Catch, fish: which beer goes best with fish dishes?
Fish is probably the most popular appetizer for beer. People drank beer with taranka and wobla back in the days when there were no garlic croutons or onion rings on the cafe menu. Today the assortment of fish dishes for beer has become wider than before, so it has become more difficult to choose — not any fish is suitable for beer, and vice versa. Let’s find out what gastronomic combinations with beer are considered the most successful.
General rules
If you do not want to delve into varieties and directions, you can use these universal recommendations:
— light beer without bitterness goes well with white fish;
— white smoked fish will be even tastier when paired with a strong light beer with moderate bitterness;
— seafood — crabs, shrimps, lobsters — are better with light, slightly sweet beer;
— spicy and savory fish dishes can be accompanied by dark hoped beer with a pronounced bitterness.
More about styles
Let’s talk more about which styles and trends pair best with specific fish dishes.
Dark types of beer — for example, porter, Belgian strong dark ale — are best paired with cold-smoked red fish, preferably not very salty. This can be pink salmon, chum salmon, salmon.
Belgian wheat beer will make an excellent tandem with smoked salmon or capelin — a rather fatty fish with a mild flavor.
Mackerel, halibut, sea bass dishes will harmoniously complement light varieties of beer, in particular, various lagers.
The most universal beer pairing for fish is a variety of ales, including Belgian ales. They go well with almost any fish dishes, especially with fatty soft hot-smoked fish — mackerel, salmon, perch. In some cases, kriek and lambic also go well with it.
You can try quality beer and tasty appetizers to it in Brasserie Lambic network. The menu of our beer restaurants includes hundreds of quality beers from Belgium and other countries of the world, as well as many other dishes and drinks for every taste. Come and we will find something to surprise you!
Beautiful season, enchanted eyes: what beers to drink in the fall
If in summer you want lightness — both in food and drink — then with the onset of the cold season, your tastes change. You need something more dense, warming from the inside, to wrap yourself in this feeling like in a plaid. We tell you what kind of beer to drink in the fall to hit both the atmosphere and the state of mind. Autumn flavor One of the most popular foamy drinks during the cold season is dark beer. Strong, full-bodied, velvety varieties like stouts and porters are just what you need for a cozy fall. For example, it could be Sans Pardon Russian Imperial Stout, with a deep, balanced flavor with notes of roasted malt, chocolate, licorice, fruit, coffee and molasses. Or Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout, dense and aromatic, brewed with espresso coffee beans and a corresponding flavor profile. Belgian strong dark ale can be an alternative to stout and porter. You can try Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple with a dense flavor dominated by fruity tones, malt sweetness and spicy nuances of spices. Or, for example, Triporteur Full Moon 12, which tastes of roasted malt, caramel and cola. If you want something unusual, you can try L’ensemble di Montalcino barleywine. It is a strong barley beer aged in barrels from Italian wine Brunello di Montalcino. Baladin Wayan, an original spicy beer with five grains and nine spices, will also fit well into the autumn atmosphere. Where to try Autumn will be warmer if you spend it in Lambic! Our beer restaurants have dozens of beers from Belgium and other countries of the world. Dense, rich, velvety flavors will perfectly suit your mood and warm you up in any cold weather. And we also have a large menu of various dishes, including seasonal ones, which harmoniously combine with your favorite drinks. Come in — we’ll be sure to offer you something you’ll like!
19 November 2024
I come from Germany: about the kölsch beer style
If you go to Cologne, Germany, and enter any brewery, you will be poured a small glass of light beer, very soft and drinkable. This is Kölsch, a legendary style of beer, somewhat similar to other light beers such as lagers, pilsners and ales, but unique in its own way. What is its peculiarity and how to drink kölsch properly — we will tell you in this article. Just the facts Unlike many varieties with a long history, kölsch appeared relatively recently — about 120 years ago. Its birthplace is Cologne, hence the name, which literally translates as «Cologne». Even today the city continues to preserve its heritage: only 20 breweries can brew Kölsch, and all of them are located either in Cologne itself or in its vicinity. The recipe and brewing technology are controlled by the Kölner Brauerei-Verband, an organization of Cologne brewers. However, kölsch is still brewed outside Germany, most often by small craft breweries, but unofficially. Beer with the flavor of German summer Kölsch belongs to hybrid styles, a kind of exception to the general division into lagers and ales. It is not too appropriate to compare it with other light styles: it is less bitter than German pils, not as fruity as ales, not as malty as helles. There is no single recipe for the drink. Each brewery decides for itself how much hops and malt to add. Kölsch is well-fermented, has an average strength of 4-5 degrees and a bright hop profile. The flavor of this unique beer is fresh, slightly sweet, with pronounced notes of bread, flowers, honey, spices, and grass. Minerality is present in the aftertaste. The aroma is delicate, malty, with tones of hops and fruit. Beer serving in German bars deserves special attention. It is poured into stem glasses — long low glasses with the volume of only 0.2 liters. This is explained by the fact that kölsch is quickly exhausted in the air, so it should be consumed as soon as possible. Drinking the variety ice-cold is not recommended, it is usually heated to 8-10 degrees. Looking for a place to try popular beers? Come to Lambic! Our beer restaurants feature labels from all over the world. We also have a varied menu with many interesting European dishes, cozy atmosphere and excellent service. Come — we’ll find something you’ll like!
19 November 2024