Are your beer friends dragging you to a craft brewery in an attempt to sway you away from your wine? You just might like what you taste. Beer styles are as diverse as wine varietals, so if you have a penchant for one of these three popular wines, try a comparable beer recommendation.
Chardonnay
If you love Chardonnay, you are not alone. It is the most popular white wine in the world, and the most enjoyed wine here in the United States. Chardonnay is crisp, light, and refreshing when only lightly aged, and buttery, full, and fruity when aged longer in oak barrels.
Chardonnay also takes its flavor from both the soil and the fruits added. There are three predominant fruit flavors: apple, pear, and citrus (including lemon, orange, and grapefruit). Some Chardonnays incorporate tropical fruits, like pineapple, for yet another flavor infusion.
Beer Recommendation: If you like Chardonnay, ask the craft brewer for a wheat beer. Like Chardonnay, wheat beer is light-bodied, thirst quenching, and aromatic. There are three primary wheat beer styles: German hefeweizen, Belgian witbier, and American wheat. All three infuse fruits in the brewing process, especially lemon and orange; add a slice to your glass to really unlock these flavors.
Merlot
Merlot grapes are hardy, and can grow all over the world. Cooler regions, like Italy and Chile, produce Merlots that are earthy in flavor. Warmer regions, like Australia and California, produce wines with greater fruit flavor. When aged in oak barrels, both styles develop a rich, full flavor.
Merlot is one of the most popular red wines, and also a good "starter" for people just getting started with wine. If you prefer Merlot over other reds, you probably enjoy it because of its more mellow flavor; usually, it is not too dry, too acidic, or too bold.
Beer Recommendation: If you like the mild-mannered Merlot, you will love a pint of the craft brewery's pale ale. Pale ale's flavors are, like those in Merlot, simultaneously modest and easy to drink. As a result, this beer is balanced and not too hoppy, bitter, or malty.
Riesling
The white wine varietal known as Riesling varies in flavor. These wines can be very sweet, very dry, or something in between. Regardless of sweetness, however, a great Riesling is very light, crisp, and acidic. It is almost never aged.
If you prefer Riesling over other wines, it is most likely the acidity that keeps you coming back. It is the acidity of Riesling that keeps it exciting, and keeps under control flavors that would otherwise be over-the-top.
Beer Recommendation: Called the "Burgundy of Belgium," the Flanders red ale is one of the best beers for Riesling lovers. This beer dons a reddish hue and is chock-full of complex flavors and tartness. The Flanders red ale attributes its unique flavors to--you guessed it--a highly acidic nature. This beer is available in many different sweetness levels, but like Riesling, it is easily identified by its acidity. It is not as common as other beer styles, so the craft brewery might not have it on tap. If this is the case, opt for a pilsner, which serves as the base beer in the Flanders red ale.
Next time your friends drag you for a night out at somewhere like Hoboken Beer & Soda Outlet, branch out from your usual preferences. You're sure to find a beer you like.
Share31 March 2015
My favorite part of every meal is dessert. Whenever I have time, I enjoy baking chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, brownies, and an assortment of 3 layer cakes. Unfortunately, family and job responsibilities prevent me from baking sweet treats as much as I would like to do so. Thankfully, I now have a piece of kitchen equipment that makes the task of preparing tasty desserts much easier. My sister-in-law gave me a mini cake maker for Christmas last year. This ingenious item allows me to bake several small cakes in less than 10 minutes. Now, my family can enjoy a different homemade dessert every night of the week. On this blog, you will discover the benefits of investing in a mini cake maker.