Beer and Food: A Match Made In Heaven.

As much as I'd like to see craft beer culture stay clear of the pompous snobbery often times associated with modern wine culture, I also believe that, like wine, craft beer is by nature an artisan product and should be treated as such. In other words, while I hate to see a man or woman holding a craft beer while prancing around like some aristocrat elitist, using words like "cretin" or "mundane"... I also hate the imagery of a bunch of closet case frat boys tying each other up while spraying Pabst Blue Ribbon all over each other. I haven't chugged a beer since I was 19... 21 and I don't encourage such behavior. We must find balance in all things, yes? 


The truth is, craft beer is a lot like wine in that it is intended to be appreciated and explored. The brewers took special care to create a unique and enjoyable experience, not some mass produced, low-end beverage served at freezing temperatures to hide it's flavorless qualities. Craft beer is also like wine in that when paired with food, it makes the experience all that much better. Beer and food can be paired together to bring out new flavors within each and make your experience that much more enjoyable. 

If you are new to beer/food pairing, there are some basic rules you can follow. If you are familiar with pairing wine with food think of it as if ales are red wine and lagers are white. As taste is subjective, the key is to experiment with complimentary and contrasting pairings. You don't want the beer you are pairing your food with to be so dominant that if overshadows the flavors of the dish. Instead, you want the combination to  bring out the flavors in each other and create a unique experience. Although it is fun to get all wild and crazy like with pairings, for a quick reference, I have provided some common beer styles and some good pairing options. Enjoy


Pale Ale: This is a very versatile style which is why it tends to be my "go-to" beer for lunch or a simple meal. This beer goes great with burgers, chicken, fish and american cheese. 


India Pale Ale: One of my personal favorites, this overly hopped beer can often times over power a light dish with it's bitter, bad self. I tend to pair this with spicy dishes such as cajun or Indian. If you love curry, this beer will make you cry with joy.  


Porter: Being a master of the grill, I tend to pair a good Porter with all things "smokey." Porters go very well with barbequed steaks, sausages and roasts. I also love putting this in any homemade bbq sauce and as far as cheese goes, you can't beat Porter and Gruy're.  


Stout: BEEF. Stouts are made for beef... well, that and oysters. Really, if you are eating anything big and hearty, you can't go wrong with a stout.

Amber/Red: I tend to pair this beer with light meats like chicken or fish but also goes great with mexican food. Any kind of cheese with a "kick" would be nicely paired with an Amber. 


Pilsner: Not one of my favorite styles of beer but they do go well with lighter meals such as chicken and salmon.

Coors Light: This pairs nicely with Kid Rock, wife beatin'  and Kraft singles. 


I'll make a more detailed list with more interesting beer styles soon but in the meantime, have fun pairing good food and good beer and don't forget... pinkies out, gentlemen.