Happy Fourth of July! Independence Day is here and that means fire up the grill, get the cooler full of delicious brews and enjoy a fun beer and food pairing you can put together in your own backyard. Heck, you’re going to be eating many of these BBQ foods already—why not try to match them with some beers that’ll make the experience even better?
It’s important to remember that ales and lagers don’t encompass just a few simple flavors; beer can taste like almost anything, from chocolate to tropical fruit to lemonade and more. If you are curious whether a beer and food pairing will work, just give it a try!
Here is an illustrated guide to pairing beers with some of your favorite backyard foods.
The hot dog can get overloaded with toppings so choose a simple beer style that will work well with … [+]
Hot Dog And Munich Helles
Since you can add a myriad of toppings to a hot dog like mustard, ketchup, relish or onions, choose a simple, no-frills beer that won’t interfere with any flavors of the snappy hot dog. Munich helles is a golden lager style originally from Southern Germany that is not as dry or hoppy as a German pilsner, but it’s still super refreshing. Helles (“hell” is the German word for “light”) is a great summer sip and one that really hits the spot when you want a beer that tastes like, well, beer!
Munich helles to seek out: Jack’s Abby House Lager, Dovetail Helles, pFriem Family Brewers Helles.
A burger and a big beer like a double IPA is perfection.
Hamburger And Double IPA
A hamburger is essentially a blank canvas when it comes to beer pairings, but I like something with a higher alcohol content and big flavors that can stand up to the fat of a juicy burger. A double IPA with over 8% ABV is a great match for this food. The bitterness works with the intensity while the fruity hop character contrasts the saltiness.
Double IPAs to seek out: Russian River Pliny the Elder, Dogfish Head 90 Minute, Victory Dirt Wolf.
Don’t forget about dark beers in the summer! Dark beers will work really well with smoked or BBQ … [+]
Ribs And American Porter
Dark beers are perfect during the heat of the summer (honestly!) and they work super well with ribs. The sweet BBQ sauce plus the roasty notes of an American porter meld well together, while the carbonation of the beer helps you clean your palate after each meaty bite. Dark beers are delicious with most grilled meats, including kebabs, burgers, and steaks.
American porters to seek out: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald, Deschutes Black Butte Porter
A popsicle with beer? Why not! It’s fun to get experimental when it comes to beer and food pairings. … [+]
Rocket Pop And Berliner Weisse
A popsicle paired with beer? Sure! Berliner weisse is a sour German beer style and is great for outdoor picnics as it has high carbonation, tangy/tart flavor and a lower ABV. Put a rocket pop into a glass of Berliner weisse to add the popsicle’s flavors directly into the beer. Some breweries have even started to brew rocket pop-flavored sours!
Berliner weisses to seek out: Creature Comforts Athena, Off Color Yuzu Fierce.
Putting two foods together can create new sensations: vanilla ice cream paired with a hazy IPA makes … [+]
Vanilla Ice Cream And Hazy IPA
Beer and foods don’t just vibe together, sometimes they can create a whole new food in itself. I love vanilla ice cream paired with the popular hazy IPA, as eating them together creates essentially an adult version of a creamsicle. Give it a try!
Beers to seek out: Counter Weight Headway, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing, Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy.
Here’s to a wonderful summer of beer and food pairings. Enjoy the warm weather, fireworks and food responsibly and be sure to surround yourself with the people you care most about. Cheers!