Five Surprising Ways to Pair Craft Beer with Food

Whenever there has been a meal on the table, there has also been a need to have an accompanying drink in hand. While the ins and outs of what’s on the menu have changed over time, right now, the most popular drink is craft beer. The detail-oriented, hand-brewed, and small-batch world of craft beer has not only attracted many admirers of great beer, but has also piqued the interest of foodies around the world in regards to the possible combinations that can be made with your favorite foods.

It’s easy to see why the idea of ​​pairing a good craft beer with certain foods would be of great interest. Think of craft beer the same way you would think of wine. In the same way that certain flavor notes in wine go very well with certain foods, so does a well-made beer.

Here are five beer and food pairings you really should consider for your next gathering:

lager – These light beers are easy to drink and have a balanced flavor, making them a perfect pairing with foods that are quite familiar. Burgers, brats, and Mexican cuisine are sure bets for a great beer and food pairing.

dark red ale – Now you’ve moved on to some more exotic flavors, but you’re still dealing with a light roast flavor that has a dose of American hops and Belgian yeast. This beer moves between flavors and styles, which would make it a good choice when working with spicy foods and even spicy cheeses.

Chocolate based stout – A strong beer with notes of chocolate is not willing to be tame and somewhat subdued. You are facing a beer that intends to be noticed. A strong flavor of deeply roasted barley lingers, pairing very well with toasted foods (think root vegetables) and even more pronounced flavored desserts.

Ingenuity – A Belgian-style wheat beer, Wit is subtle in its spices and its citrus base allows a refreshing citrus profile to emerge. This is the type of beer that many people wish they had discovered years earlier because it has all the flavor profiles of a great beer with a certain “lightness” that makes it easy to enjoy. It goes very well with vegetarian dishes, light soups, seafood and sushi.

American IPA – American IPA combines malt, citrus and the floral notes of American hops, balancing flavors that figuratively set your taste buds on fire. That being said, it does have quite an interesting variety of foods that can go with this particular drink. Spicy dishes from all corners of the world are fair game, as are tried-and-true snacks, such as the salty and fried foods more familiar to the average beer drinker. The curry is also a highly recommended option.

Craft beer, like modern art, can be daunting for the person who isn’t so sure that stepping away from their favorite adult beverage is the best idea. However, when you realize how much fun exploring the world’s cuisine can be with an ice-cold drink in hand, you may wish you had discovered craft beer sooner. So, indulge in the goodness (and plentiful options) that is craft beer, and treat your next meal to a cold one.