Harmony Chandler
Chilli con carne is a hearty meal that can be made in several ways, with different ingredients, spices, and heat levels. Beer is one of the most popular drinks to pair with chilli con carne, with some recipes even adding beer to the dish itself. When choosing a beer to go with chilli con carne, it's important to select one that can complement the heat, meat, spices, and other ingredients such as cheese, onions, or avocado.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Beer Type | Vienna lager, Black and Blue (Blue Moon and Guinness), American- or Belgian-style Brown ale, Dark lager, Negra Modelo, Dos Equis Amber, Any light or medium-colour and body beer with a crisp finish that isn't too hoppy |
| Beer Characteristics | Flexible, can handle heat, meat, spices, cheese, onions, or avocado |
| Beer in Chilli | Adds incredible flavour |
What You'll Learn
Beer in chilli con carne
Beer is a popular ingredient in chilli con carne, and it is also a popular drink to pair with the dish.
Cooking with Beer
When cooking chilli con carne, beer is often added to the stew to enhance the flavour. Any beer can be used, depending on personal preference. However, darker beers, such as stout, porter, or German beer, are commonly used. The beer is added after sautéing the onions and browning the seasoned meat. This is followed by adding the tomatoes and letting the chilli simmer.
Pairing Beer with Chilli Con Carne
When it comes to pairing beer with chilli con carne, flexibility is key due to the wide variety of ingredients, spices, and heat levels in chilli recipes. A beer that can complement the spice, meat, and other ingredients is ideal. Here are some specific beer styles and brands that pair well with chilli con carne:
- Vienna lager, an amber lager introduced to Mexico by Austrian brewers in the 1800s, is a popular choice. Negra Modelo and Dos Equis Amber are well-known brands in this style.
- Black and Blue, a combination of Blue Moon and Guinness, is another excellent choice.
- Light or medium-coloured and bodied beers with a crisp finish that are not too hoppy will also go well with chilli.
- American or Belgian-style brown ales, such as those from the Norwegian brewery Nøgne Ø, can be a great match.
- Dark lagers like the Mexican Negra Modelo are also worth considering.
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American- or Belgian-style brown ale
When it comes to chilli con carne, beer is often the best drink option. American- or Belgian-style brown ales are a great choice to accompany this hearty dish. These brown ales offer a terrific pairing, with their malty, nutty, and slightly sweet flavours complementing the spicy, savoury, and meaty notes of chilli con carne.
American brown ales tend to have a more pronounced hop character, contributing a pleasant bitterness that can contrast and cut through the richness of the dish. They often feature a blend of American hops, such as Cascade or Centennial, which impart citrusy and piney aromas, adding a layer of complexity to the beer. Belgian brown ales, on the other hand, usually have a more subtle hop presence, with a focus on malt character. They may exhibit flavours of caramel, toasted bread, dark fruit, and a hint of yeast-derived spice, resulting in a smoother, more rounded flavour profile.
The Norwegian brewery Nøgne Ø is specifically recommended for producing a terrific imperial brown ale that would pair excellently with an authentic chilli con carne. Their beer can likely stand up to the bold flavours of the dish, enhancing the dining experience.
When selecting an American- or Belgian-style brown ale to pair with chilli con carne, it is advisable to choose one that is flexible and can complement the heat, meat, spices, and any additional toppings such as cheese, onions, or avocado. A brown ale with a crisp finish that is not overly hoppy will typically work well, allowing the nuances of both the beer and the food to shine through.
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Dark lager
When choosing a dark lager to pair with chilli con carne, look for one that is not too heavy or high in alcohol content. A lager with a crisp, clean finish will complement the dish without overwhelming the other flavours. Beers such as Guinness Extra Stout or Negra Modelo are excellent choices, as their slightly sweet and caramelly flavours will enhance the chilli's spice without being too heavy.
Overall, dark lager is a versatile and tasty choice for enjoying with chilli con carne or for adding to the dish itself. Its malty, slightly sweet flavours complement the spices and other ingredients in chilli con carne, making it a popular and delicious pairing.
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Vienna lager
Chilli con carne is a hearty meal with a lot going on flavour-wise, so it's best to have a flexible beer that can handle the heat, meat, spices, and toppings such as cheese, onions, or avocado. One beer that can take on all that spice and hold its own against a variety of other ingredients is Vienna lager.
The Vienna lager is a reddish-copper lager with a slightly bready malt profile. It was invented by Anton Dreher in the 19th century and is characterised by its distinct malt flavour, achieved through a unique kilning process. The kilning process involves using hot air instead of direct heat, which gives the malt a lighter colour and a more distinct profile. The resulting beer is slightly sweet and caramelly, with bright apple notes that play nicely against the earthy notes of beans and cumin spice in chilli con carne. It is also a low-ABV beer that holds up beautifully to ageing.
The Vienna lager is a good choice for chilli con carne because it can stand up to the spice and strong flavours of the dish while providing a nice contrast with its sweet and caramelly flavour. The bright apple notes in the beer also complement the earthy tones of the beans and cumin spice. Overall, the Vienna lager is a flexible beer that can handle the complex flavours of chilli con carne, making it a good choice for those who want to enjoy a beer with their meal.
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Beer flexibility
Beer is a very flexible beverage, and its versatility is highlighted by its use in cooking. Beer is a popular ingredient in chilli con carne, adding flavour to the dish. Different beers can be used, depending on personal preference, and the type of beer used can be tailored to the desired taste profile. For example, a dark beer is used in a Texan-style chilli con carne, while a German beer is used in another recipe.
Beer is also a popular drink pairing with chilli con carne. The flexibility of beer means that it can be paired with a wide variety of chilli recipes, which can vary in ingredients, spices, and heat levels. A flexible beer that can stand up to the heat of chilli, as well as the meat, spices, and toppings, is required for a successful pairing. One such example is Vienna lager, an amber lager that is popular in Mexico and the US. Its slightly sweet, caramelly flavour is an excellent complement to spicy dishes, making it a popular choice in Tex-Mex restaurants. The bright apple notes in the beer also pair well with the earthy flavours of beans and cumin spice found in chilli con carne.
Another recommended pairing is a Black and Blue, a combination of Blue Moon and Guinness. Overall, light to medium-coloured beers with a crisp finish that are not too hoppy are recommended as a pairing with chilli.
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Frequently asked questions
Some good beers to drink with chilli con carne include German beers, such as Schlenkerla, which has a smoky, bacon-like taste. You could also try a Vienna lager, such as Negra Modelo or Dos Equis Amber, or a Black and Blue (a combination of Blue Moon and Guinness).
Vienna lager is an amber lager that was introduced to Mexico by Austrian brewers in the 1800s. It is slightly sweet and caramelly, with bright apple notes that play nicely against the earthy notes of beans and cumin spice in chilli con carne.
Yes, a big hearty red wine or a simple, light-flavoured cocktail will also pair well with chilli con carne.
Some red wines that go well with chilli con carne include malbec, shiraz, tempranillo, and select cabernet sauvignons. For cocktails, try a Pimm's Cup, a Presbyterian, or a Paloma if your chilli is spicy.
