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Beer for Italian Food
Beer and Food by KRAZYKARL
Ok guys, help me out. My friend claims that the best alcoholic beverage to have with italian food is wine. I say pish-posh! But when I think about it, not much comes to mind when I think of what to drink with a good italian dish. A pilsner? IPA? (Just cause I will drink an IPA under any circumstances). I must know. Well, just beer for thought...
20 years ago
KISSMYBASS
4375
I would try an Ommegang Three Philosophers... Almost a wine like personality. Open and pour it in a nice glass at the table. That would be impressive. And if you have to, leave the price tag on. Ha Ha
Kissmybass
This message was edited by kissmybass at 10/5/2004 8:35:57 AM.
In Reply To #1 It depends on the dish for me. If it's a hearty Italian meal like lasagna or baked ziti, I like to pair with a gueuze or an unblended lambic. The acidic nature of those beers goes well with the tomato sauce IMO. Not sure if that will fit everyone's taste buds, but it meets mine perfectly. If we're talking something more plain like spaghetti with marinara or a plain pizza, I go with a good vienna lager or marzen like jonmoore said.
There is a wide variety of wines, true--and an even wider variety of Italian foods. However, the beer spectrum is wider by far than both put together. I can think of some nice red wines to pair with southern Italian cuisine, which features lots of tomato-based sauces, and garlic. Northern Italian cuisine is different. Think of Florence and you think of cream sauce, cheese sauce, spinach, mushrooms--these pair well with white wines. But wine is so limited, really. What wine would you pair with hot and spicy penne arabiata? Stumped? Try a beer! A cold Moretti lager would cut that hot spice nicely. What wine would you pair with torta cicolatta (chocolate cake)? This is a serious challenge for wine. Maybe a merlot, but think about it--a chocolate stout is so-o-o-o much better! Nothing against wine, trust me. Got me a few decent bottles in the skeller, and there are times when wine is fine. But why settle for wine when you can have beer?? Foam
Well, oiz, I read that article and I am now trying to find this Birra Moretti La Rossa you speak of. I just hope I can find it here in town. Is it even a widely distributed beer? As for the Vienna lagers and Oktoberfests, since I am a beer noobie and I don't have a lot of experience with either of these styles, could you recommend a few particulars that I should be able to get in Tucson? I have a pretty reliable store, but it is still somewhat limited to west coast distributions.
In Reply To #9
Karl...being an east coaster, I know not much of anything with regard to the beer distribution of Moretti products out west....the only advice I have is for you to contact your local Heiny distributor and see if they can get it for you somehow (since Moretti is now run by Heineken)......As for the vienna lagers and OkFest beers.....see if Hacker-Pshorr OkFest is available out your way....it's probably my favorite OkFest beer....Paulaner makes a good OkFest, and so does Sam Adams.....Sammy A might be the way to go for the mear fact that it may be the easiest one to get!
Oiz
P.S. Here is Moretti's Web Site for more info on La Rossa: www.birramoretti.it
This message was edited by Oiznop at 10/6/2004 10:12:51 PM.
Getting back to the original question, my answer to beer versus wine with an Italian meal is that it depends on the spiciness of the meal. A standard tomato based pasta dish, without too much heat still begs a good Italian red wine (although I suppose beer certainly is acceptable). For a dish that's spiced up, or grilled, or both, beer would be a better accompaniment in my book. In this case I'd say go for a standard lager, a Vienna lager, or even a pilsner. I can't really picture an IPA (one of my favorite styles incidentally) with Italian food, although I will say that I have had one while waiting for my meal at a good Italian restaurant - and it worked. But if anyone has derived happiness from this combo, enjoy yourself, far be it from me to discourage you.
ST.PAULIESGIRL
528
If your someone who does not drink wine and would like a beer, my advice would be for a lager. mmm..mmm.. good