The principles behind successful food and craft beer pairings are not too far removed from those of wine. Our beer pairing guide includes: a definition of craft beer, an outline of essential terminology, a breakdown of the most popular beer types and advice on food pairing.
New to craft beer? Scroll down to the infographic below for an essential cheat-sheet to learn more about how to successfully pair food with craft beer. If you visit Ireland, you will soon notice the abundance of delicious craft brews. With a wide range of styles and flavours to choose from, Irish craft beer has something for everyone.
What Is A Craft Beer?
According to the Brewer’s Association of America, a brewery must meet three criteria in order to qualify as “craft” producers. Firstly, they must make less than six million barrels of beer a year. They must be independent, i.e. no more than 25% of the brewery can be controlled by a larger company. Finally, the majority of the beer itself should be made through traditional brewing methods.
Pairing Food & Beer
If you get it right, a good beer can bring out the best in any dish. Fortunately, there are a number of tried and tested guidelines you can refer to while navigating the complex world of beer and food. The principles behind successful food and craft beer pairings are not too far removed from those of wine pairing. It all basically boils down to the three C’s
- Cut: This refers to when the refreshing acidity of the beer cuts through strong or overpowering flavours.
- Complement: A good starting point, complementing your beer means matching it with foods that share similar flavours.
- Contrast: This means pairing opposing flavours in such a way as to enhance the unique taste of both the beer and the food.
Learn More About Craft Beer
If you are a newcomer to craft beer you might enjoy this comprehensive pairing guide from Lakeshore Convention Centre which includes a definition of craft beer, an outline of essential terminology, a breakdown of the most popular beer types and advice on food pairing.
Our next blog will feature the Top 10 Irish Craft Beers….
Credit: Lakeshorecc