The Perfect Pairing: Craft Beer and Food Combinations
Pairing your beer and dinner of choice is usually a task left up to the waiter when you’re going out to eat, as they’re clued up with the best flavour combinations that make for the perfect dining experience. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that you can only achieve an experience like this when out at the restaurant.
We’ve put together a quick and simple overview, to guide you in pairing our craft beer selections with some of your food favourites.
With summer in full swing, the recipe for the perfect BBQ is almost complete. All you need now is to pick the food and drink for the occasion – but don’t worry, we’ve got that covered.
What is Craft Beer?
If you’re new to craft beer, prepare for the obsession to begin. Simply, craft beer is a variety of specially curated, individually brewed beer, made independently with the finest, high-quality ingredients. At Ramsbury Brewery we brew our beers from our world-class barley grown in the fields of our 19,000 estate.
Once tried and tested, craft beer lovers are hooked. And it’s not hard to see why. With the range of beer varieties available, from fruit and citrus-tones to fragrant IPA’s, there is a craft beer out there for all tastes. But where do you start?
Since 2004, we have grown fresh produce that creates products that win international awards, and as a result, we know a thing or two about good beer pairings.
What Craft Beer Should I Try?
Well, the answer to this question is entirely up to you. Whether you’re a meat lover, fish enthusiast or strict vegetarian, we can guide you in the right direction. From pies and fish and chips to chocolate desserts – you name it, we can pair a craft beer with it.
Pale Ale
Here at Ramsbury, our pale ale selection includes the sweet Honey Bee Nectar, a 4.1% golden ale and the classic Ramsbury RPA that features a light, hoppy aroma. Similar, but deliciously different, our pale ales are brewed from plough to pint on the estate by our expert brewers, to ensure every pint is perfect.
We love pairing our pale ales with food due to the versatility these ales present. When pairing foods, it’s important to strike the right balance between beer and food flavours, to ensure that one doesn’t out-do the other. With that in mind, if you’re looking to pair these specially selected craft beers, try a pint with one of the below (and let us know what you think).
- Pizza
Whatever your pizza toppings of choice, the pale ale is a great pairing. If you’ve opted for the ever-controversial ham and pineapple combo, the light, golden RPA would pair perfectly with the citrus pineapple. On the other hand, if you’re more of a classic pepperoni fan, the honey-sweet taste of the Honey Bee Nectar pale ale brings a distinct contrast between the spice of the pepperoni sausage and the sugary goodness of Ramsbury’s own honey.
- Beef Burgers
It can be hard to compete with the beef burger. Full of flavour, a classic pub-choice and full of toppings, there is a lot to consider. A pale ale matches this beast, due to the perfect combination of flavourings. Not only this, but the crisp pale ale provides a welcome refreshment and satisfying pairing. Give it a go!
Indian Pale Ales (IPA)
An Indian Pale Ale is a Ramsbury favourite. We brew the delicious, hoppy Belapur IPA with infused citrus fruits to create this IPA masterpiece.
Arguably, some of the best foods to pair craft beer with are meats. The rich, smokey flavour of a BBQ can only be topped off with an IPA or a stout, or pair this fruity favourite with a medium steak. Bliss.
Lager
Another easy pairing. A nice pint of lager on a sunny day is never a bad idea, so why not make it even better, and pair it with some delicious seafood? Our craft Red Ram lager is a 4.5% malt and hop combination, bringing crisp flavours to create that perfect refreshing taste.
Best served chilled, our Red Ram is the perfect accompaniment to seafood due to it’s light finish. Why not try it with a seafood linguine or some shellfish? If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, we also love Red Ram with some sushi.
Bitter
Bitter’s are probably the hardest to pair with food due to their overpowering (well, bitter) taste. Our Deerstalker Amber Bitter makes a great pairing with a classic roast chicken dinner, or pork, if you prefer.
Ramsbury Gold
Now, it wouldn’t be a craft beer pairing blog without mentioning our classic Ramsbury Gold and Fish & Chips pairing. Quite a few local pubs have even made their batter using this gold ale, and it’s a real hit. Bliss.
Light Bites
If you’re hosting a get together and want to serve some refreshments – why not opt for a craft beer and some nuts, or salty crisps? Opt for a sweet beer such as the Honey Bee Nectar for a contrast in tastes, balancing out the salty, acidic flavours of the snacks.
If those don’t take your fancy, who doesn’t love a good cheese board? Grab some brie, or even a classic cheddar, pour yourself a class of pale ale and you’ve got yourself the perfect post-dinner combination.
