Craft beers are extremely popular these days and provide you with a wealth of flavor notes that make a cup of brew much more interesting. Whether you’re planning a barbecue or summer party, love bar-style food or want to have a fancy dinner party for your friends, here are some tasty suggestions for pairing craft beers with your favorite foods. Melvin Brewing also provides lots of craft beer choices so you’ll have a quality beverage to enjoy with the meals you love.
Spicy Foods
If you like to kick up the flavor in your food with spices that add heat to the dish naturally, there are several craft beers to choose from. Beers can counteract the spice in foods so you can enjoy peppery entrees without burning your tongue. If you’re in the mood for Mexican food, most craft beer lagers will compliment the sweet, spicy and smoky flavors in the food. If you prefer beers that are darker or more pronounced in flavor, you can also enjoy your spicy meal with an amber ale. Just make sure the beer isn’t too sweet so your beer won’t overpower the flavors in your meal.
Grilled or Barbecue Foods
Do you love standing at the grill and creating a delicious meal that will impress your friends and family? If you’ve got a taste for ribs this summer, don’t forget to offer your guests a pale ale to go with this entree. A lager is a tasty choice for heavier meats and has a slightly sweet taste that compliments barbecue sauce. However, if you’re preparing a barbecue with a dry rub, a pecan ale will complement the seasonings well.
Vegan/Vegetarian Meals
Eating healthier or consuming foods that don’t contain animal products can make you feel better mentally and physically. You may enjoy these meals even more if you’ve got a delicious craft beer to wash everything down. Stout is the way to go if you’re enjoying vegan or vegetarian dips like hummus. For other chickpea-based dishes like falafel, try a Saison, since the beer has several fruity notes that pair well with the fresh herbs in falafel. If you’re enjoying a meal that features several savory flavors like chili or vegetarian spaghetti, hoppy craft beer is best. You can even add a little of the beer to these dishes while cooking to bring out the flavor of the vegetables. You can also try an IPA if you want to take all the flavor profiles of the vegetables in your meal, which is why this beer is delicious with dishes like veggie pizza. For vegan desserts that include chocolate, try a Doppelbock, since the hoppy beer brings out the rich flavor of chocolate.
Sweet Treats
If you want a craft beer that goes great with dessert, think about the flavor profiles in your pastry, cake or pie. For instance, if you’re serving pumpkin pie, a winter warmer is a delicious choice. While you may be inclined to choose a pumpkin beer, a winter warmer will bring out the more subtle flavors in the pie, such as cloves or cinnamon. Barleywines and dry-hopped sours are the perfect choices if you’re serving cheesecake for dessert, whether the cake is plain or includes berry or chocolate accents. If apple pie is on the dessert menu, choose a craft beer with caramel notes, such as Kwak, which is a Belgian beer
