Jan 29, 2024 3 min read

Even though pizza, wings and beer is a combination that has appeared on game day food tables seemingly since the dawn of organized sports, the nuances of beer open up the possibility for many other food-beverage combinations. Just as wine can complement a variety of different foods when the right combination of flavors is presented, so, too, can one’s favorite brew.

Craft brewers have opened the public’s eyes to a much wider array of beer styles than may be available at the local liquor store or supermarket. Below you can find some suggestions for beer and food pairings, courtesy of the Brewers Association.

• Blonde Ale: Match this ale with lighter food choices, such as chicken, salads, and light, nutty cheeses.

“Blonde Ale’s are very smooth in taste and have a medium ABV. Our Notorious YRB blonde ale is our best seller and it pairs well with sweet, savory or spicy foods,” said Jacquelyn Humes, co-owner of Yough River Brewing in Connellsville. “One of my favorite pairings would be our Bohemian Wrap City ‘Big Mac Wrap’ and an ice-cold blonde ale.”

• India Pale Ale: The hoppy forward flavor of IPAs makes these popular beers a good pairing with strong, spicy foods, or bold, sweet desserts.

• Amber/Red Ale: Pair a wide range of foods with amber ales, like chicken, seafood, burgers, and spicy cuisine.

• Porter: The strong flavor of porter will work well with roasted or smoked food, barbecue, sausages, or blackened fish.

• Dark Lager, Dunkel, Schwarzbier: Hearty, spicy foods, barbecue, and roasted meats also complement these dark beers, as do pizzas and burgers.

• Hefeweizen: Fans of this light German or Austrian beer will learn it pairs well with salads, seafood, sushi, and traditionally weisswurst, a white Bavarian sausage.

• Imperial Stout: This beer can easily overwhelm many foods, but can stand up to foie gras or smoked goose. Long-aged cheeses, like gouda, parmesan or cheddar, also can work with stout, as do rich, chocolate desserts.

“An imperial stout is strong with roasted characteristics,” said EJ Kleckner, owner of Rusty Gold Brewing in Canonsburg. “It pairs well with dessert and helps balance strong flavors of beef or pork like our fresh fried pork rinds.”

• American Wheat Ale: Choose this beer to go with very light foods like salads and sushi. It’s generally too light for dessert, but might work with fresh fruit.

Furthermore, when pairing beer with food, keep in mind that beer with hop bitterness, roasted malt, high carbonation, and higher ABVs balance sweet, rich (fatty) and umami flavors in food. Hop bitterness also can emphasize the spice of foods, such as in chili or certain ethnic cuisines. A sweet or malty beer balances out spiciness or acidity in foods.