Philadelphia, PA - Matching the perfect beer will enhance any dining experience. Picking the wrong beer could ruin a delicious dish. It takes great practice and knowledge to make the ideal pairing. There are three principles to follow when making a perfect pairing between a food dish and a glass of beer.
The Ultimate Beer and Food Pairing Guide
1. Match Strength
You should always try to pair a strong beer with a healthy, light, and delicate beer with a delicate dish. Assess the richness of the food and its cooking method, and then pick a beer based on its alcoholic strength, hop bitterness, sweetness, etc., to create a similar match. You can match light dishes with lagers, roasted foods with amber lager or pale ale, and a heartier dish with a stout. Avoid very hoppy beers when eating spicy dishes, which may worsen the sting. Order a glass of pale ale with a heavier appetizer.
2. Find Harmonies
Examine the food ingredients and their preparations to find familiar flavors and aromas in the beer. It's a simple principle, but familiarity with food preparation techniques and the ability to pinpoint critical flavors and aromas in food and beer make the pairing work out well.
3. Contrast Elements
You want to create a balance. The beer should not overwhelm the food, and vice versa. This is where finding contrasting qualities come in. Sweet and fatty foods can be balanced by the level of hop bitterness, alcohol content, and carbonation, and spicy foods are balanced by the sweetness and maltiness of the beer.
Conclusion
It is essential to understand the characteristics of the beer and food dishes before combining them. Everything is a learning process; trial and error is the best approach to building great pairings. Be ambitious next time you order a drink, and see what works best for you.
