Craft beer and spicy cuisine: a perfect pairing
If it is true that we are used to hear about matching food and wine, it is equally true that beer, when associated with certain flavors, in an unexpected way, can enrich the flavor of many dishes. Which is the best matching that highlights the five senses?
Although there are no tough and fixed rules for beer and food pairing, there are some guidelines that can help you to evaluate a particularly appropriate approach: generally speaking, assonance is the best matching of beer and food.
Light beers such as the Pilsner one and other Lager varieties, for example, are perfect with bread, raw fish, fresh cheeses and desserts; on the contrary, the special caramel or roasted malts of some craft beers go perfectly with white meats and medium-aged cheeses.
In addition there are the flavors of different kind of aged cheeses like pecorino that match very well with the different varieties of Ale or Stout or even the blue-veined cheeses such as the spicy gorgonzola cheese or grilled red meats that are enhanced by the pairing of a beer with a strong character like the abbey beers, more alcoholic and structured.
The more followed trend seems to be the pairing per assonance, but even this is not always true.
In pairing beer-food, more and more often people speak of contrasts.
Which is the most refined pairing?
For the moment, the matching of sweet-spicy flavors seems to win over everyone.
Examples of this are the many pairings of the typical spicy Mexican or Indian dishes and the classic Lagers, where the main aromatic note is the sweetness of hops (Light Lager for example).
In fact, the fresh and light beers, with low alcohol, are able to quench the burning sensation of the pepper, the paprika or other spices such as curry and, at the same time, they can enhance the hidden flavors of the dish that you are tasting.
The result is a truly amazing taste experience.
Experimenting with new flavors, however, is not limited to match beer and spicy food. Someone went far beyond that.
Some brewers have come to even produce varieties of beer with chilli: the Chili Beer Arizona or the Italian Verdi Imperial Stout, for example, perfect in pairing with a good chocolate.
The recipe of the chilli beers is a secret and the lovers of craft beer, driven by the desire to explore new flavors, can not help but experience…Until reaching the perfect combination of taste.
Do you have the wish to experience (and taste) original pairings between beer and tasty food? You’ll be glad to know that, throughout Italy, many microbreweries and brewpubs organize events and tastings.
For example, if you live in Milan or in the surrounding areas, we can advise the Lambrate Brewery, landmark for lovers of excellent craft beer: they are also very good in organizing numerous events based on music, culture and….Great food.
Visit the website of Lambrate Brewery and do not miss the next culinary events.