Pairing food with different types of drinks has been on the rise for a while now. Beers are often associated with relaxing, chilling, or laying back in some way and food blends well in this scenario. Luckily for food lovers, this cool drink happens to be very flexible and goes amazingly well with food when paired correctly. Wondering how to pair beer with food? Read on to know everything that’s there to know about food pairings.
The Three C’s Of Beer-Food Pairing
When it comes to pairing beer and food, there are three things that you need to keep in mind. The combination you come up with must be contrasting, complementing, or cleansing to your palate. Along with the three C’s, you need to consider key factors like acidity, bitterness, fruitiness, richness, sweetness, etc. Here is how to use the C’s to come up with your next favorite food combination.
Contrasting Flavors
The first approach to pairing might be the easiest of the lot. Regardless of how amateur or experienced you are with flavors of food or beer, recognizing contrast isn’t very difficult. Just remember that contrasting doesn’t mean overpowering. For example, a sweet wheat beer will contrast with a spicy Xacuti, but you will be able to enjoy the flavors of both. In fact, when you alternate between the two, the opposing tastes let you experience all the flavors a little more intensely.
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Complementary Flavors
As ironic as it may seem to talk about complementary flavors right after contrasting ones, it is a good way to go about deciding your drink-and-food pair. Here, in order to find the foods that complement each other, you look for ones that don’t compete with each other. For example, something like fried chicken or salad will go well with light beers, as both flavors are mellow. Alternatively, a rich beer like a stout will go well with boldly-flavored food like chicken tikka, or even a chocolate brownie!
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Cleansing Your Palate
While complementing and/or contrasting meals let you explore a wide variety of flavors in one go, these two aren’t the only options available to you. You can choose foods and beers that will cut through the taste of either item, allowing you to focus on one flavor profile for the meal. For example, a light beer will cut through the heat of spicy food very well. On the other hand, oily food like chicken wings or fries will help minimize the bitterness of an IPA (Indian Pale Ales).
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A Quick Guide To Ordering Food And Beer
In order to make your beer-food pairing journey easier, we’ve broken down beers into popular types and gave food recommendations that work well with their primary ingredients. This can be a good way to figure out your favorite taste profiles and what works well for you with your beer. Just know that food is beautifully complicated, so don’t hesitate to experiment every now and then and create a menu of your own!
Indian Pale Ales (IPAs)
IPAs are known to be rich in flavor and mouthfeel. For something as bold, hoppy, and bitter as an IPA, we recommend going for flavor-rich, fatty meals that will cut through some of the bitterness and only leave an aftertaste that is enjoyable. Here are some of the foods that go well with IPAs.
- Steaks
- Burritos
- Fajitas
- French Fries
- Barbecued Meat
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Brown Ales
Brown ales are characterized by rich, nutty flavors that go very close to those of chocolate and coffee. They have a drier mouth feel and generally remind you of a roasted grain. Given their unique flavor, brown ales go well with a lot of things. However, a few things stand out when paired with this type of beer. Here’s a list of the foods that go very well with brown ales:
- Sushi
- Fish
- Sausage
- Roast Pork
Also Read: 5 Flavored Beers For Those Who Don’t Like The Taste Of Beer
Amber Ales
Amber ales get their name from the color they’re most commonly found in – Amber. However, they can go towards a more reddish-gold shade, depending on strength and flavor. Speaking of flavors, amber ales are characterized by a strong influence of malt, accompanied by notes of sweet caramel and roasted malt. However, the caramel doesn’t overpower the other elements and every swig ends with a crisp, dry finish. The crisp finish of these beers make them amazing palate cleansers. So, some of the best food pairings with amber ales are:
- Pizzas
- Brisket
- Smoked Pork
- Fried Food
Also Read: What’s The Difference Between Ale And Lager
Light Lagers
Often listed amongst the palest of beers, light lagers have a neutral yet refreshing and crisp profile. Light lagers are rarely hoppy or bitter and are known for their mellow flavor. This nature of the beer makes it perfect for eating with savory or spicy food. Here are some examples of dishes that go best with light lagers:
- Fried Fish/Chicken
- French Fries
- Chicken Wings
- Burgers
- Stuffed Puffs
Also Read: 7 Best Places To Try Craft Beer In India
Dark Lagers
Most popular in Europe, dark lagers come with strong, malty flavors that are counterbalanced by adding caramel syrup. As a result, the beer has a distinct taste that manages to stay mellow and complementary to the many elements of itself. Here is what you must try with your next glass of dark lager.
- Burgers
- Pizzas
- Sausage
- Dumplings
- Pretzels
Also Read: What Are The Different Types Of Beer
Wheat Beers
Brewed with a mixture of barley and wheat, this beer hosts a smooth texture, lighter carbonation, and a soft flavor profile. Wheat beers get most of their taste from the barley but have a higher influence of the yeast added while brewing. The wheat itself doesn’t add a lot of flavor, the space for which is filled with citric elements added by the brewer. Wheat beers are also a kind that goes very well with a broad range of foods. So, here is a list of the ones we think go with wheat beer the best.
- Hot Dogs
- Chicken
- Salads
- Pastries
- Fruit Tarts
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Stouts
Stouts are the most typical beers you see in the pubs in old English movies. Known for their dark color, these beers give an illusion of bitter taste or high alcohol content, but that is rarely the case. Most stouts carry mild flavors with hints of chocolate and coffee, carried by the smooth consistency of the drink. Given the low alcohol content and the hint of chocolate, this beer goes very well with dessert and seafood. Here are some of the best pairings to have with a stout.
- Chocolate Mousse
- Chocolate Truffle
- Lobster
- Shellfish
Also Read: Stout Beers That You Must Try
Porters
Porters originated in London as the working man’s drink. It originally had a very strong, bitter flavor and an equally dark color. Nowadays, you’ll find a variety of flavors that hold the essence of the original but are much milder in taste. Porter gets its signature taste and color because of the roasted brown malts, which add rather strong notes of chocolate, coffee, and caramel. The drink carries a similar mouthfeel to stouts but is noticeably crispier. This strong texture and flavor make it compatible with foods of similar characteristics which are mentioned below.
- Crabs
- Game Meats
- Barbecue
- Lobsters
Also Read: Most Expensive Beer Brands In India
Summing Up
Beer and pizzas have been a great combination for quite a while and honestly, it is still one of the best comfort food combinations. While it’s good to rely on your go-to, it’s always fun to venture out and experiment. We’re certain that our beer-food pairings helped you find answers to how to pair beer with food. We hope that our article helps you find your new favorite beer and food combo. Cheers!
FAQs
What Appetizers Go Well With Beer?
While the answer largely depends upon the type of beer you’re drinking, things like chicken wings, pizzas, seafood, and salads largely complement beers very well.
What Is The Best Food To Eat Before Drinking Beer?
Foods that are high in protein and healthy fats are your best option when it comes to pre-drinking meals. Things like yogurt and salmon can be your easy choices. Avocados and bananas are a great choices as well because they are high in potassium and you’ll be losing potassium while drinking alcohol.
What Food Soaks Up Beer?
Carb-heavy foods like crackers, sandwiches, and pasta will soak up alcohol comparatively better and are easy to digest as well.
How Do I Neutralize The Effects Of Beer?
There is no way to drastically reduce the blood alcohol concentration in one go. Your body requires time to process the alcohol before it filters out. However, some sleep combined with a cold shower, coffee, and food are great ways to help you appear sober.
What Should I Not Eat After Drinking Beer?
Anything that is acidic or highly greasy is better avoided if you have alcohol in your system. These food items are likely to trigger gastro issues or irritate your stomach lining and make you feel horrible. A couple of things that you should specifically avoid are coffee and chocolate.
How To Get Rid Of Beer Breath?
There are temporary fixes to help you get rid of beer breath, but it will stay until the beer gets flushed out of your system. A few things you can try are chewing gums, drinking coffee, and gargling with mouthwash.
What Is The Thumb Rule Of Drinking?
One good rule to always abide by is to have a glass of water between every glass, or peg, of your drink. You might have to go to the washroom a few times more than usual, but doing so will help you avoid a cottonmouth and even mellow out your hangover!
Do Salads Go Well With Beer?
The answer to that depends on what beer you’re drinking. If your beer has a soft, slightly sweet, and malty flavor profile, a salad will go very well with it.
