Complete Beer Pairing Guide
28 Beer Styles,
Perfect Pairings
From crisp Kölsch and hoppy IPA to rich Imperial Stout and malty Doppelbock — discover exactly which beer elevates every meal, cheese board, and dessert.
28
Beer Styles
84
Pairing Suggestions
6
Style Categories
All Beer Styles
Beer Style Guide
Every beer style has a unique flavour profile and the perfect food to match. Filter by category or browse all 28 styles.
Ale
Kölsch, Cream Ale, Blonde Ale
Style details →
MealLighter food: chicken, salads, salmon, bratwurst; Monterey jack cheese.
CheeseMonterey Jack, brick or similar light, nutty cheese.
DessertLight apricot or mandarin cake, lemon custard tart.
Ale
British-Style Bitter
Style details →
MealWide range of food: roast chicken or pork, fish & chips; mild cheese.
CheeseMild English cheese such as Lancashire or Leicester.
DessertOatmeal-raisin-walnut cookies or satisfyingly basic dish.
Ale
Pale Ale
Style details →
MealWide range: meat pie, English cheese; great with a burger!
CheeseEnglish cheese such as cheddar or Derby with sage.
DessertPumpkin flan, maple bread pudding, bananas Foster.
Ale
India Pale Ale
Style details →
MealStrong, spicy food (classic with curry!); bold, sweet desserts.
CheeseMilder blue such as Gorgonzola or Cambozola.
DessertCaramel apple tart, ginger spice cake, persimmon rice pudding.
Strong
Double / Imperial IPA
Style details →
MealSmoked beef brisket, grilled lamb; Southern chicken-fried steak.
CheeseSharp and rich American artisanal blue.
DessertVery sweet desserts: carrot cake, caramel cheesecake, crème brûlée.
Ale
Amber / Red Ale
Style details →
MealWide range: chicken, seafood, burgers; great with spicy cuisine.
CheesePort-Salut or other lightly tangy cheese.
DessertPoached pears with dulce de leche, banana pound cake, pecan lace cookies.
Strong
Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
Style details →
MealRoasted or grilled beef, lamb, game, smoked salmon.
CheeseAged sheep cheese: Mizithra or Idiazabal (smoked!).
DessertBrilliant with sticky toffee pudding or chocolate chip shortbread.
Ale
Brown Ale, Altbier
Style details →
MealHearty foods: roast pork, smoked sausage, grilled salmon.
CheeseAged Gouda or a crumbly Cheshire.
DessertAlmond or maple-walnut cake, pear fritters, cashew brittle.
Strong
Abbey Dubbel
Style details →
MealBarbecue, meat stews, thick steak or smoked rib roast.
CheeseWashed-rind abbey-type cheese or French Morbier.
DessertHeavenly with milk chocolate; butter truffles, chocolate bread pudding.
Strong
Abbey Tripel, Strong Golden Ale
Style details →
MealSpicy Cajun food, crab cakes, pheasant or roast turkey.
CheeseTriple-crème such as St. André or Explorateur.
DessertNon-chocolate desserts: apricot-amaretto tart, baklava, Linzer torte.
Strong
Old or Strong Ale
Style details →
MealBig, intense dishes: roast beef, lamb or game, grilled or roasted.
CheeseDouble Gloucester or other rich, moderately aged cheese.
DessertSpiced plum-walnut tart, classic cannoli, toffee apple crisp.
Strong
Barley Wine
Style details →
MealEasily overpowers most mains. Best with strong cheese or dessert.
CheeseStilton and walnuts is a classic.
DessertRich, sweet desserts: chocolate hazelnut torte, toffee caramel cheesecake.
Porter
Porter
Style details →
MealRoasted or smoked food: barbecue, sausages, roasted meat, blackened fish.
CheeseCow milk such as Tilsit or Gruyère.
DessertChocolate peanut butter cookies, toasted coconut cookie bars.
Stout
Dry Stout
Style details →
MealHearty, rich food: steak, meat pie; a classic with raw oysters.
CheeseIrish-type cheese like a Dubliner cheddar.
DessertChocolate soufflé, tiramisu, mocha mascarpone mousse.
Stout
Sweet or Oatmeal Stout
Style details →
MealRich, spicy food: barbecued beef, Oaxacan mole, hearty Szechuan dishes.
CheeseGreat with very buttery well-aged cheddar.
DessertChocolate espresso cake, cream puffs, profiteroles.
Stout
Imperial Stout
Style details →
MealStands up to foie gras, smoked goose; easily overpowers most mains.
CheeseLong-aged cheese: Gouda, Parmesan or cheddar.
DessertDark chocolate truffles, chocolate raspberry mousse cake.
Wheat
Hefeweizen
Style details →
MealLighter food: salads, seafood, sushi; classic with weisswurst.
CheeseSimple chèvre goat cheese or herbed spread such as Boursin.
DessertStrawberry shortcake, fruit trifle, very light dessert; key lime pie.
Wheat
American Wheat Ale
Style details →
MealBest with very light foods: salads, sushi, vegetable dishes.
CheeseBuffalo mozzarella or Wisconsin brick.
DessertToo light for most desserts; fresh berries or a fruit soup.
Wheat
Witbier
Style details →
MealLighter seafood dishes — classic with steamed mussels.
CheeseMascarpone or herb cheese spread on crackers.
DessertBanana orange crêpes, blood orange sorbet, panna cotta with lemon.
Wheat
Dunkelweizen
Style details →
MealSubstantial salads; roast chicken or pork; excellent with hearty sausage.
CheeseSoft-ripened goat or smoked Gouda.
DessertSweet potato tart, peach pecan strudel, banana cream pie.
Wheat
Weizenbock
Style details →
MealRoast pork, beef, smoked ham or game dishes.
CheeseAged provolone or Spanish Manchego.
DessertTarte tatin (caramelized apple), pine nut torta with dried fruit, banana soufflé.
Lager
Classic Pilsener
Style details →
MealLighter food: chicken, salads, salmon, bratwurst.
CheeseMild white Vermont cheddar.
DessertLight desserts: lemon shortbread, fresh berries with sabayon.
Lager
Helles, Dortmunder
Style details →
MealLighter food: salads, seafood, pork; works with spicy Asian, Cajun, Latin.
CheeseWisconsin butterkäse or other soft and mild cheese.
DessertLight desserts: blueberry trifle, cranberry-apple cobbler.
Lager
Oktoberfest, Märzen, Vienna
Style details →
MealMexican or any hearty, spicy food; chicken, sausage, pork.
CheeseThe perfect beer for spicy jalapeño jack.
DessertMango or coconut flan, almond biscotti, spice cake with pine nuts.
Lager
Amber Lager
Style details →
MealHearty, spicy food: barbecue, hamburgers, chili.
CheeseWhite cheddar, jack, brick.
DessertPassionfruit bread pudding, pears poached in doppelbock.
Lager
Dark Lager, Dunkel, Schwarzbier
Style details →
MealHearty, spicy food: barbecue, sausages, roasted meat.
CheeseAuthentic washed-rind Münster.
DessertPomegranate tart with walnuts, candied ginger pear cake.
Lager
Maibock / Pale Bock
Style details →
MealSpicy food like Thai or Korean barbecue; great with fried chicken.
CheeseClassic Emmenthal Swiss cheese.
DessertApple almond strudel, white chocolate cheesecake, honey-walnut soufflé.
Lager
Doppelbock
Style details →
MealRich roasty foods: duck or roasted pork shanks; great with cured meats.
CheeseLimburger is a classic!
DessertGerman chocolate cake, Black Forest cake, dried fruit (rumtopf) rum tart.
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