Top 5 Best Snacks That Perfectly Complement Your Beer at Bars
What’s better than quenching your thirst with your favorite beer? The quick reply would be having a snack with your beer. It may be that you’re not ready for a full meal or that you have the munchies, having a snack with your beer is a great way to pass time and of course take your drinking experience to the next level. However, that is only if you pair the right snack with your beer. Below, we take a look at some popular snacks for beer and how best to pair them.
Why Finding the Perfect Complement is Important
Beer and snacks are the best companions. You don’t get too full when having a snack with your beer. A snack will keep your jaw busy and your palette happy while chugging down your favorite beer. So why can’t you have just any snack? Why do you have to be conscious about the best snacks for beer?
There are many benefits of taking the time to consider what snack you pair with your beer.
1. Enhanced flavor
As with other foods, snacks can either complement or contrast with the flavor of the beer of your choice. Choosing the right snack to pair with your beer will help to enhance the taste of both. For example, if your choice of beer is dark and rich, a sweet snack would contrast the flavor of your beer. While a salty or savory snack would balance out the bitterness of a hoppy beer.
2. Increased Variety
Nuts are a popular snack to pair with beer. However, they’re not the only ones. There are a wide variety of snacks that you can pair with beer. In fact, with the wide variety of snacks for beer comes a wide range of flavors. This means that you can create diverse experiences. You can experiment with various combinations to find what you like best.
Best Snacks to Pair with Beer
There are a wide range of snacks you can pair with your beer. Below, we share what we believe are the best snack foods with beer pairings.
1. Pretzels
Pretzels have for centuries been associated with beer culture. Pretzels have been a popular accompaniment for beer in Germany and Italy where they originated. They were later introduced to the US by German and Italian immigrants. Beer lovers have been chugging down brews while munching on pretzels for more than 500 years.
Pretzels are a great companion for beer because of their dry and crusty texture. A bite of a pretzel will leave you thirsty and your beer is on hand to quench your thirst. It’s no wonder this snack is prominent during beer festivals such as the Oktoberfest.
Soft pretzels are a great companion for lagers that are crisp and refreshing. The savory flavor is also great for balancing the tartness of a sour beer. Sweet pretzels pair well with amber ales.
2. Salted roasted nuts
A list of snack and beer pairings wouldn’t be complete without salted roasted nuts. These snacks are a common feature in bars all over the world. Any roasted and salted nuts including cashews, peanuts, and almonds are great for pairing with beers.
These salty snacks are not only great because they make you thirsty but also because they help to moderate the bitterness of beers. Because of this, salted nuts are a great companion for double IPAs. They will cut through the bitterness of your double IPA and make it more palatable. They are also a great choice for lagers which are refreshing.
3. French fries
French fries are a great snack to have with your beer. The salty and starchy snack will leave you thirsting for more beer. A small side of fries won’t feel you up either. You can add a bucket of chicken if you really want to fill it up.
Plain fries are great when paired with pale lagers. The flavor of the fries isn’t too overpowering and won’t clash with that of the larger. You can also pair them with ales for the same effect.
4. Pizza
Pizza is a favorite meal for many and a great companion for beer. This versatile snack can be topped with anything to create a unique and flavorful experience. Finding the right combination requires some experimentation.
For example, if you love Hawaiian pizzas, you should try them out with an IPA. The ham will neutralize the bitterness of the IPA. Try pairing your Witbier with a meat-laden pizza for a balanced flavor.
5. Onion rings
Flavorful and crunchy onion rings are great for munching with beer. You can munch on onion rings endlessly and never get bloated. These snacks are best paired with lagers. The larger will cleanse your palate while quenching your thirst. You can also try pairing onion rings with ales. Onion rings will tame the bitterness of your ale and make it more palatable.
Conclusion
Everyone has a different palette and their own preferences. Pairing different beers and snacks is a great way to explore your preferences and determine what you like. The suggestions above are a great place to start. Visit The Comet Tavern to try out even more combinations and create your own unique experiences.