Pairing Food with Beer: A Beginner's Guide

Essential takeaway: Just like wine, beer can be expertly paired with food to enhance both the meal and the beverage. Match intensity, complement or contrast flavors, and consider the sauce—these principles will transform your dining experience.

Just like wine, beer can be expertly paired with food to enhance both the meal and the beverage. Understanding the basics of beer and food pairing can transform your dining experience.

The Basic Principles

Match Intensity

Pair light beers with light foods and heavy beers with rich, hearty dishes. A delicate pilsner would be overwhelmed by a heavy stew, while a robust stout might overpower a light salad.

Complement or Contrast

You can either match similar flavors (complement) or choose opposite flavors that balance each other (contrast). Both approaches work—it depends on what you're trying to achieve.

Consider the Sauce

Often, the sauce or seasoning is more important than the main ingredient. A grilled chicken with spicy buffalo sauce requires a different beer than the same chicken with a creamy mushroom sauce.

Classic Pairings

IPAs with Spicy Food

The hop bitterness and citrus notes in IPAs cut through spicy heat and refresh your palate. Try an IPA with Thai curry, spicy wings, or Mexican food.

Stouts with Chocolate Desserts

The roasted malt flavors in stouts complement chocolate beautifully. A rich chocolate cake with an imperial stout is a match made in heaven.

Wheat Beers with Salads

Light, refreshing wheat beers pair wonderfully with fresh salads, seafood, and light appetizers. The citrus notes enhance fresh vegetables.

Lagers with Burgers

A crisp lager is the perfect companion to a juicy burger. The clean, refreshing taste cuts through the richness of the meat and cheese.

Sour Beers with Cheese

The acidity in sour beers pairs excellently with rich, creamy cheeses. Try a Flemish red with aged cheddar or gouda.

Visit Number 1 to experiment with these pairings. Our menu is designed with beer pairing in mind!