Beer drinkers know that what you eat with your craft brew can greatly enhance the experience. Local Seattle breweries offer delicious options for smaller batch beers, such as a pale ale or IPA, that feature different flavor profiles. With these varying and distinct tastes, it can be overwhelming to decide what to snack on while enjoying a pint. When picking out what dish to pair with your beer, it is wise to consider the complementary flavors.
Pairing options will vary greatly depending on the amount of hops used and the bitterness of the beer. IPAs produce a characteristically strong, hoppy taste. Standard pales vary, but generally you can expect to taste a more muted degree of hoppiness on the palate. Depending on the hops used, the brew may tend more towards citric or fruity notes. We have gathered some suggested options for pairings to bring out the best in the flavors of these beers.
7 Best Foods To Pair With a Pale Ale From Local Seattle Breweries
1. Cheeseboard
Cheeses are an excellent choice for pale style beers as they can enhance the flavor while neutralizing any bitterness from the hops. For a pint that leans more towards fruity flavors, try a mild brie with crackers and a fig jam. An extremely hoppy IPA or double IPA would pair well with an aged cheddar that has a sharper and more distinct flavor. A lighter session IPA would go nicely with the slight tang of mozzarella cheese without overpowering it.
Cheeseboards are a flexible and fun way to try different flavor combinations with your beer. Play around with soft and hard style cheeses, honey, and fruit jam to find your flavor preferences. Try out different textures and styles of crackers or soft bread to see what combination you love. This is a perfect option to experience with friends and compare your favorite creations.
2. Pizza
You can never go wrong with pizza, but it makes for a particularly good pairing for pales and IPAs. The sweetness of tomato sauce and saltiness of cheese make a pizza a delicious option alongside your beer. Accentuate the slight bitterness of a lighter pale with a plain cheese or margherita pizza. A pale will act as a palate cleanser between bites and allow you to enjoy the saltiness of the cheese and dough.
For the more intense and hoppy flavor of an IPA, you have some tasty choices for pizza toppings. Spicy sausage or pepperoni will enhance the hoppy flavor for a mouthwatering experience. For a vegetarian option, try spicy jalapeños or banana peppers on your slice. The strong, but refreshing, IPA will give you a reset before the next bite.
3. Pretzels
Another salty option that pairs well with these styles of beers is a pretzel. Our favorite type is a fresh, soft pretzel straight from the oven and sprinkled with a salt topping. A pale will accentuate the saltiness without overpowering and quench your thirst from the doughy pretzel.
Add a dip, like a beer cheese sauce made with an aged cheddar or a stone ground mustard, to enhance the flavor even more. Try a spicy mustard to go along with a hoppier beer to really bring out the spice. If you just need a quick snack or don't have fresh pretzels on hand, hard pretzels are a good option in a pinch.
4. Roasted Duck or Quail
These roasted birds are known to have a higher fat content than your more common chicken or turkey, which will help to neutralize the bitterness of the hops. This makes duck or quail a good choice for a more elevated meal. Roast these birds with complementary spices and drizzle with a salty gravy to bring out the flavor profile.
For a more casual appetizer option, try duck wings. The greasier meat will cut through the bitter flavor profile of IPAs and go great alongside pretzels and dipping sauces. For stronger flavored beers like double and triple IPAs, add some spice to your wings with chili peppers, hot sauce, or red pepper flakes. Your taste buds will be in for a treat.
5. Mexican Food
With all kinds of tasty and flavorful spices, Mexican food pairs extremely well with pales and IPAs. Spices like cumin and hot jalapeño peppers are enhanced by the flavorful hops. Rich cheese, sour cream, and avocado are not overwhelming when paired with these beers, which shine through the flavor. Choose any variety of Mexican dishes and you'll find that any combination of flavors will work well as a pairing.
We recommend whipping up a simple chipotle cream sauce, made with greek yogurt and diced chipotle peppers, for a tangy and spicy addition to your meal. Depending on your preferences, you can try adding varying levels of spicy salsa to partner with the hoppier beers. For an intense double IPA, grill carne asada with a spicy pepper jack cheese to bring out the best in their spicy flavors.
6. Fish and Chips
This mild comfort food makes for a classic meal when paired with a pale. The lighter hops in a pale add a bit of a kick to the meal without overwhelming the flavor. Wash down some crispy fish and french fries with a crisp and refreshing English pale and you will feel like you are in the pub. We recommend beer-battered fish for the ultimate crispiness and flavor.
A squeeze of fresh lemon and a bit of salt will bring out the citrus flavors of this beer. This is another chance to use some stone ground mustard to enhance the flavor profile further. Go for a bold and spicy mustard for hoppier and bolder brews like double IPAs. Don't be afraid to add a bit of malt vinegar to your dish as well. These powerful beers won't be overpowered by the strong flavor.
7. Desserts
No pairing list would be complete without some of the sweet stuff to follow your meal. Luckily, a cold pale goes great with a few different desserts. Mild and sweet desserts go great with your classic pale, such as bananas Foster or a vanilla bread pudding. The muted bitterness of the beer won't be overpowered by an extremely sweet dessert as the flavors are comparable in boldness.
We recommend matching the sweetness of your dessert with the hoppiness of your beer. That means for stronger, bitter IPAs, you'll want to step up the sweetness with a rich dessert that features bold flavors or spices, such as cloves or nutmeg. For a double IPA, go all out with a very sweet dessert, like a pudding or crème brûlée. The intense flavor of these brews can match the sweetness of the desserts without overpowering.
Now you have some droolworthy options to go alongside your favorite pale or IPA, such as the Strata IPA from Lowercase Brewing. Stop by our taproom at Lowercase Brewing for a freshly poured pint and you can try out our menu of light pairing options. You can even bring home a 32 ounce crowler of your favorite ale to keep at home for your next homemade pairing. We've got the beer covered, now it's up to you to decide how you want to pair it!
Follow our Beer Blog for more posts like this!