If you enjoy craft beers and you’re thinking about offering these beverages to your friends and family for your next get-together, you may need a few food pairing ideas. Here are some suggestions that will wow your guests — you may even impress yourself with the delicious combinations you come up with.
Do you love a good burger? Are you a fan of chicken wings? If you’re getting ready to watch the game or you’ve scheduled a family movie night, pair your meal of wings or burgers with a quality ale. Ales also go great with pizza and Mexican foods. If you like other traditional fried bar food like mozzarella sticks or fried pickles, an ale is likely your best choice when you’re looking for a beer to complete your meal or snack platter.
Bock beer is the way to go if you’re having Caribbean food or foods with Swiss or Gruyere cheeses. For instance, if you’re eating a grilled cheese with these fancy aged cheeses or you’re in the mood for some jerk chicken and plantains, bock beer is a delicious addition to your meal. These foods can easily be prepared on the grill, so if you’re having a cookout or outdoor gathering, don’t forget to buy a few cases of bock beer for your guests to enjoy.
If you prefer beer with a sweeter, fruity taste, or you’re in the mood for dessert, fruit beers are the best choice. Fruity beers are also a tasty addition to meals that include light white meat like sauteed or grilled chicken breast or white fish like trout or snapper. If you’re having a salad that includes fruit, a beer with berry, peach or apple flavor notes is ideal. Select a fruity beer if you’re preparing a decadent dessert-like peach cobbler or you’re offering a fresh fruit salad with a honey mint dressing.
Lager beers are popular craft beers with a bold flavor, and these beers are great if you’re in the mood for a light pasta dish or a meal that includes grilled chicken or seafood. Lagers are also great with sushi. There are also several Mexican and Southeast Asian dishes that pair well with lagers since the spices pair well with the crisp flavor of lager.
Pilsner beers are a wonderful craft beer to consider if you plan on offering a cheese platter to your guests. This craft beer goes great with American and Muenster cheeses, as well as Monterey Jack and Havarti. If you’re serving seafood, Pilsner beer is a delicious pairing choice for these foods, since this beer is malty, slightly sweet and a little bitter.
If you’re known for your barbecue, you can’t go wrong with a porter beer. This beer is a tasty way to bring out the flavor in smoked and barbecued meats. The beer is actually chocolatey and spicy, so you can also pair it with heavy fall and winter meals like hearty pasta dishes and chili, and can also make the flavor of dark chocolate desserts more intense.
Finding quality companies to purchase craft beers ensures that you have the best beers at your next gathering or to enjoy with your favorite meals. Melvin Brewing offers a variety of delicious beers made from the best ingredients and innovative flavors that make your craft beer experience especially interesting
