The Ultimate Guide To The Most Delicious Craft Beer Food Pairings

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Craft beer is slowly gaining fame, and more people are starting to appreciate it better. Now that this industry is rising and there are more varieties to choose from, it's easier to find the perfect brew to match your favorite dish.

In this post, we will explore what types of craft beer pair best with your favorite foods!

1. Light Lagers

This is one of the lightest beers and is noted for its refreshing taste. There are not many flavors, and they are seldom bitter or hops. Many well-known beer brands are in this category, one of the most popular and most produced beer styles in the world.

You may combine light lagers with spicy foods because of their refreshing flavor, but you can also partner these beers with any sort of meal. Light lagers combine well with the following foods and beverages:

• Buffalo wings
• Salads
• French fries
• Hot dogs
• Spring rolls
• Noodles
• Fried fish

2. India Pale Ales (IPA)

IPAs, or India pale ales, are a popular beer type in the craft brewing industry. The color is often medium golden, and they taste bitter. Many brewers use citrus or herbal flavors to counteract the beer's bitterness. Double IPAs are brewed with more hops and have a more intense bitterness.

There are no set rules for IPA food pairings because there are so many different IPAs on the market. If you don't know what to match your IPA with, we've got some broad suggestions here:

• Curry
• Barbecue ribs
• French fries
• Chocolate cake
• Mozzarella sticks
• Steak
• Sausages
• Burritos

3. German-Style Hefeweizen

With its distinctive wheat malt, unique yeast, and out-of-the-ordinary look, the German Hefeweizen is among the most easily identifiable beers in the world. Unlike most German beers, this wheat ale features fruity and spicy yeast-driven aromas and flavors, as well as a distinct allure.

This beer is among the world's most delightful choices for beer lovers and neophytes alike, so don't be put off by the foggy appearance. This highly carbonated variety has been popular for generations because of its refreshing aspect.

Hefeweizens are a unique breed of beer that you can enjoy with many different food pairings. The possibilities seem endless, but we've got some broad suggestions here:

• Weisswurst (white sausage)
• Seafood
• Sushi
• Goat cheese
• Strawberry shortcake
• Key Lime Pie

4. Stout Beers

Dark, roasty notes distinguish stouts from porters, which are both noted for their black color and flavor. Despite looking very boozy, bitter, and flavorful, there are a lot of stouts available that are mild and well-rounded. This type of beer is known for its velvety smoothness and strong undertones of chocolate and coffee.

Stouts go well with various sweets because of their chocolatey flavor and low alcohol levels. Stout beers go well with a variety of foods, including:

• Chocolate truffles
• Brownies
• Chocolate mousse
• Lobster
• Oysters
• Barbecue
• Shellfish

5. Wheat Beers

Beers created with wheat and barley grains have a smoother mouthfeel and lower carbonation than those brewed with other grains. Citrus and other fruity flavorings are often added to the mix, compensating for the wheat's lack of flavor.

You may pair wheat beers with a wide variety of dishes. Wheat beers go well with the following foods:

• Sausages
• Spicy noodles
• Light soup
• Garlic Shrimp
• Goat cheese
• Hams
• Pastries

6. Dark Lagers

Lagers come in various styles, but dark lagers are easily pointed out because they possess a unique flavor. Beers of this type are brewed with roasted malts and often sweetened with caramel syrup. An understated sweetness is provided by caramel malts and a nutty taste by the roasted malts.

Dark lagers are famous across Europe, and they pair well with substantial European cuisines. Dark lagers go well with the following foods:

• Sausages
• Goulash
• Roasted chicken
• Bangers and mash
• Burgers
• Steak
• Pizza

7. Porter Beers

Porters started in London, where they were popular among the city's working-class because of their dark color and robust flavor. Porters have evolved into a wide range of tastes and styles over the years. Still, its distinctive dark color, toasty fragrance, and roasted flavor have remained constant.

Porters are brewed using roasted brown malts that impart chocolate, caramel, and coffee flavor to the beer. Porters have a sharper finish than stouts but are both thick and velvety.

Pairing porters with dishes with comparable flavor and texture is an excellent choice. Porters go well with a variety of foods, some of which are:

• Lobster
• Crab
• Rich stews
• Mexican mole
• Barbecue
• Peanut butter cookies
• Game meats

8. Pilsner

Pilsner is a refreshing, light-bodied beer with sweet malts complemented by spicy hops. The taste of this lager will remind you more so than other beers in its category how much pleasure can be found from just one sip!

Clean and beautiful, Pilsners have a well-balanced bitterness that lingers on the finish. More sophisticated varieties might include herbal, peppery, and flowery flavors with medium to high carbonation.

They provide a nice counterpoint to rich, spicy dishes, but they also enhance the flavor of simple, sugary desserts. Some recommended cuisines are:

• Chicken
• Bratwurst
• Salads
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Trout
• Shortbread Cookies

9. Blonde Ales

A blonde ale, also called a golden ale, is an easy-drinking beer that is aesthetically pleasing and has no incredibly overpowering malt or hop qualities. It's a classic American design that's famed for its simplicity.

Blonde Ales are smooth beers with malty and sweet flavors. Because of their mildness, you can pair them with sweet, spicy, or light dishes like:

• Spaghetti and meatballs
• Sugar cookies
• Bratwurst
• Asian spring rolls
• Lemon custard cake

10. Amber Ales

Amber ales have a medium mouthfeel and are available in various hues, from amber to a deep reddish-gold. These brews are full of malt flavor, but they also contain a hint of caramel sweetness to counterbalance the roasted malt flavor.

A dry and crisp finish is typical in many amber ales, so the sweetness isn't overbearing. These beers have a mild and floral scent, thanks to the hops.

Amber ales are great palette cleansers because of their dry and crisp finish. As a result, the following dishes match particularly well with amber ales:

• Barbecue ribs
• Grilled chicken
• Pizza
• Banana cake
• Brisket

11. Brown Ales

Instead of being as bitter or hoppy as other medium-colored brews, brown ales feature notes of chocolate and coffee, like stout and porter beers, which have a darker hue. English brown ales also tend to be dry and nutty in flavor.

Because they lack the intense flavors and poppy quality nowadays, beer enthusiasts and craft brewers prefer to shun brown ales. However, they are delicious beers that go well with a wide variety of dishes.

As far as food and beer pairings go, brown ales are renowned for their ability to go with just about anything. However, there are a few meals that go exceptionally well with brown ales' chocolate and nutty flavors:

• Smoked sausage
• Roast pork
• Almond cake
• Grilled salmon
• Sushi

Conclusion

When you know what the perfect craft beer is for your favorite dish, it's easier to make a decision when ordering at restaurants or while grocery shopping. We hope this post has helped you figure out how to get more flavor from your food with just one sip of that delicious brew!

Are there any types of food pairing that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!