Food pairing
Beer with jollof rice
Rice cooked in a tomato and pepper base, with scotch bonnet heat and a smokiness that comes from the pot rather than from a fire.
The base is tomato, onion and red pepper reduced hard, with scotch bonnet supplying heat that is real but usually moderate in the rice itself. The prized smoky note comes from the layer that catches on the bottom of the pot, not from smoking.
Between the tomato acidity, the pepper heat and the smoke there is a lot happening, and the constraint is the capsaicin: bitterness will sharpen it. Something malt-forward and moderately strong meets the smoke and stays out of the way of the heat.
Jollof rice 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 aromatic spice.
What to drink
Sweet stout — outstanding
Gentle sweetness and modest strength take the edge off the chilli rather than sharpening 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.
Caution: Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
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.
Munich Dunkel — strong
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Caution: Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
Rauchbier — strong
Beer and dish carry similar weight, so neither flattens the other.
Dubbel — 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.
Oud Bruin — 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.
What not to drink
- Lambic — Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
- Alcohol-free pale lager — Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
- Milkshake IPA — Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.