Food pairing
Beer with duck
Rich, fatty poultry with a distinct gamey depth and crisp skin.
Much fattier than other poultry and distinctly gamey, usually served with something sweet and sharp — cherry, orange or plum — to cut it.
That fruit is the pairing hook. A beer with dark fruit character meets it while the malt handles the richness, and enough bitterness keeps the fat from accumulating.
Duck rules a lot of beer out, but several beers do the job it needs equally well. Pick between them on preference — the reasons matter more than the order. The attribute doing most of the work is fat.
What to drink
American stout — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Oud Bruin — strong
Tartness resets the palate between mouthfuls, the way a squeeze of lemon does.
Caution: A richer dish than this beer can clear from the palate.
American porter — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Caution: A richer dish than this beer can clear from the palate.
Bière de Garde — strong
Beer and dish carry similar weight, so neither flattens the other.
Caution: Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
Czech dark lager — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Caution: A richer dish than this beer can clear from the palate.
Double IPA — strong
Beer and dish carry similar weight, so neither flattens the other.
Weizenbock — strong
Beer and dish carry similar weight, so neither flattens the other.
Caution: A richer dish than this beer can clear from the palate.
American brown ale — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Caution: A richer dish than this beer can clear from the palate.
What not to drink
- Eisbock — Delicate food needs a beer that stays out of its way.
- International pale lager — Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
- Alcohol-free IPA — Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.