How to Plan a Bar Crawl

Planning a pub crawl is a great marketing opportunity for your bar. Tying your bar crawl to popular drinking holidays like St. Paddy's Day, when people are seeking bar crawl events, ensures success. While St. Patrick's Day began as a 24-hour break from Lenten dietary restrictions, Americans celebrate it with pub crawls and bar hopping. Host a local bar crawl at your pub this St. Patrick's Day to draw patrons into your establishment on the holiday and build relationships with your local community.

When Is St. Patrick’s Day 2023?

Must be the luck of the Irish, because St. Patrick's Day falls on Friday, March 17th in 2023. More patrons will participate in a Friday night pub crawl than a weeknight bar hopping event, so go all out with your St. Paddy's Day pub crawl this year.

Shop All St. Patrick's Day Supplies

What Is a Bar Crawl?

shamrock on glasses of beer and horseshoe on wooden table

A bar crawl (also known as a "pub crawl") is a social activity where participants visit multiple bars, usually on foot, and buy one drink at each location. This bar-hopping activity allows guests to experience different bar atmospheres and meet new people along the way.

The point of the pub crawl is to spend a limited amount of time at each bar before moving on to the next stop, often referred to as bar hopping. This allows patrons to visit several bars, while also squeezing in a walking tour between drinks. It's a popular way for tourists to experience the craft beer scene of a new city.

How to Organize a Bar Crawl

Bar crawls are often organized by small groups of friends, but bars and pubs are also known to work together and plan official pub crawls. St. Paddy's Day is the perfect occasion to host your first bar crawl. We explain how to plan a bar crawl to help you organize your event and earn a profit this St. Patrick’s Day.

1. Partner with Other Local Bars

Your job is to make your bar stand out from the crowd, but the best way to ensure plenty of business on St. Patrick's is to partner with the competition. You can’t host a bar crawl without other bars, so give your neighbors a call and see if they’d like to collaborate for a night of St. Paddy's Day drinking. The benefit of partnering up is that patrons will spend time in each of your bars, rather than giving their business to only one bar for the night.

2. Choose a Pub Crawl Theme

st patricks day decorations

When your pub crawl is official, it’s time to choose from a variety of bar crawl themes. A St. Patrick's Day theme is easy to play up with green beer, green decorations, and Irish- or leprechaun-inspired costumes for your staff. Consider playing authentic Irish music or even hiring a band for some live traditional music. Stock up on green tableware, like beverage napkins and plastic cups, to create a cohesive visual aesthetic.

You don't have to limit your bar crawl event to St. Patrick's Day. A Mardi Gras-themed bar crawl is an easy and alluring option. Fat Tuesday is all about indulgence and revelry before Lent begins, so what better way to celebrate than hopping from bar to bar, downing boozy beverages, and sampling tasty treats? Make a large batch of gumbo or jambalaya to stick with the Cajun theme. Hosting an anti-Valentine's Day-themed bar crawl on February 14th is a great way to celebrate singles and provide an alternate activity for those who reject the commercialism of traditional Valentine's Day celebrations. Halloween-themed bar crawls are fun opportunities to make a pumpkin keg and serve cute and creepy Halloween menu items.

3. Advertise Your Bar Crawl

After you’ve chosen a theme, publicize your pub crawl online and with local flyers. Consider registering your St. Patrick's Day bar crawl with an official pub crawl website so that customers can find your event and buy tickets online. Build hype by creating an event and promoting it on your bar's social media pages. Discuss a set price for the evening, which will include discounts on drinks in each participating bar, as well as any fun freebies you wish to give out at the start of the crawl. Depending on what you're offering, charging between $15 and $30 for a bar crawl event is standard.

4. Make a Bar Crawl Map and Schedule

Providing a map with all the participating bars ensures that participants will stay on track and have no problems finding their way. Be sure to mark bus stops and schedules on the map, as well as the phone numbers of local cab services. Customers want to enjoy a carefree night of celebration, and part of that is knowing they have a safe ride home. At the starting line, give crawlers wristbands (after checking their IDs) so that bartenders immediately know who is participating in the event.

5. Organize Bar Crawl Games

At the starting point of your Irish bar crawl, enter all guests in a raffle for a giveaway. Gift cards to the participating bars make a good prize and encourage guests to return for another visit. Coordinate with your partners and make sure there is something exciting at every stop in the crawl. Try hosting St. Patrick’s Day games with prizes like green beads or free beer. Build excitement by offering St. Paddy's themed face painting to keep customers from getting bored at your stop. They’ll enjoy their time in your establishment and wonder what to expect at the next bar on the route.

Here are a few examples of fun pub crawl games you can offer your patrons:

6. Serve Guests Their Favorite Drinks

young friends with beer celebrating st patrick's day in the pub

Beer, cider, and cocktails are essential to a successful St. Patrick's Day bar crawl. In addition to Irish beer standards, we've come up with a list of St. Patrick's Day drinks, including craft beers and creative cocktails, to serve on March 17th.

Classic Irish Beers and Ciders

  • Guinness Draught (4.2%)
  • Smithwick's Premium Irish Ale (4.5%)
  • Murphy's Irish Red (5%)
  • Harp Lager (5%)
  • Magners Irish Cider (4.5%)

Irish-Inspired Craft Beers

  • Flying Dog Brewery: Lucky S.O.B. Irish Red (5.5%)
  • Victory Brewing Company: Donnybrook Stout (3.7%)
  • Harpoon Brewery: Celtic Ale (5.4%)
  • Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Brand Stout (14.7%)
  • Thomas Creek Brewery: River Falls Red Ale (5.65%)

St. Patrick's Day Cocktails

  • Irish Car Bomb (shots of Bailey's and Jameson dropped into a glass of Guinness)
  • Irish Coffee (coffee with Jameson and Irish cream)
  • Irish Flag (creme de menthe, Licor 43, and Irish cream)
  • Grasshopper (creme de menthe and creme de cacao)
  • Irish Julep (bourbon, creme de menthe, half and half, and mint)

7. Offer Drink Specials for Non-Participants

You want to attract as many guests as possible on St. Paddy's Day, so offer drink specials to those who aren't taking part in your bar crawl event. Selling your bar crawl specials a la carte and listing their price alongside the price of a wristband prompts guests to evaluate whether they should join your pub crawl. If they choose not to, you can still gain some business from them by allowing them to purchase drinks from your special bar crawl menu. Consider offering drink packages to non-participants like discounted beer pitchers, a free shot with every pitcher of beer purchased, or a bottomless mimosa bar.

8. Prepare St. Patrick's Day Food

bowl of Irish stew

While green beer and St. Paddy's themed cocktails are the focus of the day, crawlers need to keep food in their systems. Your customers will thank you for keeping their stomachs full as they continue their crawl. Here are a few ideas for appetizers, entrees, and desserts you can serve on your St. Patrick's Day menu.

St. Patrick's Day Appetizers

St. Patrick's Day Entrees

  • Bangers and Mash
  • Shepherd's Pie
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage
  • Irish Stew
  • Fish and Chips

St. Patrick's Day Desserts

Bar Crawl Ideas

Not interested in hosting a traditional pub crawl? Check out our creative bar crawl ideas. Offering something unique will help you draw customers.

  • Patio Partnership - Weather permitting, partner with other local bars that have a comfortable outdoor patio space.
  • Vendor Booths - Join your local bars in park or farmers market locations to set up outdoor booths that customers can visit during the span of your event.
  • After-Hours Scavenger Hunt - In a designated area like a sporting field, hide bottles of your signature beers for guests to find. You can use paid time slots to reduce the capacity and allow for ample cleanup and reset time.
  • Assorted Beverage Kit - Partner with local breweries to put together an assortment of brews and offer your customers a pub crawl in a box. If you plan to ship these, be sure to check your alcohol delivery laws in advance.

St. Paddy or St. Patty?

St. Paddy is the preferred spelling for the holiday name because, in Ireland, Paddy is short for Patrick. If you want to keep your St. Patrick's Day pub crawl as authentic as possible, use the correct Irish spelling on all of your banners and marketing materials.

Although healthy competition among local bars is necessary, try working together this St. Patrick’s Day to create a profitable evening for every pub in the community. With drink discounts, fun games, and delicious Irish fare, your St. Patty's Day pub crawl will bring in new business and boost your sales.

Posted in: Bars & Breweries|Holidays|By Jessica Wieser
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Please refer to our Content Policy for more details.
External Link

You are about to leave the security of WebstaurantStore.com.

We are not responsible for the privacy policy or any content, links or software, or any consequences from your access to or use of the technologies, websites, information and programs made available on this new site.

Do you want to proceed?

Related Resources

  • The Best Winter Beers for 2023

    As the temperatures drop and the holiday season approaches, it's time to replace pumpkin beers and fall ciders with some delicious winter beers. These seasonal brews are perfect for capturing the cozy and festive spirit of the winter months. From rich and malty stouts to spiced and hoppy ales, there's a winter beer for every palate. Check out our top picks for the best seasonal beers of winter 2023. Shop All Beer Glasses Seasonal Winter Beers We've made a list of the most popular winter beers you can stock this season. Consider filling beer growlers so your guests can enjoy their favorite winter beers while staying cozy at home. 1. Scotch Ale (Wee Heavys) Scotch ales are top-fermenting brews that were originally served in small quantities (thus, the "wee heavy" nickname) for a few schillings in nineteenth-century Scotland. This style is boiled extensively in kettles, which creates toasty caramelization and sweet, full-bodied flavors. Many Scotch ales also offer higher alcohol by volume, making them perfect for cold winter days. Beer experts, also called cicerones, recommend serving these tasty brews with gamey meats, spicy foods, and creamy desserts. Give These Scotch Ales a Try: Founders Brewing Company: Dirty Bastard (Grand Rapids, MI) 8.5% ABV Einstok Beer Company: Icelandic Wee Heavy (Akureyri, Iceland) 8% ABV Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company: Mountain Man Strong Ale (Whitefish, MT) 6.8% ABV Oskar Blues Grill and Brew: Old Chub (Lyons, CO) 8% ABV 2. Barleywine A barleywine is a style of strong ale that's typically characterized by high alcohol content, a bittersweet taste, and a rich mouthfeel. Despite the name, barleywines contain no actual wine. They earned the moniker due to their complexity of flavors. While American-style barleywines are intensely hopped for a more bitter and hop-forward taste, English varieties tend to offer a more balanced combination of malt and hops. Serve this winter beer style with a charcuterie board of cured meats and creamy cheeses. Give These Barleywines a Try: Sierra Nevada: Bigfoot Barleywine (Chico, CA) 9.6% ABV Revolution Brewing: Straight Jacket (Chicago, IL) 15% ABV Brasserie Dieu du Ciel: Solstice D'hiver (Montreal, Quebec) 10.2% ABV Firestone Walker Brewing Company: Sucaba (Pasa Robles, CA) 12.5% ABV 3. Russian Imperial Stout Often referred to as the king of stouts, Russian imperial stouts were created in the nineteenth century by brewers looking to curry favor with Catherine the Great of Russia. These beers are top-fermenting ales with high alcohol content, low levels of carbonation, and toasted, malty flavors. Most Russian imperial stouts also feature notes of dark fruit and little to no hop character. Try serving these hearty brews alongside oysters, chocolate, and soft cheeses. Give These Russian Imperial Stouts a Try: North Coast Brewing Company: Old Rasputin (Fort Bragg, CA) 9% ABV Firestone Walker Brewing Company: Parabola (Paso Robles, CA) 13% ABV Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Narwhal Imperial Stout (Chico, CA) 10.2% ABV Great Lakes Brewing Company: Blackout Stout (Cleveland, OH) 9.9% ABV 4. Baltic Porter During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many Western European brewers began creating strong, robust porters to be shipped across the North Sea to the Baltic regions. These beers were often supplemented by the addition of stale ales, which added an acidic flavor that beer drinkers loved. Baltic porters are top-fermenting ales that offer a smoky, roasted, malty character with a full-bodied mouthfeel. Consider serving them with barbecued meats, stews, and semi-hard cheeses. Give These Baltic Porters a Try: Jack's Abby Brewing: Barrel-Aged Framinghammer - Mapledoodle (Framingham, MA) 12% ABV Tree House Brewing Company: Cozy (Charlton, MA) 9.2% ABV Browar Fortuna: Komes Baltic Porter (Miloslaw, Poland) 9% ABV Threes Brewing: Voluntary Exile (Brooklyn, NY) 8% ABV 5. Doppelbock Bock beer is a German-style lager with a strong malt flavor. Doppelbock, which essentially means double bock, has even more malt and a fuller body than a standard bock. This beer was originally brewed by a group of monks called the Paulaners, who developed the style with extra malt for nourishment during times of fasting. You'll notice that many doppelbock beers have the suffix "-ator" in their name, like Troeg's Troegenator. The original doppelbock was named Salvator, and due to its popularity, it became common for other producers to imitate the name by adding the suffix. Enjoy your malty doppelbocks with red meat, pork, and sharp cheeses. Give These Doppelbocks a Try: Augustiner-Brau: Maximator (Munchen, Germany) 7.5% ABV Klosterbrauerei Andechs: Doppelbock Dunkel (Andechs, Germany) 7.1% ABV Bell's Brewery: Consecrator (Kalamazoo, MI) 8% ABV Troegs Brewing Company: Troegenator (Hershey, pA) 8.2% ABV 6. Barrel Aged Beer Barrel aged beers are aged in wooden barrels to impart unique flavors to the finished product. Any style of beer can be barrel aged, but the approach is best suited to beers with strong flavors that are complemented by notes of hickory, oak, or applewood. The use of whiskey barrels or brandy barrels adds a boozy flavor and hints of caramel, vanilla, and bourbon. Entice customers to your bar over the winter months by offering a selection of complex barrel aged beers paired with smoked foods, oysters, or a pan-seared steak. Choose a rich, chocolate cake to serve with barrel aged stouts or a hunk of sharp cheese to complement a barrel aged barleywine. Give These Barrel Aged Beers a Try: Boulevard Brewing Company: Bourbon Barrel Quad (Kansas City, MO) 12.2% ABV Dark Horse Brewing Company: Plead The 5th - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (Marshall, MI) 11% ABV Great Divide Brewing Company: Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout (Denver, CO) 9.5% ABV New Holland Brewing Company: Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout (Holland, MI) 11% ABV 7. Winter Warmer Winter warmers are top-fermenting ales that offer plenty of malty, sweet flavors alongside a balanced hop character. Many winter warmers are blended with spices, which give the style its trademark warmth. Traditionally, English strong ales and spiced Wassail beers fall under the umbrella of winter warmers, so be sure to keep plenty of these brews on hand during the winter months. Consider serving them with poultry, baked goods, and seasonal winter fruits. Give These Winter Warmers a Try: Samuel Smith Old Brewery: Winter Welcome Ale (Tadcaster, England) 6% ABV Woodstock Inn Brewery: Wassail Ale (North Woodstock, NH) 8% ABV Deschutes Brewery: Jubelale (Bend, OR) 6.7% ABV Great Lakes Brewing Company: Christmas Ale (Cleveland, OH) 7.5% ABV It's time to trade in your fall beers and update your tap list with any of these highly-rated winter beers. Check out our beer glass guide to find the perfect glass to complement your holiday seasonal beers.

  • What Is a Beer Garden?

    A beer garden is defined as an outdoor area where alcohol and food are served and consumed. Unlike other outdoor spaces that serve alcohol, beer gardens are surrounded by trees and other forms of greenery. Whether you’re just starting a bar or are trying to convert your establishment's existing patio space into something new, opening a beer garden offers many new opportunities to your business. Beer gardens give your patrons a chance to enjoy drinking outdoors in a fun new environment, allowing your establishment to create a social and community atmosphere. What Is a Biergarten? In some places, you may see the word biergarten (pronounced bee-uh-gah-ten) being used to describe outdoor drinking areas. The words beer garden and biergarten are used interchangeably because biergarten is the German pronunciation of beer garden. Any mention of a biergarten is referring to a traditional German beer garden. Origin of Beer Gardens The concept of beer gardens originated in the Bavarian region of Germany during the 19th century. Local law forbade breweries from making beer during the summer months because it was seen as a major fire hazard. To deal with the new regulations, breweries expanded their cellars to hold more beer and have enough supply to last through the summer months. To keep the temperature cooler around these beer cellars, gardens and trees were planted above ground so the shade would keep colder temperatures. Owners realized the potential of the gardens and expanded their seating to include these locations. Patrons would get beer from the cellar and enjoy it in the brewery’s new garden, giving birth to the modern concept of beer gardens. Beer Gardens in the U.S. Later in the nineteenth century, a large wave of German immigrants brought the concept of beer gardens to the United States. Beer gardens became popular fast in the United States because they offered a stark contrast to the traditional locations of saloons, taverns, and bars one would find at the time. Rather than drinking in a dark and dreary location, beer gardens provided a much more bright and cheery spot to drink and enjoy entertainment. Why Open a Beer Garden? Opening a beer garden is an attractive prospect for those looking to offer something new. Establishing a beer garden at your bar or brewery opens up new seating options and results in an increased capacity. Beer gardens are also a fantastic way to establish a new identity for your venue, offering patrons an alternative to traditional bar seating. During the COVID-19 pandemic, beer gardens were one of the top new bar trends and were vital to keeping bars and breweries open. Strict social distancing regulations meant that for some bars, beer gardens and other forms of outdoor seating were the only way to serve customers alcohol. Without opening a beer garden, many bars and restaurants would have struggled even more during the COVID-19 pandemic. How to Open a Beer Garden You may think that opening a beer garden is as simple as setting up some tables outside of your bar, but that isn’t the case at all. To properly start a beer garden, you need to have a specific type of location and layout to promote social interaction and good times. Beer Garden Locations To establish a true beer garden, a particular type of location is required. A beer garden needs to be set up in a shaded area with a lot of greenery. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many bars and restaurants have opened street seating and dubbed them “beer gardens”, but these are not traditional beer garden locations. Beer Garden Tables The tables used in beer gardens are standard picnic tables with benches on either side. These tables are designed to be open to large groups of people, helping to promote the social environment that beer gardens look to foster. Some beer gardens may also utilize bar-height tables and chairs to seat smaller parties and fill in space. Beer garden tables are placed close together to promote social interaction among different parties. A beer garden is supposed to be a social environment with lots of mingling, and the compact setup is a great way to cultivate that atmosphere. Communal seating at beer gardens is common, which encourages different parties of people to interact and socialize while enjoying the space. Beer Garden Menu Just as important as a beer garden’s location and layout are the beverages and foods that are being served. Creating a solid menu for your beer garden is vital to ensure that patrons get the maximum enjoyment out of their experience. Good food and quality alcohol can ensure that patrons frequent your beer garden and become recurring customers. Beer Garden Beverages To no one's surprise, the main beverage served at a beer garden is beer. Beer gardens serve specific types of beer, including local craft beer and international lagers. Patrons expect a diverse selection of beers and it's common for beer gardens to include styles with higher ABVs. Like most bars, beer gardens may also serve other alcohol like hard seltzer, wine, liquor, or hard cider, but the star of the menu is almost always the garden’s selection of beer. Beer Garden Food When beer gardens were first started in 19th century Germany, food was not sold on the premises. Instead, patrons would bring their own food to the beer garden to enjoy with their alcohol. Although many modern beer gardens have done away with this practice, some traditional beer gardens may still allow you to bring your own food. Today, most beer gardens serve a smattering of standard bar foods that pair nicely with beer. Some of the most common beer garden foods you’ll find are snack items and fast finger foods like pretzels and nachos. However, some beer gardens may serve traditional German dishes such as knockwurst (sausage), hendl (chicken), and sauerkraut. Indoor Beer Garden Beer gardens are defined as outdoor spaces that serve alcohol, so by definition, an indoor beer garden cannot exist. Although an indoor establishment that serves alcohol and has a German or Bavarian theme may claim to be a beer garden, it is not truly a beer garden and is instead referred to as a beer hall. For a location to be a beer garden, it must be outside and surrounded by trees and other greenery. A beer garden is a fantastic addition to just about any bar or restaurant. Not only does a beer garden allow you to expand capacity and host patrons in a new environment, but it also creates a social and community environment for all to enjoy. The trend’s popularity was accelerated into prominence because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and with so many overwhelming positives, it has staying power.

  • Beer and Food Pairing Guide

    With so many different types of beer and even seasonal styles to take into account, it can be difficult to come up with good pairings for every beer on your restaurant or bar's beer list. Creating an excellent beer and food pairing menu can result in a significant boost to your profits. Keep reading to learn how to describe the taste of beer, some guidelines for beer and food pairings, and what beers go with what foods. Shop All Beer Glasses Use the links below to jump to the specific type of beer or section you're interested in: Beer Pairing Guidelines Food and Beer Pairing Examples Light Lagers Wheat Beers IPAs Amber Ales Dark Lagers Brown Ales Porters Stouts Beer Pairing Tutorial Check out our video guide to the basics of creating a great beer and food pairing. <iframe scrolling="no" width="392" height="226" src="/v/?num=13693&amp;width=600&amp;height=500&amp;embed=1" frameborder="0"></iframe> Definition of Tastes in Beer When describing the taste of beer, there are a few buzzwords that you'll come across again and again. Here are some general definitions to help you understand how the flavors in beer are typically described: Hops: Many times people use "hoppiness" to describe how bitter a beer tastes, but not all hoppy beers are bitter. The taste of a hoppy beer depends on when the hops are added in the brewing process. The earlier the hops are added the more bitter the beer. Hops have a versatile flavor and aroma that can enhance flowery and fruity flavors in the beer. Bitter: Bitterness is a distinct flavor profile found in many types of beer, although the amount of bitterness varies between the styles of beer. Many breweries rate how bitter a beer is with an IBU number. IBU stands for International Bitterness Units, and the higher the IBU, the stronger the bitterness. Malt: Malt comes from the barley grain, and it is usually roasted before it is added to the brew. Roasting barley gives the beer a nutty flavor and a toasty aroma. Plus, during the roasting process, the sugars in the barley caramelize, bringing out a slightly sweet, caramel taste. Dark: While it may seem more like a description of the color, dark can also be used to describe how a beer tastes. Dark beers are made with malt grain that is roasted until it reaches a dark color. Dark beers are typically roasted longer than malty beers, giving them a richer and heavier taste. The malt's nutty, caramel flavor turns to darker notes of chocolate and coffee with a longer roast time. Light: Light beer is usually known for having a clean and crisp taste that is refreshing. Typically, light beers don't have a strong flavor and aren't very bitter or hoppy. Additionally, most light beers also have a low alcohol content. 4 Guidelines for Food and Beer Pairing There aren't many hard rules when it comes to making beer and food pairings as there aren't many flavors that clash with beer. That being said, if you want to get the most out of your beer pairing and enhance the flavor of the food on your bar's menu, try to keep these guidelines in mind: Contrast: To make an ideal pairing by contrast, you want to pick a beer or dish that has one strong, dominant flavor, such as sweet, rich, or oily. You want a dish that has a distinct taste that can shine through without being overpowered. An example of a good contrast pairing is oysters and stout. Oysters have a strong, briny flavor that can stand up to the rich texture and chocolatey notes of the stout. Complement: Complementing flavors is one of the simplest ways to make a delicious food and beer pairing. Match rich foods with beers that have a heavy and rich flavor, like stouts or porters. Pair light-tasting salads and fish with light beers or wheat beers with desserts like fruit tarts. Cleanse: Beer can serve as a palate cleanser. This particular approach to beer pairing is particularly well-suited for dishes with bold or intense flavors, such as spicy Indian cuisine or rich fried foods. For instance, you can utilize the crisp and refreshing taste of a light beer to wash down the heat of Korean fried chicken. Similarly, this technique can be employed in reverse, where fatty foods like french fries or nuts can help balance out the bitterness of an IPA. Avoid Overpowering Flavors: Keep in mind the levels of flavor in your food and beer. Many medium and dark beers have a rich and powerful flavor that can overpower certain types of food. For example, you wouldn't want to pair salmon with a pint of Guinness because the flavor of the beer will completely cover the taste of the fish. How to Pair Beer Based on Style The different types of beer vary greatly in their color, alcohol content, taste, and mouthfeel, so if you want to make a good pairing, you must first understand the different styles of beer. Below, we've included a table that you can reference to make a quick pairing. You can also read on for a more in-depth guide on how to pair beer and food based on style. Light lagers: Spicy food, burgers, salads Wheat beers: Spicy food and fruity desserts India pale ales (IPAs): Steak, barbecue, and Mexican food Amber ales: Pizza, fried food, smoked pork Dark lagers: Pizza, burgers, hearty stews Brown ales: Sausage, sushi, fish Porters: Seafood, coffee-flavored desserts, game meats Stouts: Chocolate desserts, shellfish, Mexican food These are only general pairing ideas, so if you want to create new and unique beer and food pairings, you'll need to fully understand the flavor profiles of each type of beer. Light Lagers Light lagers are among the palest types of beer, and they are well known for their crisp and refreshing taste. Most light lagers do not have a strong flavor, and they are rarely hoppy or bitter. This style of beer is one of the most popular in the United States, and many well-known brands fall under this category. Light Lager Food Pairings: Because light lagers have such a refreshing flavor, they're ideal for pairing with spicy dishes, but you can pair these beers with just about any type of food. Here are some ideal beer and food pairing options for light lagers you can try: Buffalo wings (bone-in or boneless) French fries Hot dogs Noodles Fried fish Wheat Beers Wheat beers are brewed with a mixture of wheat and barley grains, which gives the beer a smoother texture and lighter carbonation than other styles. The wheat itself doesn't add much flavor, so many brewers add citrus and other fruity flavorings to the beer. Wheat Beer Food Pairings: Wheat beers are very versatile, and you can pair them with several foods. Here are some ideal food pairings for wheat beers: Buffalo wings Spicy noodles Salads Fruit tarts Pastries India Pale Ales India pale ales, better known as IPAs, are one of the most popular styles of beer in the craft brewing scene today. Typically, IPAs have a medium amber color and feature a very bitter flavor. To make the bitterness more palatable, many brewers add citrus or herbal tones to the beer. In addition to standard IPAs, there are also double IPAs, which are made with even more hops and have a strong bitter flavor. IPA Food Pairings: Because of the sheer variety of IPAs on the market, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to food pairings. But, here are a few general food and beer pairings that work for all types of IPAs: Barbecue ribs Curry French fries Steak Burritos Fajitas Amber Ales Amber ales are characterized by a medium mouthfeel and colors that range from amber to a deep reddish-gold. These beers have strong flavors of malt, and there are notes of sweet caramel that complement the roasted malt taste. But, these beers do not have an overpoweringly sweet flavor, and many amber ales have a dry and crisp finish. Although the flavor from the hops isn't strong, they give these beers a light and flowery aroma. Amber Ale Food Pairings: Due to the dry and crisp finish, amber ales are excellent beers for cleansing your palate. So, here are a few ideal food pairings for amber ales: Barbecue pulled pork Jerk chicken Pizza Brisket Dark Lagers There are several types of lager, and dark lagers have a distinct taste. This style of beer is made with roasted malts, and many times they have caramel syrup added to sweeten the beer. The roasted malts give the beer a nutty flavor, and the caramel provides a slight hint of sweetness, although it's not overpowering. Dark Lager Food Pairings: Dark lagers are popular in Europe, and they're an excellent complement to hearty traditional European dishes. Here are some examples of ideal pairings to go with dark lagers: Sausage Goulash Bangers and mash Burgers Pizza Brown Ales Brown ales aren't as hoppy or bitter as other medium-colored beers, and instead, they have hints of chocolate and coffee similar to stouts and porters. Additionally, English varieties of brown ales usually have a dry and nutty flavor. Beer aficionados and craft brewers tend to turn their noses up at brown ales because they lack the extreme flavors and hoppiness that are fashionable nowadays, but these are tasty beers that pair well with many different foods. Brown Ale Food Pairings: Brown ales are a versatile option when it comes to food and beer pairings, and they are famous for pairing well with just about anything. That being said, here are a few dishes that complement the rich chocolate and nutty flavors in brown ales: Sausage Roast pork Barbecue Fish Sushi Porters Porters originated in London, and the original variety was dark and strong, making them popular with the working class. Today, porters are milder and come in a variety of styles and flavors. However, they retain their distinctive dark color, toasty aroma, and rich roasted flavor. Porters are made with roasted brown malts that give the beer strong notes of chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Although both porters and stouts are thick and silky, porters have a crisper finish than stouts. Porter Food Pairings: Porters have a rich and deep flavor, so it is best to pair them with foods that have similar taste and texture. Here are a few examples of dishes that pair well with porters: Lobster Crab Mexican mole Barbecue Rabbit, venison, and game meats Stouts Stouts are best known for their black color and dark, roasted flavor that is similar to porters. Despite their appearance, stouts are not necessarily high in alcohol content, bitterness, or flavor, and there are many mild, well-rounded types of stout. This style of beer is usually characterized by strong hints of chocolate and coffee as well as a silky smooth consistency. Stout Food Pairings: Because stouts have a chocolatey flavor and relatively low alcohol content, they are the perfect pairing for many kinds of desserts. Here are some examples of the best foods to pair with stouts: Chocolate truffles Chocolate mousse Lobster Barbecue Shellfish Adding food and beer pairings to your menu can help enhance the flavor of your dishes and bring in more profits. To make the best beer pairings possible, it is important to understand which flavors work well together. Once you understand the flavor profiles in beer, you can make delicious and interesting beer pairings that will accentuate the flavors of both your food and beer. You can also bring out the best flavors in your beer by choosing the right beer glass for each type.

    • Shop Now

    Archives

    Webstaurant TVProduct demonstrations, how-to's, & descriptions ArticlesIn-depth information and tips for running a successful restaurant Buying GuidesTools to help you find the perfect product for your business