May 30th, 2013 • Posted by The Grill at Harryman House • Permalink
Grilled food, beer pairing
The grilling season has officially started so let’s take a closer look at … beer!
While there is no shortage of wine experts, beer aficionados have only lately gotten their "sommeliers” or, as they are called in the world of beer, “cicerones” (pronounced sis-uh-rohn, a certified cicerone is a beer expert who passed an exam at the Craft Beer Institute). What do beer experts recommend as perfect pairings? Lets take a look.
As almost any kind of meat, seafood, fruit or veggie can be grilled in a multitude of ways so there is a lot to consider. Grilled foods in general have more complex flavors, they are smoky, sweetly caramelized or bitterly charred, dripping in fat or have none at all.
Sausage and fatty meats go well with more hoppy beers like locally brewed Union Craft Duck Pin Pale Ale. They are also great for cleansing the pallet and enhancing the spices. For grilled chicken, a good choice is a nice blond or a light ale such as Blue Moon Belgian White, as you don’t want to overpower the chicken with anything too strong.
Dark beers with their rich, malty flavors, Yards Porter for example, make a perfect harmony with sweet and tangy BBQ sauces. Milky and smooth, they’ll successfully put out the flames in your mouth brought on by hot sauces. A heartier dark beer like the classic Guinness Stout, with toasty and fruity flavors will make a great companion to a nicely caramelized steak.
For grilled veggies and shrimp pick a beer with citrusy or spicy flavors.We carry Leininkugel Summer Shandy and Magic Hat Elder Betty on draft. Yeasty and caramelized beers will bring out the natural sweetness in veggies. If you have a variety of meats and veggies grilling and you would like to cover them all with one kind of beer, medium-bodied brown ale will fit the bill.
With so many wonderful beers available, locally brewed and imported from all over the world, you can experiment to your heart’s desire. But, let’s not forget, it’s all about being outdoors and enjoying great food and great company. For many of us, just hearing these magical words is enough: “Here’s your food. Here’s you beer”. End of story.
