Controversial Beer Opinions Thread

"Pairing" beer with food is a sham- good beer dampens the flavors of good food and good food muddles the flavors of a good beer.

 

Damn that’s a hot take lol, I personally just really enjoy discovering what food and beer flavors work together aside from the obvious ones

 

We had an eye opening experience some years ago when we started our Mild in May campaign on the same day as the pub had a curry evening.
We just couldn't believe how much the beer and food enhanced each other.

 

Ive heard this before but never understood it. What makes beer different than wine or any other beverage as far as suitability for food? Or do you only drink water when you eat? Personally I like drinking beer both before, during, and after meal, and I find that it pairs just fine.

 

I do have other things than water, it actually depends on where I am. I like a beer or two at the more casual places, and an Old Fashioned or rarely wine at the nicer places. They all affect the true flavors of the food, not in a bad way, just makes them different. I think that foods have so many flavors going on and then drinking a beer with many more flavors kind of overwhelms my taste buds, I guess.

 

Maybe you're just pairing the wrong beers with the wrong foods, then. The point of pairing is to be selective.

 

But I don't pair, because flavorful food distorts the flavor profile of a flavorful beer to me. I taste more alcohol and less of the original flavor compounds when I drink beer after a bite of food. Although a cold AAL with a Big Red Smokey on a hot summer day at the ballpark will put a smile on my face!

 

Mine too!

Maybe next time just take it up a notch and get a Pils, but even with an AAL there's still something complementary going on with that sort of combo.

My initial thought is that many beer (or wine) choices will definitely back one into a corner when it comes to accompanying food, and then if you then order the wrong dish it'll all get overwhelming, or clash and go kablooey. So if that's what's happening, then I can see not being in love with the concept. But there are also more all purpose food-friendly styles out there, if you're willing to go that route. If not, no biggie, do your thing; but I'm just trying to make the case that there's more to it in general, and not really a sham.

 

Actually when I'm at the ballpark, I drink more flavorful styles like blondes and IPA's because there are a lot of good offerings (mostly local) these days. But if I were consciously "pairing" a beer with my Big Red Smokey with mustard and onions, it would be an AAL because that style (and light AAL's even more) have the most neutral flavors (read: water) and would not take away from the zestiness of my toppinged frankfurter.

 

We had been trying IPA with curry because of thr India connection, but this is not a good match.But a good mild (and there were several to choose from) simply enhanced the food.And happily the milds tasted better too.
Many accompaniments enhance food,that is why we have condiments and sauces.

 

Then perhaps try a mildly spicy Lager or Belgian Blonde, something with a slightly spicy yeast, to go with that dog. Hell, look at the Germans, they pair quarts of earthy Lagers with their sauerkraut and mustard covered sausages.

 

Only Lager can kill a Vindaloo.

 

In my experience, not even. That's what the yogurt is for.

 

That was a great Red Dwarf reference.

 

D'oh! No idea. Thanks.