The best beer pairings for summer

Beer consumption multiplies with the arrival of high temperatures. Summer is the season with the highest per capita beer consumption. In this sense, the summer heat leads us to choose lighter beers, lower in alcohol and, ultimately, highly refreshing. There are different styles that fit this profile and that also improve significantly with the right food pairing. Let’s look at some ideas to beat the heat.

• Pale lagers. Whether you go for a Czech pilsner or a German helles, there’s a simple pairing that works perfectly. It’s very easy to prepare. Over some French fries—either from a bag or homemade in a pan—drizzle a bit of Valentina sauce (or another Mexican‑style hot sauce) and squeeze some lime on top. It’s super simple, and we’re warning you now: it’s addictive. But why do they go so well together? The beer brings malt sweetness and hop bitterness, while the fries provide heat, acidity and saltiness. You’ve got all the possible flavors in this combination.
• Low-ABV dark lagers. In this section we include bock, dunkel and schwarzbier style beers that don’t go overboard on alcohol content. Who said dark beers are only for winter? Thanks to their malty, clean character, these beers are fantastic for pairing with grilled food. They bring together the caramel and roasted notes of the malts with the smokiness of the meat and vegetables. The result of this combination is spectacular. This would be a pairing by affinity, since there isn’t a strong contrast.

• Sour beers. There’s plenty to choose from here: Belgian lambics with or without fruit, Berliner Weisse or modern sours. The spectrum of sour beers is very broad and also offers options for every budget. In this case, a good pairing would be some kind of fried food. For example, alongside a portion of battered calamari. The acidity of these beers helps “cut through” the oil on the palate, so the batter doesn’t end up overwhelming the experience.

As you can see, lager beers offer very broad pairing possibilities, thanks in part to their “clean” profile, free from the esters and phenols associated with top fermentation. At the same time, sour beers are also great allies on muggy days and pair wonderfully with fatty foods. Are you up for trying some of the pairings above?