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beerfooda.jpgSome may be surprised to find out that the complex varieties of flavor found within the full range of beer made by small brewers makes pairing a beer with a particular dish as challenging as any other culinary pairing. Please consult the chart below as a handy guide as you decide what might go best with that steak, that dubliner cheddar, or - we're not kidding here - that pumpkin flan. Remember, however, that everyone's tastes are different!

For centuries, beer and food have been enjoyed together as part of the good life. The grain-based nature of beer makes it a food in itself, and the huge range of flavors, aromas and textures makes it a perfect match for nearly any kind of food, from a handmade sausage to the most luxurious gourmet dish. Choosing beers and foods that enhance one another means paying attention to the gustatory qualities of both. We have some suggestions we hope will make your experience more enjoyable and successful.

For great beer and food pairings, a number of things must be considered. Here are the most important concepts:

• Match strength with strength. It is simply common sense that delicate dishes work best with delicate beers, and it is equally true that strongly flavored foods demand assertive beers. Intensity of flavor may involve many aspects: alcoholic strength, malt character, hop bitterness, sweetness, richness, roastiness and so on.

• Find harmonies. Combinations often work best when they share some common flavor or aroma elements. The nutty flavor of an English-style brown ale and a handmade cheddar cheese; the deep, roasted flavors of an imperial stout and chocolate truffles, and the rich, caramelly flavors of an Oktoberfest lager and roasted pork are all examples of this.

• Consider sweetness, bitterness, carbonation, heat (spice) and richness. This may seem a little complicated, but it really is quite straightforward. Specific characteristics of food and beer interact with each other in predictable ways. Taking advantage of these interactions ensures that the food and beer will balance each other, each giving you a desire for a taste of the other.

Don’t be afraid to try things out and seek new possibilities. The best pairings have yet to be discovered. And remember, beer is a pleasurable experience, so enjoy yourself.


Some additional thoughts about enjoying beer and food together:

• Look to classic cuisines. The cuisines of beer-drinking countries offer many great beer and food combinations. Schnitzel with pale lager may be obvious, but who would have thought to put stout together with oysters? Classic matches such as this can be found if you search for them, and offer a great start to further exploration.

• Practice makes perfect. Not every pairing works as expected—this can be fun if you learn to appreciate the unexpected. Build on the things that work and keep seeking those magic combinations.

• Consider seasonality. Like light food and beer in the warm summer months or heavier beer in the winter, the beers and foods of a given season pair very naturally and suit the mood as well.

• Contrast and complement. All beer and food combinations should involve both of these principles. Some pairings will be more dependent on the contrasts, others on complementary flavors, but all should strive for some kind of balance. The chart at the left shows the important contrasting elements.

Remember, the above suggestions are just that—not absolute rules. The American craft beer experience was founded on creativity and experimentation. We hope you embrace that spirit on your beer and food journey.