You can up your barbecue game by several notches by just putting a little more thought — to the kind of beer you offer with food.
Because just as a carefully selected wine can enhance the flavours of certain foods, a thoughtfully chosen beer can do the same, bringing you culinary street cred and making your barbecue parties the invite of the season.
Read: It’s time for a perfect meal! Popular barbecue myths debunked
At a recent conference organised by the Institute of Food Technologists in Chicago, Blue Moon Brewing Company founder Keith Villa offered a few tips on the kinds of beers that pair well with different foods.
Here are a few guidelines to consider:
Hot dogs and hamburgers: Go with a light lager or bohemian pilsner
Barbecue, braised beef dish, and desserts with chocolate and vanilla: Stouts brewed with dark chocolate stand up nicely to these strong flavours.
Read: Your pint of beer is now available in Indian flavours
Grilled steak: The carbonation and acidity found in amber ales and Imperial Irish red ales cut through the fat of the steak, enhancing the flavour of the meat.
{{/usCountry}}Grilled steak: The carbonation and acidity found in amber ales and Imperial Irish red ales cut through the fat of the steak, enhancing the flavour of the meat.
{{/usCountry}}Barbecue, French toast, vanilla and apple desserts: Holiday beers, brewed with cinnamon.
Poultry, pork, seafood dishes, and spicy meals like Buffalo chicken wings, Mexican and Thai fare: Belgian white.
Game meats and desserts: Fruit beers, such as a Belgian-style raspberry brew.
Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.