Beer and Food Pairing: The Best Beers for Your Favorite Comfort Foods

Grilling season is great, but for comfort food lovers, the cooler months reign supreme. From roasted meats to mac and cheese, from hearty soups and stews to decadent desserts: there’s a beer pairing to make things even cozier.

Many beers are excellent for pairing with food. The carbonation and bitterness in some beers make them excellent palate cleaners, perfect for rich meals, while the malt character and delicate flavors in others can complement a wide variety of dishes. Choosing the correct pairing doesn’t need to be intimidating; a few quick pointers can take your meal from yum to YES.

How do you pair beer with food?

When it comes to pairings, there are three different approaches: complement similar flavors, create contrast, or match intensity.

Pair similar flavors to complement the food.

Complementing similar flavors pairs like with like. For instance, a bright citrus salad pairs beautifully with Hazy Little Thing IPA thanks to its big juicy-citrus hop notes in the beer. Likewise, the light and refreshing tangerine notes in PILS make it a perfect match for delicate fish, lemony pasta, or mussels with saffron.

For complementing comfort foods, try pairing pot roast or braised meat with a bigger beer like Bigfoot Barleywine, a malt-forward beer like Oktoberfest, or a dark beer like Narwhal Imperial Stout. Better yet, add a cup of Sierra Nevada Porter or Stout to the cooking liquid for an umami-worthy flavor boost to your meal.

Create contrasting flavors.

Creating contrast can provide balance to food. Our same PILS also pairs beautifully with chicken and waffles, as the refreshing lager balances the heaviness of the meal.

Likewise, hop-forward beers can act as a palate cleanser, especially with richer dishes. That holiday plate filled with roasted turkey, creamy potatoes, and a lake of gravy? Try our classic and festive Celebration IPA. Celebration features the first hops of the harvest season, giving it a bold and fresh pine and citrus flavor that cuts through even grandma’s turkey gravy. (Sorry, Nana.)

Match the beer’s intensity to the food.

Like complementing flavors, you can also choose complementing intensities. For instance, the citrus blossom notes in PILS may not show up in pho or chicken soup, but the delicate flavor and gentle acidity make it a great match. Torpedo Extra IPA isn’t spicy, but its bold and extreme flavor pairs nicely with fiery steak tacos and jalapeño peppers.

What craft beer pairs best with comfort food?

Have a certain dish in mind? Here’s your practical guide to pairing beer with comfort food all season long.

What beer goes best with mac and cheese?

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or PILS. The rich, creamy sauce in mac and cheese calls for a beer that will balance. The moderate bitterness in Pale Ale cuts through the richness of the dish, while its subtle malt character complements the baked cheese and toasted breadcrumbs. PILS provides a refreshing drinking experience that cleanses the palate and lets the mac and cheese do the talking.

What beer pairs with roasted chicken or turkey?

Celebration Fresh Hop IPA. We touched on this above, but the fresh hop bitterness in Celebration makes it a Thanksgiving miracle. Stuffing? Cranberry sauce? Roasted veggies and rolls? Bring ’em on. We don’t call it Celebration for nothing. You can even wow the crowd with our Celebration Stuffed Turkey Breast recipe. Though when the pumpkin pie comes out, we suggest switching to one of our barrel-aged offerings.

What beer goes with burgers and fried food?

Torpedo Extra IPA. Fried foods need a beer that can keep the greasiness in check, and that beer is Torpedo. Its assertive hop bitterness stands up to beef and bacon, melted cheese, smoky sauces, and that whole basket of steak fries. Want proof? Try this recipe for Bison Sloppy Joes with Torpedo Cheese.

What beer pairs with chili and spicy comfort foods?

Hazy Little Thing IPA. It’s the best-selling Hazy IPA for a reason. Known for its approachable juicy-citrus flavor and smooth haze, Hazy tempers spicy foods, washing down heat like a dream. Further, its fruit-forward flavor and smooth drinking experience won’t overwhelm the food like a bitter beer might. (Bitter or high-alcohol beers can actually make heat feel more intense.) Instead, Hazy softens the heat to let more delicate flavors shine. It says: “Nobody puts curry in a corner.”

What pairs with beef stew and braised meat?

Bigfoot Barleywine-Style Ale. This beast of a beer is meant for the hibernation months and for good reason: when served alongside beef stew, short ribs, braised meat, or slow-cooked meals, you’ve got a meal fit for the king of the forest. Bigfoot’s massive malt bill makes it right at home with caramelized onions, concentrated meat flavors, roasted vegetables, and is anyone else getting hungry?

What beer pairs with chocolate and rich desserts?

Keep that bottle of Bigfoot close because it pairs equally well when the sweets come out. Bigfoot’s dried fruit and malt flavors make it a great match for dark chocolate, nuts, and caramel. Explore our range of limited release offerings for even more dessert pairings like Barrel-Aged Narwhal Imperial Stout, the best friend of brownies.

What non-alcoholic beer pairs with comfort foods?

Looking for something non-alc? Fortunately, the same rules apply, and with a wide range of non-alcoholic options, you’ve got a brew for every pairing.

Trail Pass IPA’s pine and citrus flavors make it a match for burgers and pizza, while the rich malt flavors in Golden pair with mac and cheese, chicken, and creamy pasta. The refreshing lime and sea salt in Brewveza make it a match for fish tacos, while the citrusy flavors in Juicy complement barbecue or spicy foods.

How to pair beer with food.

Let’s recap what we’ve learned: beer pairs with food by either complementing the flavor, contrasting the dish, or matching the intensity. Non-alcoholic options work the same way and there are plenty of brews from which to choose. As the nights grow long and the comfort food dishes come out, we’ve got one thing to say: pass the beer.

Here’s an easy guide to pairing beer with your favorite comfort foods:

Comfort Food Beer Recipes

Looking for some recipes to kick off the comfort food season? Head to our blog for classic comfort food recipes like Pale Ale Beer Cheese, Celebration Braised Steak with Mashed Potatoes and Sauteed Spinach, Hazy Pork Belly Burnt Ends, and Barrel-aged Narwhal Flourless Cakes. Are you drooling yet?