The Perfect Beer Pairings For Charcuterie Boards

Charcuterie is often associated with wine, but beer can be an excellent pairing too. The right beer can bring out the salty, fatty flavours in the meats on a charcuterie board. Sour beers, for example, are a great match for charcuterie. While some are piquant, acidic or vinous, sour beers are not always sour. They are made with non-traditional fermentations, which makes them so good for charcuterie pairings – there’s an endless supply of different flavours. If you’re not a fan of sour beers, go with a rich beer instead. Heavy, strong styles such as barley wine and double India pale ale slice through the richness of charcuterie.

Beer and charcuterie board basics

Charcuterie is a selection of meats and cheeses arranged on a board, usually made of wood, and surrounded by other foods that complement their flavours, such as nuts, fruits, crackers, and dips. It is a great option for social gatherings as it is informal yet sophisticated and packed with impressive ingredients and flavours.

When it comes to drinks, charcuterie is traditionally paired with wine. However, beer can also be an excellent pairing option, bringing out the salty and fatty flavours of the meats and cutting through the richness of the cheeses. Here are some tips and suggestions for creating the perfect beer and charcuterie board:

Choosing the Right Beer

The key to successful pairing is to identify the type of beer that will complement your meat and cheese choices. As a general rule, lighter meats and cheeses go well with lighter beers, while stronger and spicier flavours can be matched with hoppier beers or richer, darker beers. Here are some specific examples:

• Lighter options: For lighter, less gamey charcuterie with simple spices, a simple and proven classic like a German Pilsner or Lager is a good choice. Dry sparkling wines or unoaked white wines are also a safe bet.
• Hoppy beers: For stronger and spicier flavours, IPAs or APAs can stand up to the robust flavours of the meat. Beers with a strong hoppy flavour, like a West Coast IPA, pair well with salty meats like prosciutto or strong cheeses like blue cheese.
• Rich beers: If you want to go in a different direction, rich and strong beers like barley wine or double India pale ales can slice through the richness of the charcuterie.
• Sour beers: Sour beers are an excellent choice for charcuterie as they offer a wide range of flavours, from delicately piquant to elegantly acidic, and can balance the fatty and salty flavours of the meats.

Specific Pairing Ideas

• Creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert pair well with a light, tart, and fruity beer such as a Raspberry Lemon Berliner Weisse.
• Goat cheese is surprisingly good with a beer that has tropical flavours like mango or pineapple.
• Nuts like almonds and walnuts pair beautifully with a peach tea beer or any craft beer with a peachy flavour.
• Prosciutto is a must for your charcuterie board and is perfectly complemented by the bold hoppy flavour of a West Coast IPA.
• Olives and artichokes call for a pale ale or a blonde ale as a refreshing pairing.
• Dry salamis with robust flavours like garlic, pepper, or chilli go well with a light, sour beer that allows the flavour of the salami to shine.
• Peppered salamis can be balanced by the mild sweetness of an amber ale.
• Genoa salami is best paired with a light and crisp European lager or American adjunct lager to decrease the fattiness of the meat.
• Spicy meats, such as hot capocolla made from lean pork shoulder spiced with cayenne pepper, can be paired with an IPA to accentuate the spicy flavour.

Remember, charcuterie boards are all about customisation, so feel free to experiment with different beers and meats to find your favourite combinations!

Sour beers and charcuterie

Sour beers are an excellent choice to pair with charcuterie. While the term "sour beer" may bring to mind a strong tartness, these beers actually encompass a wide range of flavours and aromas, with varying levels of sourness. Some are delicately piquant or elegantly acidic, while others have a vinous quality or a hint of barnyard funk. This variety makes them extremely versatile for food pairings, and they are particularly well-suited to charcuterie.

The effervescence and firm acidity of sour beers refresh the palate and lift fatty flavours, while also balancing the salinity of cured meats. This allows the more subtle flavours of the meat and spices to shine through. For example, a fruity sour beer pairs well with the sweet and salty Prosciutto Americano, enhancing its clean flavour and hint of salt. Similarly, an oak-aged sour red ale complements the robust flavour of Bologna, and a sour brown ale matches the spiciness of soppressata.

Sour beers are also recommended for richer, creamier cheeses that may be included on a charcuterie board, such as triple crème. The light acidity of sour beers provides a nice contrast to the richness of the cheese. In addition, the carbonation found in many sour beers helps to cut through the fat content of the meat, further enhancing the complex flavours of charcuterie.

When creating a charcuterie and beer pairing experience, it is beneficial to offer a variety of beers that will complement each other and the selected food items. For instance, if you have a variety of salty cured meats like salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni, consider including some bitter ales such as India Pale Ales (IPAs), Double IPAs, or Imperial Stouts to balance out the saltiness. Providing small sample glasses of different beers allows guests to experiment with different combinations and discover their preferred pairings.

Rich beers and charcuterie

If you're looking for a beer to pair with a rich, creamy cheese, such as brie or camembert, a light, tart, and fruity beer will complement the cheese's tanginess. A Raspberry Lemon Berliner Weisse is the perfect pairing for these cheeses. If you want to take it up a notch, heat the brie up to make it extra creamy and gooey.

For those who enjoy a good goat cheese, a beer with tropical flavours like mango or pineapple will be a great pairing. The sweetness of the beer will complement the tangy cheese, while also mellowing out the grassy flavour notes. A Moon Dance Mango Wheat beer is the perfect pairing for goat cheese.

If you're looking for a more classic pairing, you can't go wrong with almonds and walnuts paired with a peach tea beer or any craft beer with a peachy flavour. The crisp, light, and refreshing beer will complement the sweet, tangy, and sometimes bitter flavours of the nuts.

For a bold and salty pairing, prosciutto and a West Coast IPA are a match made in heaven. The bold hoppy goodness of the IPA meets the delicate salty sweetness of the prosciutto. This pairing is a must for any charcuterie board.

Light beers and charcuterie

When it comes to charcuterie, light beers are a great choice to complement the flavours of the meats and cheeses on the board. Light beers are typically characterised by their light colour, light body, and crisp taste. They usually have a higher level of carbonation and are less bitter than other beers.

A light and crisp Pilsner, for example, pairs well with a variety of charcuterie meats, including salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni. The carbonation and crispness of the beer help to cut through the fat content of the meat, while its light flavour enhances the taste of the food without overwhelming it.

Another great option is a Kolsch, a light German Ale that goes well with salty snacks. This style of beer is also light and crisp, allowing the flavour of the salami to shine while still providing enough acidity to cut through the fat. Similarly, a Pale European Lager or an American Adjunct Lager is light and crisp, reducing the fattiness of meats like Genoa Salami, which is known for its cracked peppercorns and fresh garlic.

For those who prefer their beers with a bit of sweetness, a Vienna Style Lager is a great choice to combat the spiciness of salami. This style of beer is sweet, crisp, and smooth, providing a nice contrast to the rich and spicy flavours of the meat.

When serving a charcuterie board with light beers, it's important to provide small glasses or mugs so that guests can sample different beers without committing too much time or money. It's also a good idea to have a variety of barware, such as coasters, bottle openers, and corkscrews, to make it easier for everyone to enjoy the beer selection.

Beer and cheese pairings

Charcuterie and cheese boards are a great way to showcase your favourite meats and cheeses and impress your guests. While wine is a popular drink pairing, certain styles of beer can also bring out the best in the salty, fatty flavours of the meats and cheeses on your board.

When it comes to beer and cheese pairings, a good rule of thumb is that the lighter the flavour of the cheese, the lighter and more crisp the beer should be. Conversely, richer, creamier cheeses pair well with heavier, more robust beers.

For creamy, rich cheeses like Brie or Camembert, a light, tart, and fruity beer such as a Raspberry Lemon Berliner Weisse is a perfect match. The crisp, refreshing quality of the beer cuts through the richness of the cheese, especially when it is melted and gooey.

Goat cheese, on the other hand, pairs well with a smooth and tropical beer like a Moon Dance Mango Wheat. The sweetness of the beer complements the tangy, grassy notes of the goat cheese.

Monterey Jack, a mild and buttery cheese with a bit of tang, pairs well with a hop-forward Off Trail Pale Ale. The bitterness and hoppiness of the beer balance the tanginess of the cheese.

For those who like blue cheese, a bold, bitter IPA can help cut through the sharpness of the cheese. The hoppiness of the beer stands up to the strong flavour of the blue cheese.

If you're looking for a more unusual pairing, try a sweet and spicy red pepper jelly with a smooth and tropical Moon Dance Mango Wheat. The combination of sweet and spicy flavours in the jelly is accentuated by the tropical notes in the beer.

Finally, for those who prefer their cheese melted, a soft pretzel with ample beer mustard pairs perfectly with a light and easy-drinking Fraser Valley Lager. The crispness of the lager cuts through the richness of the pretzel and mustard.

So, the next time you're planning a charcuterie and cheese board, consider branching out from the traditional wine pairing and explore the diverse range of craft beers that can elevate your tasting experience.

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