Summer is in full swing, and so are backyard cookouts. We did the hard work and tested all of our favorite cookout recipes with your favorite lagers. Here are our picks for your summer barbecue food and beer pairings.
Post Shift Pilsner – Hot Dog
Pilsners are one of those styles that are pretty universal when it comes to food pairings. They are clean, crisp, and have just enough bitterness to cleanse the palate making this style a great choice for anything on our Summer barbecue menu. What makes this hotdog and pilsner pairing so special is the all-beef hotdog was braised in our Post Shift Pilsner. You can currently find this item on our Beer Hall & Kitchen menu, so next time you’re in try it out for yourself!
Blood Orange Wheat – Light Salad
Our Blood Orange Wheat Radler is light, crisp, fruity and refreshing. We paired it with a light salad to keep the delicate nuanced flavors present without either the food or the beer being overwhelmed. We used a citrusy dressing here to compliment the blood orange, but any light vinaigrette will do.
Hoponius Union – Pulled Pork
One essential part of the classic summer barbecue is to have something marinating in the slow cooker all day. This spicy pulled pork sandwich just screams hoppy beer to us because spicy food and hops go hand in hand. The clean lager finish of Hoponius Union helps wash down the heavy sandwich. The hoppiness is balanced by the spicy and sweet barbecue sauce. Grab a napkin and a koozie for this pairing.
House Lager – Grilled Vegetables
This malty sweet golden lager is our most versatile beer. It’s medium body and crisp finish allow it to stand up to the robust flavor of grilled vegetables. The sweet malt balances out the toasty notes of the grill, while the rustic character brings out the earthly vegetable flavors.
Smoke & Dagger – Barbecue Ribs
Some people think dark beer has no place on a hot summer day. We are not those people. The rich, smoky flavor of this lager is balanced beautifully by the sticky sweet barbecue sauce. If dry ribs are more of your thing, you’re in luck. The dry roasty notes of this beer will accentuate the flavors of the rub. This pairing will be a big hit at your next cookout, trust us.
Pearly Wit – Fruit Salad
Our Springdale country-style wit beer is so fun to pair with a variety of foods we had to include it on this list. We tried it with a fresh fruit salad and it was a winner. The sweet, juicy fruit is balanced by the slightly tart character of this beer. The subtle coriander and orange peel in Pearly wit adds a mulling spice character to the undressed fruit.
