Food pairing
Beer with game birds
Lean, savoury birds with a pronounced gamey character.
Lean, dark and distinctly gamey, usually roasted and served with something sweet. Less fat than duck and more assertive flavour than chicken.
Malt depth meets the gaminess and the roasting. A beer with dark fruit character bridges whatever fruit accompanies the bird.
Game birds 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
English porter — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Munich Dunkel — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
American brown ale — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
American porter — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Czech dark lager — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Oud Bruin — strong
Beer and dish carry similar weight, so neither flattens the other.
Dark mild — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Strong bitter — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
What not to drink
- Lichtenhainer — A light beer against a heavy plate tends to disappear.
- Alcohol-free pale lager — A light beer against a heavy plate tends to disappear.
- Milkshake IPA — Delicate food needs a beer that stays out of its way.