While some may choose to bypass the alcoholic beverages this football season, many of us will be sipping our favorite beer, while chomping on whatever the grill gods have served up.
The Brewers Association has a fantastic beer and food pairing chart but for our purposes we’ve narrowed it down to three tailgate favorites.
Pale ales are pretty flexible but they are spectacular when paired with hamburgers. They use a warm fermentation and predominately utilize a pale malt in the brewing process. Some suggested pale ales we found are: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Sam Adams Pale Ale, and Schell’s Pale Ale.
Pilsners are best when paired with lighter foods. Try them with chicken dishes, a nice summer salad, salmon, or a grilled bratwurst. It is also well complimented by mild white Vermont cheddar if you’re looking for a cheese snack to go with it. Pilsners are bottom-fermented for better clarity and shelf-life. Some suggested pilsners would be: Stella Artois, Heineken, and Amstel.
Amber lagers are hearty and are best paired with spicy foods, barbeque, sausages, and roasted meats. All great tailgating foods! For a cheese pairing, think white cheddar, jack, or brick cheeses. Lager is a type of beer that is fermented and conditioned at low temperatures. Some common suggested lagers are: Yuengling, Dos Equis Amber Lager, and Karl Amber Lager.
If none of those tickle your fancy, take a look at The Brewer’s Association’s chart and find the beer that works the best for you! http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/beer-and-food/pairing-tips/pairing-chart/