Pints of Depiction: Pairing Beer With BBQ

Different types of grilling require different styles of beer

All illustrations by Em Sauter

Memorial Day has come and gone and that means it is almost summer and it’s time to set up the BBQ in the backyard. Beer and grilling outside is as American as apple pie (which I would pair with a doppelbock by the way). Usually when we’re outside, we just reach into the cooler and pull out any beer available but I recommend trying to curate your food to the beers in said cooler. You’ll be surprised how elevated the flavors are when the beer perfectly pairs with a dish. 

Grilled watermelon with American wheat beer 

If you’ve never put fruit on the grill, you are missing out. The high water content of fruit creates highly concentrated flavors when in contact with high direct heat. Something refreshing like American wheat beer will mingle well with grilled fruit and may even taste like you are drinking a fruit infused beer (American wheat beers are excellent bases for fruit beers). You might ask, why specifically American wheats? It’s because they lack the heavy banana/clove flavors that German wheat ales tend to have, and are much cleaner tasting thanks to American yeast strains. Widmer Brothers is one of the pioneers of this style, and Alcohol Professor also recommends Cedar Springs Brewing Original Weissbeer, bronze medal winner in the 2020 NY International Beer Competition.

Hamburger and potato chips with Schwarzbier black lager 

Some people scoff at darker beers at a BBQ but all beers deserve a seat at this picnic table! Don’t let the dark, inky color fool you, Schwarzbiers are refreshing with a low, restrained roastiness that’ll harmonize with the hamburger. The saltiness of the chips and meat will contrast the hint of sweetness in the beer. There’s nothing like a 16 oz can of authentic Schwarzbier on a hot day. Alcohol Professor recommends Olde Salem Brewing Company Black Betty, gold medal winner in the 2020 NY International Beer Competition.

BBQ chicken and grilled corn with American pale ale

When I’m building flavors for a beer and food pairing, I try to find all the tastes (salt, sour, bitter, sweet, umami, fat) to create a complete bite. With grilled corn (smothered in a lime crema because why not?) and BBQ grilled chicken, you’ll get salt, fat, acidic and sweet taste sensations. The sweetness of tangy BBQ, the saltiness/fatiness of the chicken, the sweetness of the corn. Adding a bitter component (not too bitter) will round out each delicious bite.  A classic American Pale Ale would go well here alongside the chicken and corn. APAs are less bitter than IPAs but still have a decent hop kick. In addition to hop bitterness, a pale ale will add an orange rind sweetness from the American hops as well as a toasted bread sweetness from the malt. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a modern classic, and is a fridge staple. Alcohol Professor also recommends Magic Hat Easy Miles, silver medal winner in the 2020 NYIBC.

Happy summer and here’s to getting out and enjoying the great outdoors!