How to match beer with food.

23 November 2021

Pairing beer with food

The new range of flavours & styles you’ll find in the craft beer market make dining out with a beer one of the real joys in life.

When pairing beers with food, there are no hard & fast rules. You can always match your favourite brew with whatever you’re eating. But as a general guide, think wine. So, where you would serve a crisp white wine, serve refreshing light lager. For foods that go best with full-bodied reds, try amber or dark beers to balance their more robust flavours.

CLEANSE

The gentle fermentation of a craft beer can help cleanse the palate. So, a light ale with a few bubbles can be a great way to refresh between courses and allow the flavours of food to burst in the mouth.

CUT

The sharp, hoppy flavours you find in bitters and golden ales can cut through rich, creamy or spicy foods. Try a pint of traditional English bitter with strong cheese or spicy curry.

COMPLEMENT

Flavours that fuse can enhance the taste of both the beer and the food. So a zesty pale ale with strong citrus notes goes well with a fruity vegetable dish or lemon-scented fish or chicken dish.

DON'T FORGET

You can always use beer as an ingredient across your entire menu. Beer battered fish is the obvious one but what about an awesome Beer Tiramisu using some sexy stouts from our friends at the Wild Beer co.

Need more help?

We can create a drinks menu with food matching recommendations. We can even help you organise a food matching event for you and your customers.