Food pairing
Beer with moules-frites
Mussels steamed in wine and shallot with fried potatoes, which is two pairing problems served on one table.
The mussels are saline, sweet and delicate in a broth that is acidic from wine; the chips are hot fat and salt. A beer has to handle both, and they want slightly different things.
What resolves it is a beer with its own acidity and high carbonation — which is why this is a Belgian dish drunk with Belgian beer, and why a witbier or a saison suits it better than either a pilsner or anything dark. The acidity agrees with the broth and the carbonation handles the chips.
Moules-frites narrows the field sharply, and one answer stands clear of the rest. Most beer falls down on at least one thing this dish demands. The attribute doing most of the work is salt.
What to drink
Witbier — classic pairing
Two problems on one table: delicate saline mussels in an acidic wine broth, and hot salty chips. A witbier is the beer that answers both — its own acidity agrees with the broth rather than fighting it, and the carbonation handles the fry. This is a Belgian dish drunk with Belgian beer for structural reasons rather than patriotic ones.
Caution: Expect the beer to refresh rather than to stand up to the food.
Dry stout — outstanding
Dry roasted bitterness against saline, savoury seafood is one of the sharpest contrasts in beer and food — the classic case being oysters with dry stout.
Irish extra stout — outstanding
Dry roasted bitterness against saline, savoury seafood is one of the sharpest contrasts in beer and food — the classic case being oysters with dry stout.
Munich Dunkel — outstanding
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
American brown ale — outstanding
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Bière de Garde — outstanding
Beer and dish carry similar weight, so neither flattens the other.
Czech dark lager — outstanding
Deep malt character matches the savoury weight of the dish instead of sitting apart from it.
Dubbel — strong
Beer and dish carry similar weight, so neither flattens the other.
What not to drink
- Milkshake IPA — Delicate food needs a beer that stays out of its way.