Beer and Food Pairing Guide

With so many different styles of beer and even seasonal beers to take into account,
it can be difficult to come up with good pairings for every beer on your restaurant or
bar's beer list. But, creating an excellent beer and food pairing menu in your bar or
restaurant can also be a huge boost to your profits. Rather than listing food pairings
for each type of beer out there, it's better to learn how to find which flavors on your
menu will complement your different types of beer. Keep reading to learn how to
describe the taste of beer, some guidelines for beer and food pairings, and what
beers go with what foods.

Definition of Tastes in Beer

When describing the taste of beer, there are a few buzzwords that you'll come
across again and again. Here are some general definitions to help you understand
how the flavors in beer are typically described:
 Hops: Many times people use "hoppiness" to describe how bitter a beer
tastes, but not all hoppy beers are bitter. The taste of a hoppy beer depends
on when the hops are added in the brewing process. The earlier the hops are
added, the more bitter the beer. Hops themselves have a versatile flavor and
aroma that can enhance flowery and fruity flavors in the beer.

 Bitter: Bitterness is a distinct flavor profile found in many types of beer,

although the amount of bitterness varies between the styles of beer. Many
breweries rate how bitter a beer is with an IBU number. IBU stands for
International Bitterness Units, and the higher the IBU, the stronger the
bitterness.

 Malt: Malt comes from the barley grain, and it is usually roasted before it is
added to the brew. Roasting barley gives the beer a nutty flavor and a toasty
aroma. Plus, during the roasting process, the sugars in the barley
caramelize, bringing out a slightly sweet, caramel taste.

 Dark: While it may seem more like a description of the color, dark can also
be used to describe how a beer tastes. Dark beers are made with malt grain
that is roasted until it reaches a dark color. Dark beers are typically roasted
longer than malty beers, giving them a richer and heavier taste. The malt's
nutty, caramel flavor turns to darker notes of chocolate and coffee with a
longer roast time.

 Light: Light beer is usually known for having a clean and crisp taste that is
refreshing. Typically, light beers don't have a strong flavor and aren't very
bitter or hoppy. Additionally, most light beers also have a low alcohol content.

4 Guidelines for Food and Beer Pairing

There aren't many hard rules when it comes to making beer and food pairings as
there aren't many flavors that clash with beer. That being said, if you want to get
the most out of your beer pairing and enhance the flavor of the food on your bar's
menu, try to keep these guidelines in mind:
1. Contrast: To make an ideal pairing by contrast, you want to pick a beer or
dish that has one strong, dominant flavor, such as sweet, rich, or oily. You
want a dish that has a distinct taste that can shine through without being
overpowered. An example of a good contrast pairing is oysters and stout.
Oysters have a strong, briny flavor that can stand up to the rich texture and
chocolatey notes of the stout.

2. Complement: Complementing flavors is one of the simplest ways to make a

delicious food and beer pairing. Match rich foods with beers that have a
heavy and rich flavor, like stouts or porters. Pair light-tasting salads and fish
with light beers or wheat beers with desserts like fruit tarts.

3. Cleanse: You can also use your beer as a palate cleanser. This type of beer
pairing is ideal for dishes that have strong or overpowering flavors, like spicy
Indian food or fatty fried food. For example, you can use the cool and
refreshing flavor of light beer to wash down the heat of Korean fried chicken.
This pairing also works in the opposite way, and you can use fatty foods,
such as french fries or nuts, to cut through the bitterness of an IPA.

4. Avoid Overpowering Flavors: Keep in mind the levels of flavor in your food
and beer. Many medium and dark beers have a rich and powerful flavor that
can overpower certain types of food. For example, you wouldn't want to pair
salmon with a pint of Guinness because the flavor of the beer will completely
cover the taste of the fish.

How to Pair Beer Based on Style

The different types of beer vary greatly in their color, alcohol content, taste, and
mouthfeel, so if you want to make a good pairing, you must first understand the
different styles of beer. Below, we've included a table that you can reference to
make a quick pairing. You can also read on for a more in-depth guide on how to
pair beer and food based on style. 

 Light lagers: Spicy food, burgers, salads

 Wheat beers: Spicy food and fruity desserts
 India pale ales (IPAs): Steak, barbecue, and Mexican food
 Amber ales: Pizza, fried food, smoked pork
 Dark lagers: Pizza, burgers, hearty stews
 Brown ales: Sausage, sushi, fish
 Porters: Seafood, coffee-flavored desserts, game meats
 Stouts: Chocolate desserts, shellfish, Mexican food
These are only general pairing ideas, so if you want to create new and unique beer
and food pairings, you'll need to fully understand the flavor profiles of each type of
beer.

Light Lagers

Light lagers are among the palest type of beer, and they are well known for their
crisp and refreshing taste. Most light lagers do not have a strong flavor, and they
are rarely hoppy or bitter. This style of beer is one of the most popular in the United
States, and many well-known brands fall under this category.

Light Lager Food Pairings: 

Because light lagers have such a refreshing flavor,

they're ideal for pairing with spicy dishes, but you can
pair these beers with just about any type of food. Here
are some ideal beer and food pairing options for light
lagers you can try:

 Buffalo wings
 French fries
 Hot dogs
 Noodles
 Fried fish

Wheat Beers

Wheat beers are brewed with a mixture of wheat and

barley grains, which gives the beer smoother texture and
lighter carbonation than other styles. The wheat itself
doesn't add much flavor, so many brewers add citrus and
other fruity flavorings to the beer.

Wheat Beer Food Pairings: 

Wheat beers are very versatile, and you can pair them with a number of foods.
Here are some ideal food pairings for wheat beers:

 Buffalo wings
 Spicy noodles
 Salads
 Fruit tarts
 Pastries

India Pale Ales

India pale ales, better known as IPAs, are one of the most popular styles of beer in
the craft brewing scene today. Typically, IPAs have a medium amber color and
feature a very bitter flavor. To make the bitterness more palatable, many brewers
add citrus or herbal tones to the beer. In addition to standard IPAs, there are also
double IPAs, which are made with even more hops and have a strong bitter flavor.

IPA Food Pairings: 

Because of the sheer variety of IPAs on the market, there are no hard and fast
rules when it comes to food pairings. But, here are a few general food and beer
pairings that work for all types of IPAs:

 Barbecue ribs  Steak

 French fries  Burritos
 Mozzarella sticks  Fajitas

Amber Ales

Amber ales are characterized by medium mouthfeel and

colors that range from amber to a deep reddish-gold. These
beers have strong flavors of malt, and there are notes of
sweet caramel that complement the roasted malt taste. But,
these beers do not have an overpoweringly sweet flavor,
and many amber ales have a dry and crisp finish. Although
the flavor from the hops isn't strong, they give these beers a
light and flowery aroma.

Amber Ale Food Pairings: 

Due to the dry and crisp finish, amber ales are excellent beers for cleansing your
palate. So, here are a few ideal food pairings for amber ales:


 Barbecue pulled pork  Brisket
 Jerk chicken
 Pizza
 Dark Lagers

There are several types of lager, and dark lagers

have a distinct taste. This style of beer is made with
roasted malts, and many times they have caramel
syrup added to sweeten the beer. The roasted
malts give the beer a nutty flavor, and the caramel
provides a slight hint of sweetness, although it's not
overpowering.

Dark Lager Food Pairings: 

Dark lagers are popular in Europe, and they're an

excellent complement to hearty traditional European
dishes. Here are some examples of ideal pairings to go with dark lagers:

 Sausage
 Goulash
 Bangers and mash
 Burgers
 Pizza

Brown Ales

Brown ales aren't as hoppy or bitter as other medium-

colored beers, and instead they have hints of
chocolate and coffee similar to stouts and porters.
Additionally, English varieties of brown ales usually
have a dry and nutty flavor. Beer afficionados and craft
brewers tend to turn their noses up at brown ales
because they lack the extreme flavors and hoppiness
that is fashionable nowadays, but these are tasty
beers that pair well with many different foods.

Brown Ale Food Pairings: 

Brown ales are a versatile option when it comes to food and beer pairings, and they
are famous for pairing well with just about anything. That being said, here are a few
dishes that complement the rich chocolate and nutty flavors in brown ales:


 Sausage  Barbecue
 Roast pork  Fish
  Sushi

Porters

Porters originated in London, and the original variety

were dark and strong, making them popular with the
working class. Today, porters are milder and come in a
variety of styles and flavors, but they kept their signature
dark color, toasty aroma, and roasted flavor. Porters are
made with roasted brown malts that give the beer strong
notes of chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Although both
porters and stouts are thick and silky, porters have a
crisper finish than stouts.

Porter Food Pairings: 

Porters have a rich and deep flavor, so it is best to pair them with foods that have
similar taste and texture. Here are a few examples of dishes that pair well with
porters:


 Lobster  Barbecue
 Crab  Rabbit, venison, and game
 Mexican mole meats

Stouts

Stouts are best known for their black color and dark,
roasted flavor that is similar to porters. Despite their
appearance, stouts are not necessarily high in alcohol
content, bitterness, or flavor, and there are many mild,
well-rounded types of stout. This style of beer is usually
characterized by strong hints of chocolate and coffee as
well as a silky smooth consistency.

Stouts Food Pairings: 

Because stouts have a chocolatey flavor and relatively low alcohol content, they
are the perfect pairing for many kinds of desserts. Here are some examples of the
best foods to pair with stouts:


 Chocolate truffles  Chocolate mousse
  Lobster  Shellfish
 Barbecue

Adding food and beer pairings to your menu can help enhance the flavor of your
dishes and bring in more profits. To make the best beer pairings possible, it is
important to understand which flavors work well together. Once you understand the
flavor profiles in beer, you can make delicious and interesting beer pairings that will
accentuate the flavors of both your food and beer. You can also bring out the best
flavors in your beer by choosing the right beer glass for each type.