Hey guys, I'd like to make a shrimp boil someday (something like this: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/shrimp-boil) and of course want to add beer to it. I tried googling suggestions of beer to use for it, and no one really had any specific ones or even styles to try...as though all beer is the same! I normally use Yuengling in things like stew or chili, but I worry it would be too overwhelmingly sweet if I boiled food in it. Any ideas of what would work well?
I've done it a bunch with New Belgium 1554 and it is good. It's also good with pale lagers, though. Shrimp are a light enough flavor that a malty beer can give it a little oomph in the flavor department I think. FYI, I just realized I was thinking of boiled shrimp and not a shrimp boil, but I doubt it makes much of a difference
Zatarans!? well I know... it's more crawfish... Mild malt seems legit, or lighter lager to kolsch, the ingredients have much pep and heat in there, stick to more attack on the sweet and simple and let the spices accent. If you are really crazy try a smoked lager but watch out for hot phenols
When i've had crawfish boils its usually Dixie or a peppery saison to wash it all down. Not sure about using it in the boil though, honestly with everything else that goes in i wouldn't worry about the sweetness too much. Most recipes are probably assuming youre going to use BMC
Ive done crab boils where i used Genny Cream Ale (sweet boil) Flying Dog makes an old bay ale which i plan on using soon, normally id use a saison. Anything i have on hand.
Stouts may work, but my old standby is usually bud lite or Michelob...since it is going in food and not being drunk..
I like my shrimp on the spicier side, so I usually drink a Saison, wheat, pale ale or cheap macro with it. As for what to use in the recipe, I'd go with a cheap lager. There should be lots of flavors from spices that it shouldn't be the main part of the recipe.
If you're steaming your shrimp, I'd use any Lager that you like to drink as your liquid. It doesn't take much. For a shrimp boil, the flavor comes from the main ingredients and the spices. Any beer added would be disguised. Enjoy a couple of DIPA's with your meal. Boomer Sooner!!
