Food pairing
Beer with aubergine
Absorbs fat and takes char extremely well, turning silky and smoky.
It absorbs whatever fat it is cooked in and turns silky, and roasting or grilling gives it a genuine smokiness. That combination makes it behave much more like meat than most vegetables do.
So it takes roast and smoke well, which is unusual for a vegetable. The fat it has absorbed still needs cutting, so a beer with some bitterness holds up better than a purely malty one.
Aubergine does not constrain the beer much: nothing clashes and nothing is clearly best. Drink what you like, or choose for the sauce, the seasoning or the sides, which will decide more than the dish itself.
What to drink
American stout — outstanding
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
American wild ale — strong
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Caution: Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
Belgian golden strong ale — strong
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Caution: Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
Belgian IPA — strong
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Tripel — strong
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Black IPA — strong
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Dry stout — strong
Roasted malt echoes the charred, caramelised edge of the food, so the two reinforce each other.
Australian sparkling ale — strong
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Caution: Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
What not to drink
- Doppelbock — Delicate food needs a beer that stays out of its way.
- Eisbock — Delicate food needs a beer that stays out of its way.
- Wee heavy — Delicate food needs a beer that stays out of its way.