandwiches, french onion soup, Chili cheeseburger, Sloppy joes, BBQ chicken.

Porter: (roasted or smoked food, bbq, sausages, roasted meat, blackened fish)

I love dark beers and I am a big fan of porters. They are easily paired with smoked foods and bold flavors, they pair fantastic with classic BBQ dishes like bbq steak, beef brisket, ribs, chicken, etc. and can be enjoyed all year.

Beer Brand Examples: Stone Smoked porter, Sam adams Holiday porter. Samuel Smiths taddy porter, Sierra Nevada Porter, Smuttynose baltic porter

Dish Ideas to pair: porterhouse steak with bbq sauce, beer marinated beef brisket, BLT sandwich, borscht, bratwurst simmered in onions, chipotle bbq chicken, smokey chili, roasted duck, ribs, blue cheese, corned beef, pot roast, sweet smoked grilled sausage.

Stout: (hearty, rich food, meat pies, steak, raw oysters, mole, spicy)

Stouts are nice heavy dark beers and almost a meal itself. It pairs well with heavy, rich meals that compliment sweetness, also very good with desserts.

Beer Brand Examples: Samuel Smiths oatmeal stout, Guinness, Sierra Nevada stout, Sam Adams cream stout, Dogfish head chicory stout, Brookly black chocolate stout, Dragon stout.

Dish Ideas to pair: sushi, smoked fish, chocolate, cheesecake, apple pie, raw oysters, buckwheat pancakes, Stout marinated steak, white chocolate truffles, smoked chicke&wild mushroom bruscetta, tiramisu, chicken w. mole sauce, irish stew, white chocolate mousse cake, BBQ pork chops, Stilton cheese, Reuben sandwich, roasted pork tenderloin, cornish game hens.

Hefeweizen/Wheat beers: (lighter food, salads, seafood, sushi, vegetable dishes)

Great beer for the warmer months. This beer is very refreshing and goes good with food that are all about light and cool that compliment citrus or lightly sweet flavors.

Beer Brand Examples: Samuel Adams summer, Harpoon UFO hefeweizen, Widmer Bros Hefeweizen, Sam Adams Coastal Wheat, Lagunitas A little sumpin sumpin ale, Saranac Pomegranate wheat, schneiderweisse.

Dish ideas to pair: weiner schnitzel, pork tenderloin, grilled lemon chicken, bratwurst bites w. horsradish mustard, fish tacos, satay w/peanut sauce, potato salad, grilled lemon salmon, grilled swordfish with mango salsa, sushi, mussels



There are a lot of other styles out there to pair of course, but this is a basic idea of a range of beer styles and what I drew from research and my own personal experiences. I am excited to continually discover and try new beers and come up with the perfect food companion!


sources: craftbeer.com, "clone brews" by szamatulski.