Beer and BBQ

Summer days call for backyard barbeques, and spending time with friends and family over some beers.
Have you ever had the same meal with a different beer and noticed how different it was? The great thing about barbeque and beer is that they already complement one another with similar flavor profiles. Whether you’re in the mood for some chicken, burgers, or grilled vegetables, there’s a beer that pairs with each brilliantly.

Wings – American Pale Ales, IPAs

Few things go better together than beer and wings, although pairings with chicken can sometimes be a unique challenge. As chicken has a milder flavor than other meats on your cookout menu, beer pairings work best when you play off the other ingredients.
If you’re going for wings, you could pair with an IPA or an American Pale Ale – something with a light malt body, and resiny hops where the mild buffalo sauce will amplify the hop bitterness.
DogTap’s buffalo wings pair well with something like Punk IPA, where those big west coast citrus and tropical fruit flavors work in harmony with the subtle buffalo kick.

Burgers – Black IPAs, Porters, APAs, Red Ales

Many people grab a pale ale of some sort to cut through the rich, saltiness with a bitter hop when eating a burger, which makes sense as you want those sticky caramel malts and resinous elements to cut through the fat. Another option to push the palate to the brink could be a smoked porter. The smoky flavors, as well as the chocolate and sweet malts in the porter (or even a black IPA) will complement the smokiness in the meat, and highlight sweet caramelized flavors from the grilling process.

Veggies – Pilsners, APAs, Saisons

Grilled vegetables can be quite a delicate dish as they don’t have fats or a richness to them, so you’ll generally want to lean toward something that won’t over power them, with a low ABV and not overly bitter. Pilsners are great for bringing out floral, glassy notes, while Saisons can be peppery and bright with citrusy aromatics. These styles and flavors tend to do well with your standard grill fare such as corn, zucchini, and peppers.

Want to make your own BrewDog BBQ sauce?
Our house-made barbecue sauce is made with Jet Black Heart and imparts a well-balanced sweetness and caramel.

Yield: 1 gallon
2 large white onions
2 TBS smoked paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1 TBS dark chili powder
1 TBS black pepper
1 gal ketchup
1 qt Jet Black Heart
1 qt beef rib drippings.
Salt and pepper to taste.

What’s your standard beer and barbecue pairing?