Let’s say you’re making a turkey sandwich. Or a salad, or chili. Or all three.
What are you drinking?
There are no wrong answers … but we’ve got two ideas.
You could go full-on beer-pairing pro and find beers to match each food’s flavor and intensity.
(If you want to give that a try, we’ve got recipes and recommendations below.)
But if you want one beer that’s a sure thing, go American light lager.
Photo courtesy of Elliott Muñoz
That’s right, Miller Lite and Coors Light are awesome with just about any food.
They have incredibly delicate flavors that don’t “stick” to your palate. (Miller Lite, for one, has 3,000 flavors.)
Here’s how brewmaster Dr. David Ryder explains the pairing power of American light lagers:
“Say you’re having french fries — you’ll want to be able to taste that potato flavor. That first french fry will taste like french fry, and if you wash the palate with Miller Lite or Coors Light, the taste buds will be rejuvenated so that the second french fry will have that potato flavor too.
“In other words, every french fry should taste like a french fry.”
Beer also has the advantage of carbonation (sorry not sorry, wine). Bubbles cut through oil and fatty food so you can really taste the flavor of what you’re eating.
“An American light lager will wash the palate, and you’ll get a much better appreciation of the food,” Dr. Ryder says.
And who doesn’t appreciate that?
Or pair like a pro
Here are recipes and beer-pairing recommendations for the dishes mentioned above. They're from Pints and Plates, our collection of expertly crafted recipes and tips from brewmasters and chefs: