If you like beer and you like food, and you’re pretty fond of drinking beer with food, then here’s some good news for you: Dark Lagers are the food lover’s dream! This style of beer brings tasty background flavours of roasted nuts, toast, caramel, cocoa and coffee with umami/savoury characteristics from the roasted or caramelised malts. All of which work like a dream with many dishes.  

 Take a look at the BJCP guidelines (page 50) and you’ll see why this style of beer is so well balanced. And unlike many other dark beers, this one is a Lager (as the name suggests) so makes for a refreshing pint. Bang on for food pairing!

Ingredients to pair with Dark Lager

Earthy, roasty, smoky, nutty flavours like roasted, smoked and barbecued foods, tomato-based sauces, toasted breads and nuts, whole grains, black beans, lentils, tahini and veggies like mushrooms, root veg, pumpkin and squash. Also good with spiced food.

Condiments, spices and sauces: miso, soy sauce, salsa, tomato ketchup, mustard, smoked paprika.

Not great with: desserts

Dishes to pair with Dark Lager 

• Anything barbecued!

• Bratwurst with mustard, ketchup, caramelised onions, sauerkraut or pickles

• Burritos and tacos - ideal with black beans and salsa

• Mushroom fried rice (try using brown rice to get those nutty, earthy flavours)

• Stir fry with soy sauce

• Mushroom stroganoff

• Roasted cauliflower ‘wings’ and BBQ sauce

• Roasted squash with tahini, miso and lemon dressing, spinach and toasted croutons