Food and Craft Beer Pairings to Celebrate 4th of July

Jul 03, 2015Kyle Westfall

It’s almost time to fire up the grill, get the beer on ice, and bust out your best red, white, and blue! It’s the best party day of the summer and an excuse to enjoy good times spent with family and friends. Let’s also take a moment to pay tribute to some truly great American beers, some of which include the “founding fathers” of the craft beer revolution. Even better, pair them with classic 4th of July food favorites for a “well-balanced” meal.

 

Brats & Hot Dogs: This is where you should go with a lighter beer option so that the beer doesn’t overwhelm the flavors of brats and dogs. We suggest a wheat beer as the fruity and spicy flavors from the yeast complement the sweet and spicy flavors of grilled sausage, as well as your favorite toppings. Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen is a great American wheat beer offering a clean, sharp profile. Also try our Hefeweizen home brew, another great pairing option in this category.

 

Burgers: Pair this American classic with a beefier (yes, pun intended) brew with notes of caramel that tie nicely with a caramelized crust on the patty. Anchor Steam, one of the “founding fathers” of craft beer, is the perfect choice. Its complex brewing process gives way to a deep amber color, caramel flavors underneath and woody hops on top.   Also try one of our favorite American craft beer classics, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

 

Bar-b-que: If you’ve got BBQ on the menu, plan to go with a more complex brew as tangy sauce or spicy rubs need a flavorful beer to match. Pepe Nero, a black saison from Goose Island, is a great pairing for three reasons – smoke from its black malts, fruit from the saison yeast, and a spicy kick from its star ingredient, black pepper.



Another great option and perfect complement is Founders Centennial IPA, complete with a caramel and biscuit-like malt underneath with a foreground of citrusy hops.

 

Grilled Vegetables: Here’s one for the veggie lovers! Pair grilled vegetables with a smooth, light beer with citrus notes. We suggest another great beer on the short list of craft beer founding fathers, Americana by Prairie, a medium-bodied farmhouse ale golden in color with a little haze, big hops with a noticeable grapefruit aroma. Also try our O.G. Orange Golden home brew, light on hops and big on flavor, as another great pairing.

 

Apple Pie: It’s American as, well, apple pie and a course that also deserves a great beer pairing. Sweet apple pie pairs perfectly with a bitter stout, especially those with a coffee like roast and a hint of sweetness. Try Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout or our home brewed Chocolate Milk Stout.

Have a happy 4th of July everyone!

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