6 Beer and Seafood Pairings You'll Love

Posted on: 30 September 2019

If you're like most people who enjoy visiting coastal communities, waterfront dining is probably one of your favorite aspects of vacationing near a beach — especially when fresh, local seafood is a part of the picture. You probably already know that successfully pairing seafood and wine involves selecting mostly white wines to go with seafood's lighter flavor profile while venturing into light red wine territory with fish that has a more robust taste such as salmon and tuna.

However, if you're one of those who would prefer to drink beer with your dinner, beer and seafood pairings aren't nearly as widely known, and even restaurant staff may not be up on pairing certain types of food with appropriate beers. The following is a cheat sheet designed to provide you with inspiration when the mood calls for a nice cold glass of beer while dining at your favorite waterfront restaurant. 

Amber and Salmon 

As mentioned previously, salmon is fairly strongly flavored for seafood and can, therefore, work well with a more full-bodied taste. Amber is an excellent choice for enjoying a salmon dinner because it has a slightly bitter bite that offers a pleasing contrast with salmon's faint sweetness. 

Wheat Beer and Sushi

Wheat beer is light and almost frothy, making it ideal for pairing with sushi. Because wheat beer has virtually no bitterness, it won't clash with sushi's trademark clean flavor profile. Choose an unfiltered wheat beer if you want a pleasant aftertaste of cloves with your sushi. 

Pilsner and Halibut 

Halibut is a big fish with a delicate flavor profile, so don't overpower it by pairing it with a beer with a big taste — a cold glass of Pilsner is perfect when dining on a well-prepared halibut dinner. 

Kolsch and Crab 

Kolsch has the effervescence necessary to complement crab's salty-but-sweet, fresh-from-the-sea taste — and its bubbles also bring a slightly celebratory note to the table that's worthy of a good crab dinner. 

Farmhouse Ale and Sea Bass

Farmhouse ales feature a middle-of-the-road taste on the slightly tart side that pairs seamlessly with broiled, baked, or pan-fried sea bass. 

IPA and Fish and Chips

Fish and chips are usually made from cod, and the best beer to pair with this dish is a cold, crisp IPA. The bitter bite of the beer helps balance the flavors of the fried crust, and the moderate hoppy accents and malt notes help balance the dish by complementing the vinegar malt dipping sauce.

Come to a restaurant like Lona Cocina Tequileria for waterfront dining.

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