How To Pair Beer With Food

For chicken and turkey, the experts recommend Kolsch, a light, crisp, and smooth specialty beer made in Cologne, Germany.

The lightness of grilled fish calls for a pairing with a delicate Belgian wheat beer, like a Hefeweizen, which has a hint of orange peel and coriander.

Ordering a lobster? Forget the fancy wine; this succulent shellfish will be delectable with either a stout or a Bohemian pilsner.

A dish with intense flavor, like Shepherd’s Pie or a hearty stew, calls for a brew with equally rich notes—in this case the chocolate and raisin tones of a Baltic porter beer.

Having a hamburger? Think Hamburg—Germany! Teutonic brews like a Kolsch, a Rauchbier (or “Smoke beer”), or a Düsseldorf Altbier are the gourmand’s choices for this humble repast.

There are dessert wines; why not dessert beers? Chocolate treats pair well with an Imperial Stout, while fruity desserts like pies and tarts go nicely with a Belgian Tripel. Bottoms up!