The golden rules for pairing beer with food

2/11 Previous Next

First figure out what you're eating, then select the brew

First you need to determine the type of dish you plan to eat (sweet, salty, bitter, spicy, etc.). Then choose a beer to complement or contrast your food.  For example, fried shrimp and vegetable fritters fall into the soft and crunchy category, so they'd go well washed down with light, mild-tasting beer. Think crisp German lagers or a Pabst Blue Ribbon. On the other hand, you can also play with taste contrast and serve a sour beer such as a Belgian lambic or tart craft brew instead. Once you determine the dominant flavors of your dish, you can decide whether you want to balance or contrast these with your beer choice.