Barbecue pairs well with beer, cocktails, wine, and sunshine. Nothing can beat sitting outside drinking a cold one with a plate of ribs, chicken wings and potato salad, surrounded by family and friends. A lot of people declare themselves a grill master, so it’s important to have all the right ingredients to make your barbecue the best.
The only thing that can make a perfect dish better is the perfect beer to match. Preferably one that’s going to help every element of the skillfully grilled meal taste even better. However, it isn’t as simple as just snagging out the closest longneck from the cooler. You see, the beer that’s best with burgers probably isn’t going to do much for your chicken wings or lobster tails.
In preparation for our BBQ, Beer, and Bourbon Crawl this Saturday, we asked a couple interested attendees from St. Louis what their go-to bbq pairings are.
- Jill believes a grilled cheeseburger with all the classic fixings is the definition of a backyard barbecue meal. Her drink of choice is an IPA because it’s a good contrast from all the tastes she’s getting from the cheeseburger. Bitterness seems to be the taste that’s missing, and IPA and other hoppy styles provide that missing piece. A black IPA offers a roasty malt flavor that connects nicely with the char of the burger’s grill-cooked patty. Yum! – we’ll see you at your next barbecue, Jill.
- Mark calls himself the grill master when it comes to smoking sausages. Sausages are fatty and rich, can handle the carbonation of a Belgian ale, the bitterness of an IPA, or the fortitude of some stronger beers. However, he says you can’t go wrong with German lager and a good sausage. The true pairing power lies in the interaction with common toppings. Marks adds acidity toppings such as relish, mustard, sauerkraut and cooked onions, which balances with the soft maltiness of the German lager. It sounds like Mark knows his way around the grill, so we’ll take his word & grab a cold German lager next time.
- Sarah grew up on the east coast, so her favorite meal to throw on the grill is any type of seafood. She says grilled seafood is a great partner for a more delicate beer such as a Pilsner. It’s a bit drier, but offers a hint of bitterness to balance the richness of butter or the fat of a fish like salmon. You can also expand your horizons by pairing sour beers with your grilled seafood dishes. Grab your boat shoes and let’s dock at Sarah’s house for a fishtastic time.
Well, we’ve worked up an appetite and are extremely thirsty… Good thing our BBQ, Beer, & Bourbon Crawl is only 2 days away! Join us this Saturday, September 7th as we stroll through Soulard, St. Louis trying the best bbq and beer & bourbon options. Your ticket includes bbq samples, exclusive drink specials, access into all the party stops, music entertainment, photo ops, and more. Follow Bar Crawl USA for more information and updates on our upcoming events.