A long while back The Beer Store handed out these little paper wheels a bit bigger than a coaster. You could rotate the one side of the wheel to the type of beer you were going to be drinking and the wheel would reveal food suggestions that would pair with that beer. These wheels were designed by Roger Mittag.

Roger Mittag, The Professor of Beer, Guru of Brew* with an Insatiable Thirst for Knowledge does something interesting if you ever have the pleasure of attending one of his tastings. He does an excellent beer and cheese pairing. Don’t make a face until you’ve tried it – he lines up several beers and a few cheeses and you move from light to dark with the beer, tasting various cheeses along the way. If you’ve only ever really paired cheese trays with wine, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Beer and food pair very well. When most people pair specific snacks or meals with alcohol, most people think wine. Although wine and food do go well together, don’t discount beer as a valid option the next time you’re having dinner.

Much like wine, you can pair beer to complement or contrast the taste of your meal. Beer can also cover a much broader range of meals. Being a red wine fan, I save the bottle for another night when I’m thinking of a spicy dish. But a nice crisp lager to cut through the heat? Excellent idea!

*Gonna take full credit for “Guru of Brew”. Catchy. And yeah, go read Roger’s blog right now.