If you're like many people, you may assume that the only proper pairing for a finely crafted seafood dinner is white wine. Although it's true that white wine is the safe way to go with almost all types of seafood, it's far from the only choice. Perhaps wine just doesn't please your palette, or maybe you're simply tired of the same old combinations. Either way, you'll be glad to know that craft beer can easily take the place of wine on the table when a change of pace is in order. Craft beer comes in so many styles that it's not difficult at all to find one that complements your favorite seafood dinner. The following are just a few pairing suggestions designed to provide you with inspiration for enjoying seafood with a side of craft beer.
Wheat Beer and Halibut
Wheat beer is traditionally light, soft, and almost creamy, making it an ideal pairing option for pan-seared halibut. To pull it all together, drizzle the halibut with a lemon/dill sauce just prior to serving and add a lemon wedge to an ice-cold glass of wheat beer.
Pilsner and Crab Cakes
Pilsner is a very light beer that's long been a classic in German beer tradition, and crab cakes are an iconic staple of the New England culinary scene. Crab cakes are usually paired with a cool, crisp chardonnay, pinot gris, or other white wines with a light texture. Try serving a cold fruit salad on the side to further complement the fruity flavor of the beer.
Amber Ale and Baked Salmon
As one of the few seafood favorites that don't necessarily go best with white wine, salmon can also be enjoyed with light to medium-bodied red wine, which means it also pairs well with medium-bodied craft beers such as amber ale. This is because salmon's flavor profile is strong enough so that it won't be overshadowed by a beverage with a robust taste.
Pale Ale and Sauteed Shrimp
Shrimp is another seafood staple automatically associated with white wine, but it pairs just as well with pale ale. Adding a bit of pale ale to the sautee pan helps connect the flavor of the finished product to the taste of the beer. Keep in mind that you can use craft beer in cooking in the same manner as you would wine.
Lager and Fish and Chips
Most fish and chips are made using cod, but some restaurants use halibut. Either way, an ice-cold glass of lager has a light, uncomplicated flavor profile that goes perfectly with a hot plate of fish and chips that's fresh from the deep fryer.
Hi there, my name is Frank Deleon. Welcome to my website about brewing your favorite alcoholic beverages for the holidays. When I started brewing my own alcoholic concoctions, I was surprised at the immense amount of fun I had completing each phase of the process. I was driven to improve the process considerably by making changes along the way. I responded to challenges with proven fixes to improve the brews in time to share them during the holidays. I would like to use this site to inspire others to master the process of brewing their favorite alcoholic concoctions. Thanks for coming by.