Beer Paired with Food

Rarely does our local paper have an article worth sharing, especially to this motley beer-drinking crew. But, thought this one was worth it....

Matching the right beer with the right food

The common thinking is that beer—the typical stuff that flies off the shelves of the local grocery store—goes with anything.
Whether you’re in the mood for a hot dog or filet mignon, a fluffy crab cake or takeout from a fish house, it doesn’t matter the style or color, as long as it contains alcohol and is cold.
Right?
Well, not exactly. At least not if you’re a purist or a beer aficionado concerned with extracting the best flavors of what you’re consuming.
“We tend to think of the yellow, fizzy stuff when we hear ‘beer’—the one style that makes up 90 percent of all beer consumed. But there are about 70 other beers with their own profiles that make up that other 10 percent,“ said Julie Johnson, editor of All About Beer magazine.
Styles such as lagers, pilsners, lambics, porters, India pale ale (aka an IPA) and stouts are just a handful of choices; the trick is knowing what to pair them with for the ultimate taste experience.
Johnson suggests matching intensities—a light food, such as white fish, is best complemented with a beer that is light in character (though not necessarily color) such as a lager or pilsner, while more robust food tastes best with a brawny beer such as brown ale or porter.
Another approach is to pair contrasting flavors.
Dave Gott, vice president of operations at Legend Brewery in South Richmond, said a popular combination at the Manchester restaurant is a porter, their “sweetest, heaviest” beer, paired with a horseradish-infused cheese.
He’s also a fan of Hefewiesen to drink alongside shrimp sautéed with garlic butter because “it’s a light beer with a little tartness to it.“
Johnson’s magazine has presented 16 beer festivals in North Carolina and South Carolina the past 13 years, and on Saturday it will bring the World Beer Festival to Richmond—at Brown’s Island—for the first time.
The event will give beer novices and connoisseurs alike the chance to sample and ask questions, both about the beverages and the foods with which to combine them.
Johnson even has a suggestion for Sunday brunch for those who want to put their newfound knowledge to work.
“Skip the mimosas and grab a Hefewiesen,“ she said. “It has lovely flavors of banana and clove to it, and it goes well with eggs and omelets. It’s nice and clean and a lot more satisfying than a mimosa.“
And as for one of the most popular foods associated with beer—hot wings?
It’s a simple choice, Johnson said.
“I just reach for an IPA.“

Related Info:
PAIRING BEER AND FOODS
Not sure whether those crab cakes would taste best with a lager or brown ale? Or if a steak pairs better with a strong hops flavor or a roasty malt one?

The brewmasters of Legend Brewery have compiled a selection of food and beer pairings to help you make an informed decision the next time you need to make a match.

THE BASICS
Lager: Light-bodied, German-style lager pairs with seafood and lighter fare.

Pilsner: This light-colored Czech pilsner has strong hops flavor and pairs with seafood, pork and chicken.

Brown ale: The amber English-style beer with malty nose and flavor has a balanced hop finish and pairs with any beef dish or grilled pork.

Pale ale: This dark-color beer with aggressive bittering hops up front and aromatic hops in the finish pairs with beef and spicy dishes.

Porter: With a deep chocolate color and roasty malt flavor, this beer has subtle chocolate undertones. Serve with beef, burgers and chili.

Golden ale: A beer with heavy malt and assertive hops in the front, it has a strong hoppy flavor in the finish. Pair it with ribs and spicy food.

THE PAIRINGS
Onion rings: pilsner or pale ale

Spicy wings: pilsner, brown ale or porter

Salads: lager, pilsner

Rib-eye, filet mignon, New York strip, porterhouse, prime rib or sirloin: pilsner, brown ale, pale ale or porter

Crab cakes: lager, pilsner

Salmon or tuna: lager, pilsner or brown ale

Pasta dishes: lager, pilsner

Indian or Thai: lager, pilsner or brown ale

Pizza: lager, pilsner

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/lifestyles/food_cooking/article/F-BEER09_20100608-174806/349833/