The Best Beer and Meal Pairings

Jesse Gretton June 4, 2015

You know to pair your best wine with a cut of steak worthy of the vintage, and, not to say that wine isn’t great when the occasion calls for it, but sometimes you just want beer. Delicious, cold, comforting, unpretentious beer. And we don’t blame you.

Still, a meal is meant to be an experience, and the more cohesive, the better. In the spirit of maximizing that experience, we asked some great Canadian brewmasters to to help us pair their beer with some unfussy-yet-delicious summer dishes. From burgers and ale to lobster and pilsner, here arethe best Canadian brews to have over for dinner. Bon appetite, and cheers.

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The Meal: Burgers

Burgers are probably the number one summer favourite when it comes to barbecuing. Traditional grilled burgers typically have a higher fat content, especially with cheese and bacon, and need a beer that will break through the flavours and grease.

The Brew:

Mill Street Brewery Tankhouse Ale

Enlist Mill Street Tankhouse Ale for the job. It has a nice malty palate and notes of citrus hops that will both compliment and contrast the flavours from the grilled red meat.

The Meal: Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork is a spicy hot mess of a sandwich, and who doesn’t love that? It’s best paired with a pale or red ale whose hops can cut through all the spices and seasoning.

The Brew:

Phillips Blue Buck

It’s deep amber in colour, with a crisp finish featuring a delicate hop aroma that can really enhance the sweet-heat flavours of the sandwich.

Check out Phillips’ Pulled Pork recipe here.

The Meal: Lobster

Lobster is one of Canadian summers’ major perks — a succulent, rich delight and a gift from the sea. Resist the instinct to open a bottle of white wine and, instead, opt for a lighter beer varietal.

The Brew:

Steam Whistle Pilsner

Pilsner is a type of lager that’s usually golden in colour and dry and crisp on the palate. Steam Whistle is one of Canada’s best. Handcrafted with all natural ingredients, it has a distinctive hop aroma and a clean finish that pairs perfectly with seafood and the flavours that typically accompany it, like lemon and butter.

Check out Steam Whistle’s recipe for PEI lobster here.

The Meal: Steak

Grilled steaks are irresistible. So don’t even try. Embrace them with a darker beer, like an ale or porter, that’s rich in aroma and forceful enough to stand alongside the tastiest, juciest cuts.

The Brew:

Great Lakes Apocalypse Later Imperial Black IPA

This beer is big (10 per cent ABV), black and loaded with a wonderful array of aromas like coffee, chocolate, roasted malt, citrus and pine. And it finishes dry and bitter, not entirely unlike that wine you left in the cellar.

The Meal: Chicken Wings

If you haven’t tried wings on the barbecue, you need to. Now! Opt for the non-breaded style (we suggest buffalo or a dry rub) and head to the backyard.

The Brew:

State of Mind Session Ale

This hops-forward session IPA is the latest in Collective Arts Brewing core. It has notes of tropical fruit and orange with background hints of grapefruit and pine resulting in a light body and a big taste that are perfect for sweet and spicy flavours. So don’t be afraid to add a little extra spice to those wings.