We love flavorful food and a well-crafted beer—and when the two come together just right, it’s something special. Whether you’re cooking at home or ordering out, the right beer pairing can bring out the best in a dish, adding richness, balance, or a refreshing contrast.
To help us put together some solid pairings, we turned to Bottleneck Management’s Beverage Manager, Doug Wise. With a sharp palate and a real passion for beer, Doug shared a few of his favorite combos. Here’s what he recommends…
Burger & Beer Pairing
City Works and Old Town Pour House
Cheddar Burger: Aged white cheddar, shredded iceberg, vine ripened tomato, red onion, dill pickle
Beer: Goose Island Bottlenectar pale ale, 5.5%
“A burger and a pale ale are a classic pairing. The intensity of rich meat and cheese will match with that of Bottlenectar’s citrus hop flavor, and the bitterness of the beer will cut through the fat of the burger to create a satisfying harmony.”
Tacos & Beer Pairing
City Works and Old Town Pour House
Fish Tacos: Cornmeal beer-battered mahi-mahi, chipotle coleslaw, pico de gallo, cilantro lime cream, micro cilantro, flour tortillas
Beer: Stone Buenaveza
“For fish tacos, I’m looking for a beer that is crisp and refreshing. Stone Buenaveza is a lager brewed with sea salt and lime. Some may squeeze a lime wedge over their tacos, but do yourself a flavor favor and take a sip of Buenaveza with each bite instead.”
Pasta & Beer Pairing
City Works and Old Town Pour House
Cajun Linguine: Blackened chicken, andouille sausage, bell peppers, red onion, green onion, sriracha cream, linguine
Beer: Bell’s Amber
“Bell’s Amber features roasted, malty sweetness, which plays great with meats and peppers, and a subtle citrus character from it’s hops will draw out a little extra intensity from the sriracha cream that we use in our Cajun Linguine.”
Bowl & Beer Pairing
City Works and Old Town Pour House
Tuna Poke Bowl: Sesame ginger-marinated poke-style ahi tuna, jasmine rice, edamame, marinated beech mushrooms, pickled red onion, cucumbers, daikon radish, jalapenos, green onion, chili aioli, jalapeno soy
Beer: Allagash White
“Allagash White, with it’s spice blend of coriander and Curacao orange peel, would be a perfect pairing for the bright flavors of the Tuna Poke Bowl.”
Chicken Wings & Beer Pairing
City Works and Old Town Pour House
Smoked Chicken Wings: Grilled chili-rubbed wings, bbq sauce, carolina mustard bbq sauce
Beer: Revolution Anti-Hero
“When pairing food with beer, you want to try and match the strength of flavor. That’s a big task for wings, which is why I would go with a hoppy IPA like Anti-Hero. The hops here aren’t just bitter, they provide notes of lemon, orange, and grapefruit, which will add some zip to the smoke and sauce on the wings.”
Dessert & Beer Pairing
City Works and Old Town Pour House
Peanut Butter Snickers Pie: Oreo cookie crust, peanut butter mousse, snickers, whipped cream, caramel, chocolate sauce
Beer: Founders Rubaeus or New Holland Dragon’s Milk
“Sometimes the obvious pairing is the right pairing! Combine our Peanut Butter Snickers Pie with a Founders Rubaeus, a raspberry wheat ale, to give yourself a chocolatey pb&j. Or double down on the chocolate with New Holland Dragon’s Milk, a rich, barrel-aged imperial stout.”