Beer & Food

For centuries, beer and food have been enjoyed together as part of the good life. The grain-based nature of beer makes it a food in itself, and the huge range of flavors, aromas and textures makes it a perfect match for nearly any kind of food, from a handmade sausage to the most luxurious gourmet dish. Choosing beers and foods that enhance one another means paying attention to the gustatory qualities of both.

Recipes featured on this Web site are from the book The Best of American Beer & Food by Lucy Saunders.

Throughout the book Saunders captures the magic made when beer and food meet with pairings that delight the senses while expanding our appreciation of today's diverse and flavorful craft beers. Please enjoy a sampling of some of our favorites.

Concepts to consider
when pairing beer with food

Match strength with strength. It is simply common sense that delicate dishes work best with delicate beers, and it is equally true that strongly flavored foods demand assertive beers. Intensity of flavor may involve many aspects: alcoholic strength, malt character, hop bitterness, sweetness, richness, roastiness and so on.

Find harmonies. Combinations often work best when they share some common flavor or aroma elements. The nutty flavor of an English-style brown ale and a handmade cheddar cheese; the deep, roasted flavors of an imperial stout and chocolate truffles, and the rich, caramelly flavors of an Oktoberfest lager and roasted pork are all examples of this.

Consider sweetness, bitterness, carbonation, heat (spice) and richness. This may seem a little complicated, but it really is quite straightforward. Specific characteristics of food and beer interact with each other in predictable ways. Taking advantage of these interactions ensures that the food and beer will balance each other, each giving you a desire for a taste of the other.

Remember the above suggestions are just that—not absolute rules. The American craft beer experience was founded on creativity and experimentation. We hope you embrace that spirit on your beer and food journey.

See the most recent Beer & Food Pairings menu from the Brewers Association's newest event SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience.

Beer & Food Matching Chart

The Beer & Food Matching Chart (PDF file, ~229 KB) is an incredible resource on pairing beer and food. You may view the electronic PDF version; or if you would like a printed version, you may order copies of the American Craft Beer and Food Guide brochure.