Last year, I began my research into the art of beer and food pairing. One of my personal and professional goals this year is to refine that knowledge. Although there’s a significant amount written about the philosophy of pairing and recommendations for every beer style, the best way to really understand the interplay of flavors is through hands-on experience.
I admit it, I’m a big nerd for a good flavor profile, whether that’s a meal, a cocktail, a beer, or even coffee. One area that I haven’t been so well versed, though, is pairing flavors together.
Although I claim that I do
n’t drink beer while I’m eating (I’ll enjoy it before or after a meal), beer and food pairings have always appealed to me. A well-thought-out pairing has the ability to enhance a meal in a unique way. So, last month, I decided to begin exploring the topic by learning the basic principles and thinking more consciously of complimentary flavors (and mouthfeels).
To get inspired, I reached out to some local beer-industry people, who I knew were doing their own experimentation with pairings. I posted the result of these conversations on DC Beer (read A Winter Beer Pairing Primer).
Those conversations gave me some basic pairing guidelines and ideas for how to approach food in the coming winter months. To practice, I now select a beer that I think will pair well with one of the meals I eat each day. Even if I have a meager selection in the fridge (or I’m not drinking), I consider what I’d enjoy pairing with the meal in front of me. I then assess what I like and don’t like about the pairing I chose, which helps me refine my selections in the future.
My favorite pairing to date? It’s hard to say, but I had a particularly good time sampling a flight of farmhouse and pale ales, looking for the perfect mate for a wild mushroom pizza.
Which beers and foods do you best like together?
To all the people and things that make us happy to be alive. Cheers!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s hard not to enjoy a day dedicated to eating and drinking with people we love to show how grateful we are for what we have. Rather than travel this year, I’m hosting a potluck with friends, including some fellow homebrewers. Even though I was saving a special bottle of wine to share, the reality is that we’re a beer-focused group. Beer will be the beverage of choice. But in true potluck style, we have no theme so we’ll be enjoying a variety of commercial and home brews, drinker’s choice.
Normally, I’m a big fan of doing at least a bit of pairing. Thanksgiving is also a great time to introduce non-beer drinkers to the variety within craft beers. There are already a number of good articles available on how to pair beers with the traditional Thanksgiving meal, and I don’t feel the need to weigh in this year. Here are a few articles I found interesting, but let me know how you choose (and what you’re drinking this year).
I also love how a few local businesses are joining in on the celebration. Many of the local breweries opened for growler hours today to ensure the community could enjoy their local beer of choice as part of the feasts. A few bars are also open tomorrow evening, offering specials and, in one case, an inexpensive Thanksgiving dinner as a thank you to customers.
No matter how you celebrate or what you eat and drink, remember that Thanksgiving is for enjoying what and who we have in our lives. So relax, have a homebrew (or not), tell your loved ones you love them, eat what you like (and as much as you like), watch the game (or don’t), and be thankful for what you have and what you love. Happy Thanksgiving!