The festive season is all about delicious food and drink, and wine and food pairings often take center stage at holiday celebrations. But what if we told you that beer can be just as versatile and rewarding when it comes to matching with your favourite dishes?
This year, we鈥檙e celebrating the incredible variety of beer styles and their ability to enhance the flavours of seasonal dishes. With the help of our beer experts, we鈥檝e put together some inspiring pairings that will bring out the best in your festive menu. Whether you鈥檙e a seasoned beer enthusiast or just curious to try something new, these suggestions are here to encourage you to sip outside the box. Cheers!
Our Level 1 Award in Beer is perfect for beginners looking to explore the world of beer. With guided tastings and interactive activities, you鈥檒l learn how to pair beer with food, discover key beer styles, and taste like a pro using 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Systematic Approach to Tasting. Looking for a unique gift this festive season? Treat the beer lover in your life to a course 迟丑补迟鈥檚 as fun as it is educational.
Learn more about the 黑料吃瓜网 Level 1 Award in Beer 鉃�听
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Stuffing Sandwich & English Bitter
Sara Hobday, Head of Research and Curriculum for Beer
There鈥檚 nothing quite like a sandwich with plenty of leftover sage and onion stuffing washed down with some English bitter. The gentle herbal notes from British hops compliment the sage, and there鈥檚 enough toasty maltiness to harmonise with the bread. Adding leftover roast turkey is optional but will also work well.
Nut Roast & Munich Dunkel听
Sara Hobday, Head of Research and Curriculum for Beer听
A nut roast deserves a beer 迟丑补迟鈥檚 just as rich and satisfying. A Munich dunkel, with its roasted malt and nutty undertones, creates a wonderful harmony with this vegetarian favourite. Its carbonation also refreshes the palate, making every bite feel like the first.
Turkey or Goose & Belgian Triple听
Malcolm Venter, Educator Development and Delivery Manager for Beer, Spirits, and Sake听
If you鈥檙e going the traditional route on Christmas day with turkey or goose, try pairing the main dish with a Belgian Triple. The fruity notes from the yeast go brilliantly with the accompanying cranberry sauce, while the clove note in the Triple adds a bit of Christmas spice to everything.
罢辞耻谤迟颈猫谤别 & Amber 叠颈猫谤别 de Garde听
Mirella Amato, Senior Business Development Manager for Beer听
My favourite French-Canadian festive meal at this time of year is tourti猫re at midnight. This is a meat pie that, in my family, is served with a homemade ketchup. This dish requires a beer with deeper, toasted malt flavours, to bridge with the meat, as well as a little sweetness in order to stand up to the ketchup. As it is a meal that is consumed in the middle of a cold winter night, a warming character from alcohol is generally welcome. The ideal beer for this dish would be an amber 叠颈猫谤别 de grade, but these can be hard to come by. A solid backup option would be a Dunkles Bock.
Chocolate &听Stout听
Natalya Watson, Business Development Manager for Beer听
I鈥檓 a big fan of beer and chocolate pairings. While milk and dark chocolate can be great matches for stouts and porters because of their similar aromas, it never hurts to experiment. An unexpected success? Duvel Tripel Hop Citra with Caf茅 Tasse lemon white chocolate. Both share complementary citrus aromas, while the beer鈥檚 carbonation and bitterness cut through the chocolate鈥檚 creamy sweetness.
Blue Cheese & Porter听
Sara Hobday, Head of Research and Curriculum for Beer听
I remember when the blue cheese and porter pairing was first introduced to me, and I鈥檝e been a fan ever since. From Gorgonzola to Stilton, I love trying different blue cheeses with porter. The dried fruit and chocolate notes, and hint of sweetness from malt work beautifully with the saltiness of the cheese and bring enough intensity to match its flavour. This year I have my eye on a Baltic porter and Stichelton combination.
Roast Lamb or Beef &听Rauchbier M盲rzen听
Malcolm Venter, Educator Development and Delivery Manager for Beer, Spirits, and Sake听
A smoky, malty Rauchbier M盲rzen pairs perfectly with roasted lamb or beef. The beer鈥檚 rich smokiness complements the roast鈥檚 flavours for a bold and hearty pairing.
Christmas Pudding & English Barleywine听
Malcolm Venter, Educator Development and Delivery Manager 鈥� Beer, Spirits, and Sake听
The warming alcohol from the Barleywine together with the rich aromas of dried fruit and the hint of sweetness from the Christmas pudding make for an indulgent end to a festive meal.
