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You have no doubt heard about wine and food pairing, but did you also know that your favorite craft beers have their own food pairs, too? That’s right, no longer do you have to settle for simple beer snacks with your brew of choice. Armed with a little knowledge, you can experience and experiment with all that beer food pairs have to offer. Why not try fresh and succulent seafood with your German pilsner or kimchi with your Indian Pale Ale?

Beer has a versatility and depth that should never be undersold. In fact, a great beer can bring out the best in a dish. It’s all about knowing which beers and cuisines go together. From rich and hearty stouts to refreshing amber ales, our guide shows you how to find the perfect food companion.

The Three C’s – Cut, Complement, Contrast

Before we take a look at perfect matches between beer and food, let’s tell you about the basic principles. They are the three C’s of food and beer pairing, otherwise known as Cut, Complement and Contrast. Quite simply, beers and foods are married together based on the effect they have on one another. Some beers may cut through the flavor of your food, producing a fresh mouthfeel and new flavors. Others complement each other perfectly.

Cut

When we refer to the cut, we are talking about the beer’s ability to cut through bold and strong flavors in food. These flavors may be created by spiciness. creaminess or fattiness. The idea is to pair these extreme and intense foods with beers that will counter the opposing flavor and take the edge off it. The result is that the beer refreshes and revives the palate with each sip. For example, pale ales are often sold in Indian restaurants as they are known to cut through spicy curry flavors.

Complement

Complement is used to describe how the beer enhances the flavors in food and creates a harmony between the two. To find beers and dishes that complement one another, look out for flavors and aromas that are similar. Robust beers will complement robust foods perfectly while hoppy and spicy beers are perfect for hot and spicy dishes. For example, a dark ale will go brilliantly with a hearty and rich meat stew.

Contrast

Contrast is used to describe when a beer reveals a new layer of complexity that food just cannnot deliver. For example, you wouldn’t necessarily expect oysters and stout to go together, but they produce some amazing flavor and mouth-feel experiences. While both have quite different flavor profiles, the rich bitterness of the stout accentuates the silky smoothness of the oysters.

Food and Beer Pairings – Simple Rules to Live By

Before we dive into our food and beer pairings, there are a few simple rules that will help you to get the most from your pairing adventures.

• Don’t be scared to experiment. With so many different foods and beers available, you never know which amazing combinations you might stumble upon.
• Follow your taste buds. Your palate is always your best guide.
• If at first you don’t succeed with a food pairing, try another!

Your A-Z of Beer and Food Pairings

American Amber Ale

American Amber Ale gets its name from its golden to amber color. It has a medium roasted flavor.

Pair it with: Grilled meats, medium cheddar and pound cake.

American Amber Lager

This highly drinkable and widely available craft beer style is medium-bodied and has a caramel-like malt character.

Pair it with: Grilled meats and vegetables, white cheddar and fruit desserts.

American Barley Wine

Barley wines deliver a toffee or caramel aroma with a malt character. They can also be fruity.

Pair it with: Beef cheek, strong blue cheeses and rich desserts.

American Black Ale

Well known for its dark body, caramel malt and dark roasted flavors, this beer is also known as black IPA.

Pair it with: Grilled shrimp, blue cheeses and chocolate truffles.

American Brett

American Brett beers have a very unique flavor. Expect goaty, leathery, horsey and fruity characters with this one.

Pair it with: Roasted game, farmhouse cheeses and fruit tarts.

American Brown Ale

American Brown Ale delivers a caramel-like, chocolate-like and roasted malt character.

Pair it with: Grilled meats and vegetables, aged cheeses and pear or apple fritters.

American Cream Ale

This mild, pale and light-bodied ale is more of a lager than an ale and is a refreshing treat on a hot day.

Pair it with: Salads, light shellfish, Monteray Jack and lemon custard tarts.

American Imperial Porter

This Imperial Porter is definitively American and delivers a medium caramel and cocoa sweetness.

Pair it with: Chicken mole enchiladas, smoked cheeses and blondie brownies.

American Imperial Red Ale

American Imperial Red Ale has a medium hop bitterness, aroma and flavor and offers a solid malt profile.

Pair it with: Corned beef hash, mozzarella and toffee pudding.

American Imperial Stout

American Imperial Stout is the strongest in body and alcohol of all stouts. It’s extremely rich flavor and sweet malt character makes it the perfect match for robust flavors.

Pair it with: Foie gras, aged cheeses and chocolate fudge cake.

American IPA

American IPA delivers a fresh, floral and citrus-like character. It’s the top-selling craft beer style in stores and supermarkets around the world and for good reason.

Pair it with: Spicy tuna dishes, blue cheeses and fruity rice puddings.

American Lager

American Lager delivers a crisp, malt and hop character while the highly carbonated body offers a clean and refreshing taste.

Pair it with: Pho noodles, soft ripe cheeses and kettle corn.

American Pale Ale

American Pale Ale may have taken inspiration from English Pale Ale, but it is certainly no copycat. Where it’s English counterpart has earthy and herbal characteristics, American Pale Ale is pine and citrus-like.

Pair it with: Grilled and roasted meats, medium cheddar and apple pie.

American Sour

American Sour with its acidic and organic acids may be an acquired taste, it’s definitely worth a try if you haven’t experienced it before.

Pair it with: Lightly spiced meats, strong cheeses and fruity and creamy desserts.

American Stout

As dark as it is robust, American Stout is one of the most identifiable varieties in the world of American beer. Perfect for supping on a winter’s day.

Pair it with: Grilled lamb, sharp cheddar and coffee cake.

American-Style Wheat Wine Ale

This type of beer does not have a single grape in it as its name might suggest. It’s a full-bodied beer made with 50 percent wheat malt and delivers a candy and bready flavor.

Pair it with: Smoked trout, asiago and peach desserts.

American Wheat

When it comes to approachable beers, few are more so than American Wheat. Their versatility allows them to be paired with a number of food options.

Pair it with: Salads, seafood, cheeses and fruit desserts.

Baltic-Style Porter

Baltic-Style Porter delivers a smooth, cold-lagered and cold-fermented character and a strong alcohol profile.

Pair it with: Prime rib, aged gouda and s’mores desserts.

Barrel-Aged Beer

A barrel-aged beer can refer to any beer, lager, ale or hybrid beer that has spent time ageing in a wooden barrel. These beers tend to retain their woody characters and can also take on the flavors of spirits that have also inhabited the barrel.

Pair it with: Grilled lean meats, smoked cheese and chocolate cheesecake.

Belgian-Style Blonde Ale

This easy-drinking beer has a pleasing hop bitterness and a spicy and fruity character. It is medium in sweetness.

Pair it with: Sweet and sour chicken, brie and angel food cake.

Belgian-Style Dubbel

Belgian-Style Dubbel is known for its caramel and cocoa flavors and aromas and has a malty sweetness.

Pair it with: Apple-smoked sausages and cheeses, milk chocolate desserts.

Belgian-Style Flanders

Belgian-Style Flanders varieties can range from cherry-like to malty and deliver a very complex taste.

Pair it with: Beef stew, Mimolette cheese and pumpkin pie.

Belgian-Style Fruit Lambic

Also known as framboise, kriek, peche and cassis, Belgian-Style Fruit Lambic takes on the flavor and color of the fruit used during the brewing process.

Pair it with: Grilled prawns, soft cheeses and chocolate cake.

Belgian-Style Golden Strong Ale

This fruity and complex beer often sits at the higher end of the ABV scale, but it is still very approachable to many different palates.

Pair it with: Beer battered fried shrimp, triple creme cheeses and baklava.

Belgian-Style Lambic/Gueze

These beers feature high levels of fruity esters and can range from sour to sweet.

Pair it with: Mussels, mascarpone and rich chocolate cake.

Biere de Garde

Biere de Garde translates as beer for keeping and it is a style that is becoming increasingly popular. It has a toasted malt aroma and slight malty-sweet flavor.

Pair it with: Roasted lamb and mint, ripe cheeses and pecan pie.

Blonde Ale

Blonde Ale is one of the most approachable of all beer styles and is a very easy-to-drink beer. These beers often have fruit, honey and spices added.

Pair it with: Spaghetti and meatballs, pepper jack cheese and sugar cookies.

California Common

Brewed with lager yeast, California Common has a noticeable caramel-like and toasted malt character.

Pair it with: Pork loin, feta cheese and bread pudding.

Chocolate Beer

Chocolate beers are robust, rich and of course, feature high chocolate-like intensity. Perfect for sweet tooths and beer connoisseurs alike.

Pair it with: Venison mole, aged cheeses and raspberry torte.

Coffee Beer

Beer and coffee make a perfect and perhaps unlikely combination. More and more craft breweries across America are embracing this concoction and you can now find many varieties readily available.

Pair it with: Pork tenderloin, semi-hard cheeses and vanilla ice cream.

Contemporary Gose

The Contemporary Gose comes in a wide variety of aromas and flavors including spice, floral, fruity and herbal. They deliver a sharp and refreshing sourness.

Pair it with: Watermelon salad, queso fresco and lemon mousse.

English-Style Bitter

English-Style Bitter is well known for its lower-alcohol and sessionable style. Hop bitterness is medium and there is a low residual sweetness.

Pair it with: Roasted chicken, firm English cheeses and oatmeal raisin cookies.

English-Style Brown Ale

This is one of the most iconic of all beer styles and features a toasty, robust and chocolate-like character. While it is almost a meal in a glass on its own, it goes with a number of foods very well.

Pair it with: Roasted steak or pork, aged gouda and pear fritters.

English-Style Brown Porter

English-Style Brown Porter delivers a black malt character and a medium malt sweetness.

Pair it with: Roasted or grilled meats, gruyere and chocolate peanut butter cookies.

English-Style Mild

Caramel and malt form a large part of the aroma and flavor profile of English-Style Mild. Hop bitterness is very low and liquorice tones may also be present.

Pair it with: Mushrooms and wild game, mild cheddar and dark fruit tarts.

English-Style IPA

Strong, bitter and refreshing, English-Style IPA has a fruity character that differs widely from the American version.

Pair it with: Fettuccine Alfredo, aged cheddars and ginger spice cake.

English-Style Oatmeal Stout

Oatmeal Stout is creamy, smooth and has a rich body. It should be caramel and chocolate-like, but never bitter.

Pair it with: Chicken in mole sauce, aged cheddar and pumpkin cheesecake.

English-Style Old Ale

English-Style Old Ale can range from copper-red to dark in color and has a sweet and very rich, wine-like character.

Pair it with: Roast beef and lamb, double Gloucester and spiced plum tarts.

English-Style Pale Ale (ESB)

ESB stands for “extra special bitter” and that’s exactly what you’ll get when you choose this brew. It has a medium to high hop bitterness and a fruity aroma and flavor.

Pair it with: Roast chicken, English cheeses and maple syrup bread pudding.

English-Style Sweet Stout (Milk Stout)

Also referred to as milk stout and cream stout, English-Style Sweet Stout is black in color and has a chocolate or caramel flavor profile.

Pair it with: Spicy BBQ meats, buttery cheddar and chocolate ice cream.

European-Style Export

This style of lager is all about creating the perfect balance and you’ll experience a medium hop character and low malt sweetness when you choose these varieties.

Pair it with: Grilled steak, soft cheeses and bread pudding.

Fruit and Field Beer

Fruit Beer, as its name suggests, is made with fruit extracts. It’s closely-linked cousin, the Field Beer expands on this idea by using herbs and vegetables.

Pair it with: Salads, creamy cheeses and vanilla ice cream.

German-Style Bock

Traditional German Bock is high in malt sweetness and a nut-like malt character. Bock means “goat” in German!

Pair it with: Grilled ribeye, swiss cheese and chocolate.

German-Style Altbier

German-Style Altbier delivers a beautiful balance of malt and hop flavors and can also feature peppery and floral hop aromas.

Pair it with: Grilled salmon, Emmental and apple pie.

German-Style Doppelbock

Doppel means double in German. The German-Style Doppelbock is stronger and bigger than other bock beers and is very food-friendly.

Pair it with: Pork or ham, strong cheeses and German chocolate cake.

German-Style Dunkel

German-Style Dunkel is a very dark beer (dunkel means dark in German) and offers a balanced flavor of caramel, bread crust and chocolate.

Pair it with: Sausages, Munster cheese and ginger beer cake.

German-Style Dunkelweizen

German-Style Dunkelweizen delivers a chocolate-like character and sweet maltiness. It can also feature bubblegum, banana and clove esters thanks to the type of yeast used during the brewing process.

Pair it with: Roast chicken, gouda and banana cream pie.

German-Style Hefeweizen

This is one of the most recognizable of all beer styles thanks to its distinctive yeast and wheat malt characteristics. Refreshing, crisp and eye-catching, it is little wonder this beer style has been kept alive for centuries.

Pair it with: Seafood, soft cheese and key lime pie.

German-Style Maibock

This hop-centric bock beer has a lightly toasted and bready malt character. It is also paler in color than most bock beers.

Pair it with: Ham, swiss cheese and white chocolate cheesecake.

German-Style Helles

This is a real beer for beer lovers and delivers a pleasant malt sweetness and floral aroma and flavors.

Pair it with: Samosas, Colby cheese and baklava.

German-Style Kolsch

Kolsch is a beer hybrid that is light, refreshing and perfect for hot and lazy summer days. In addition to their thirst-quenching capabilities, Kolsch varieties are fun for pairing with beer.

Pair it with: Bratwurst, nutty cheeses and apricot cake.

German-Style Marzen/Oktoberfest

This is a beer that is the perfect balance of malt and hop bitterness. It has a biscuit-like or bread aroma and flavor and is very popular at Oktoberfest.

Pair it with: Kielbasa sausage, jalapeno cheese and coconut cake.

German-Style Pilsner

Pilsner is possibly the most iconic beer in modern times. Light in color, it has a very short finish and is an exquisitely balanced lager.

Pair it with: Shellfish, cheddar and shortbread cookies.

German-Style Schwarzbier

Also known as black lagers, schwarzbiers are dark and dry with a roasted malt flavor.

Pair it with: Mushroom strudel, muster-style cheese and fruit tarts.

German-Style Weizenbock

If you like German-Style Bock, you might want to give its cousin the Weizenbock a try. With flavors like bready malt, plum, raisin and grape, this is a great partner for food.

Pair it with: Chicken and dumplings, manchego and banana bread.

Herb & Spice Beer

A herb and spice beer can be any lager or beer that is made using roots, flowers, seeds, fruits or vegetables. Look out for winter holiday varieties with lots of spices.

Pair it with: Grilled meats and fish, aged cheeses and ginger cake.

Honey Beer

Lagers and ales can be made with honey and they are an absolute delight when they are! Overall, the taste of honey should be subtle and not overpowering.

Pair it with: Bruschetta, ricotta and lemon gelato.

Imperial India Pale Ale

If you love American craft beers, then you will absolutely love Imperial India Pale Ale. While a stronger version of American IPA, Imperial delivers a stronger hoppy flavor and bitterness. Even better, there are plenty of variations to try.

Pair it with: Miso salmon, rich cheeses and carrot cake.

Irish-Style Dry Stout

Dry stouts have a dry-roasted character and a coffee aroma and flavor. Hop bitterness is medium to high.

Pair it with: Seafood, Irish cheddar and chocolate desserts.

Irish-Style Red Beer

Known for its low bitterness and unique malty taste, Irish-Style Red Beer is one that all American craft beer lovers will enjoy. It’s also usually low in alcohol.

Pair it with: Roasted vegetables, cheddar and poached pears.

New England IPA

New England IPA embraces hop aroma and flavor without being overpowering with bitterness. Many varieties are bursting with tropical juicy flavors.

Pair it with: Hawaiian pork tenderloin, blue goats cheese and creme brulee.

Pumpkin Beer

Nothing quite says fall like pumpkins and a good quality craft beer. Many American breweries have done a great job of combining the two and there are some interesting varieties available to go with your meal or snacks.

Pair it with: Roasted turkey, camembert and coffee ice cream.

Robust Porter

With a more bitter and malty flavor than brown porters, Robust Porter also delivers a cocoa and caramel-like character. You’ll find many breweries that have experimented with this variety of beers.

Pair it with: Roasted and grilled meats, gruyere and peanut butter cookies.

Rye Beer

Rye Beer has a spicy or pumpernickel character thanks to the addition of rye during the brewing process. It has flavors of chocolate, caramel or cocoa and a medium malt sweetness.

Pair it with: Jerk chicken, Wensleydale and savory bread pudding.

Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy

With its overwhelmingly malty character and rich and sweet malt aroma and flavor, it’s easy to see why Scotch Ale is gaining in popularity. Look out for smoked varieties.

Pair it with: Grilled game meats, strong cheeses and creamy desserts with fruit.

Scottish-Style Ale

Scottish-Style Ale is strong in flavor and aroma and has a caramel-like character.

Pair it with: Meat and game, pungent cheeses and creamy desserts.

Smoke Beer

Smoke Beer is made with malt that has been kilned over an open flame. This creates a dense smoky flavor and aroma.

Pair it with: Grilled vegetables, parmesan and gingerbread cookies.

Smoke Porter

The base for a Smoke Porter is a Robust Porter. The smokey flavor and aroma is created by the wood-smoked malt and different woods can be used in this process creating different flavors.

Pair it with: Grilled sausage, strong cheddar and s’mores.

Vienna-Style Lager

Vienna Lager ranges in color from copper to reddish-brown and has a slight malt sweetness and malty aroma.

Pair it with: Grilled meats, mild cheese and almond biscotti.

Imagine meeting up with your friends for a beer and selecting your beverage based on the effect it will have on your body and mind rather than the style or taste. Now, take this further and imagine selecting a beer based on whether it makes you calmer, happier or more energetic. This could be the future, thanks to more and more brewers experimenting with cannabis and hemp in their beer styles. Could marijuana really be the future for beer?

Cannabis and hemp beer is experiencing an all-time high (pun intended) in the beer community right now, so we thought we would introduce you to the concept, dispel a few myths and give you some reasons to seek out this unique variety. As we write, cannabis, hemp, and marijuana beers are flooding the market. But what are they like, how do they taste and more importantly, how do they make you feel? In this article, we’ll give you the lowdown on cannabis and hemp-infused beers and give you some of your recommendations of legal brews to try.

What is Cannabis and Hemp Infused Beer?

There are several products on the market that contain cannabis or hemp derivatives. To get a better idea of the different varieties out there, let’s break them down one by one. There are more and more varieties hitting the shelves and being made available online, so it should be easy to find one you like after a little experimentation.

CBD-Infused Beer

CBD-infused beer is an alcohol-free beer that has been brewed using cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is the non-psychoactive component present in marijuana. In other words, it does not get you high. In fact, it does the complete opposite, creating a calming effect on the drinker. You might get a little bit of a body buzz, but you won’t experience any effect on your cognitive function.

THC-Infused Beer

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol to give it its full name, is the psychoactive component in marijuana that produces the high. Due to the current federal law, it is illegal to add THC to any drink containing alcohol.

Hemp-Infused Beer

Hemp beer is brewed using terpenes, the aromatic compounds that are found in both hops and cannabis. These beers contain the aromas and flavors found in marijuana, but not the CBD or THC.

So, why brew cannabis or hemp infused beer? What’s the attraction? Well, there are plenty of reasons that brewers are doing it – novelty factor, an alternative way to consume cannabis for non-smokers, self-medication and the challenge of adding something brand new that pushes the boundaries and gets people talking. No matter what the reason, the decriminalization, and legalization of cannabis for both recreational and medical use in various countries around the world has opened the market up for new brewing opportunities. What’s more, cannabis and hemp are close cousins to hops, so lend themselves naturally to the brewing process.

Does Cannabis Beer Get You High?

That’s the question on everybody’s lips and the answer is, well, it depends. If the cannabis beer you are drinking contains THC, it has the potential to get you high. If not, the only buzz you’ll get is from the alcohol.

What Does Cannabis and Hemp Beer Taste Like?

As with all beers, the taste of cannabis beers will differ from brewery to brewery, but most will have an almost savory, dry flavor that is less sweet than traditional beers. As for hemp beers, some people describe them of smelling like “bong water”, but tasting sweet and hoppy.

5 Cannabis-Infused and Hemp-Infused Beers to Try

Two Flowers IPA – CBD-Infused Beer

Brewed by the Coalition Brewing Company, Two Flowers IPA is infused with CBD and delivers the flavor of a west coast IPA. The result is a crisp, light, refreshing and bitter taste with a medium hoppy aroma. And the effects? Well, reviewers have described it as being similar as having a few beers while sitting in a hot tub. Others have used the words “naturally calming” and “elevating” when describing Two Flowers.

Grainwave Belgian-Style White Ale – De-alcoholized Cannabis Beer

This Belgian-style white ale has been infused with THC, and so contains no alcohol. However, it still delivers a medium-bodied and refreshing taste with notes of coriander and blood orange.

Hi-Fi Hops – IPA-Inspired Cannabis Beer

If you want a new spin to your normal IPA. try a Hi-Fi Hops cannabis beer. This sparkling beverage might be zero alcohol, zero carbs, and zero calories, but it comes back with THC extracted from the finest, sun-grown cannabis. It’s a refreshing no-alcoholic alternative that is sure to be a talking point.

Hop Chronic – THC-Infused India Pale Ale

Hop Chronic provides a feel-good alternative for people who don’t want to smoke or vape. The brewers. Flying Dog Brewery describes it as a low-alcohol beer with strong hop characteristics.

Bubba Kush Root Beer – THC-Infused Root Beer

Okay, so it might not be a beer exactly, but THC-infused root beer is well worth a try. Sip it on its own or try it poured over ice cream to create the ultimate root beer float.

So, Could Cannabis Beer Be the Future?

The great thing about most cannabis-infused beers is that they are alcohol-free. That potentially means a clearer head the next day and none of the other hangover effects you can expect with normal beers. They also contain fewer calories than traditional beers. Oh, and there is the social aspect. You wouldn’t consider toasting a bride and groom at a wedding with a joint or vape pen, but you can do that with a de-alcoholized beer containing THC.

While cannabis-infused beers may not be a threat to traditional beers just yet, there may be some health and social benefits to considering “weed beer” over an alcoholic beverage. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens across the industry in the next few months. We will, of course, keep you posted on the latest news relating to cannabis-infused and hemp-infused beers, so stay tuned.

Variety is one of the best part growing craft beer scene, but with so much variety, many brewers are now focusing on very niche beers to set themselves apart from the rest.

In that last several years, the production of gluten-free beer has been on the rise and the gluten-free market overall is expected to grow by more than 10% per year through 2019. That’s a huge number, considering less than 1% of the population has celiac disease, a genetic autoimmune disorder which makes it difficult for the body to digest gluten. So what about the one-third of Americans who remain? They’re part of the growth, too. Advantageous breweries like Omission Brewing Co. spotted the gluten-free market as a rising trend and also capitalized on the 311,000,000 people who abstain from gluten for lifestyle health reasons by crafting their own beers with the same taste as a classic lager, but without the gluten.

Omission was the first craft beer brand in the United States to focus exclusively on brewing great-tasting craft beers with traditional beer ingredients, including malted barley, specially crafted to remove gluten. They believed that everyone should be able to partake in enjoying a well-made beer, regardless of dietary or health restrictions. They identified their niche, worked hard to bring it to life, and created quite a name for themselves in the process. Just check out their website for proof. Omission has an entire section dedicated to the hashtag Omoment, and users are actively sharing their photos and tweets to showcase the impact the brew has had on their lives. That’s given the folks at Omission the opportunity to capitalize on their unique product offering, engage their customer base, and utilize real users to spread their message for them.

Now, we understand that gluten-free beer isn’t for every beer enthusiast or brewer (that’s why it’s a niche market). Lets take a look at other niche beers and brewers.

Blue Owl Brewing in Austin, Texas opened in 2015 and dedicated itself to the art of sour-mashing, a technique that puts a unique spin on popular beer styles like Pilsners, pale ales, stouts, and IPAs. Not long after they opened the doors, Austin saw a leap in new small and independent breweries. However, thanks to founder Jeff Young’s foresight and ingenuity, Blue Owl Brewing had already distinguished itself from the local competition.

Another solid example of a niche beer comes from Longmont, Colorado and the team at Wibby Brewing. Located just down the road from Left Hand Brewing Co. and Oskar Blues, formative opponents in their own right, Wibby unveiled a menu of beers that only included German-style lagers with an American twist. It paid off. They surpassed their goals for barrels produced in their first year and now have a passionate fan base of lager enthusiasts and casual beer drinkers alike.

With niche beers, the possibilities are endless, and you’re in the position to have different experience with each one individual.

Find new niche beers on BeerMaps.com–start your search today!

Here is a dilemma known only to those who are fortunate enough or cursed enough to travel overseas:  What to do if you find yourself craving beer while in a country famous far and wide for….whiskey?  No doubt when you hear “whiskey” you think of Scotland (and maybe vice versa).  So, if you ask for a beer in Glasgow or Edinburgh, will you be scorned as an Ignorant Tourist?   Will the ghosts of Bonnie Prince Charlie, Robert Burns, and Arthur Conan Doyle descend on you in outrage?

Calm yourselves, laddies and lassies.  It turns out that beer has a long history in Scotland (as in five thousand years).  There are today over one hundred breweries, and it turns out that the land of thistles and single malt Scotch is also, nowadays, a land of microbreweries and craft beers.

You can visit some of these breweries, such as Drygate Brewing Company in Glasgow, which features a public taproom. Drygate is a 2,650-litre brewery which also has a small studio brewery to allow independent brewers to try out their new concoctions.

In the Summer 2019 issue of Scottish Life magazine, Paul Stafford recounts his visit to Drygate and describes a few of the beers he sampled.  He was quite intrigued by the very dark “mocha milk stout,” made with only one type of hop, five malts, plus vanilla and coffee.  The brewery recommends pairing this one, called “Orinoco,” with, of all things, doughnuts.

Right next door to Drygate is the gigantic Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery.  Brewing began at this location almost five hundred years ago, and the Tennent family brewery was founded in 1740, although they did not introduce lager until 1885.  Today, Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery produces 10,500,000 pints of lager weekly.  Even though lager is still more popular than craft beer, the company is starting to experiment.  Stafford tried a “Scotch ale,” which tasted like just that: ale with whiskey added.

If you’re heading for Scotland, you can locate interesting breweries on the Visit Scotland website:

https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/food-drink/breweries-craft-beer/map/

Beer Festivals.

What better way to mingle with other beer lovers and taste something new?  Here are some scheduled for this summer in Scotland, most of them one day only.

Whitecraigs Beer Festival, August 17^th.  Whitecraigs Rugby Club, Newton Mearns.  (This is south of Glasgow.)

The Real Ale Festival, August 23 – 25, features “real ales, ciders, and lagers from Scottish microbreweries.”  This is the 8^th year of the festival held at the

Royal Tay Yacht Club, Dundee.  However, you might want to put this on your schedule for 2020, as this year’s Saturday tickets are already sold out.  https://www.albarealalefestival.org/

The Giffnock Beer Festival, August 24, 2019, in Glasgow, also features cider and gin.  It’s run by the GHA rugby club, so you might meet some athletic types there.

Another rugby-sponsored beer event is the Hamilton Bulls Rugby Club’s

Beer Festival and Family Fun Day on August 10^th.  It’s in Hamilton, which is near Glasgow, Look for Bulls Beer Fest on Facebook.

Ale Trails

The extensive railway system in the U.K. inspired the creation of itineraries for traveling around by train and visiting various breweries and craft beer pubs.  Hard to imagine such a thing taking off in the U.S., but details are given for several routes online.  While the English ones were called “Real Ale Trails,” Visit Scotland uses the term “Rail Ale Trails.”  The suggested routes are posted on the website with careful details and enticing photos. Read more: https://www.visitscotland.com/blog/food-drink/rail-ale-trails-scotland/