Top 10 Beer and Calamari Pairings for the Perfect Match
Elevate your calamari experience with these top 10 beer pairings. Start with a classic Czech-style pilsner like Victory's Prima Pils, whose hoppy bitterness complements crispy fried calamari. For grilled squid, try Harpoon's citrusy UFO Hefeweizen. Hop-forward IPAs like Lagunitas pair beautifully with sesame grilled calamari. Crisp lagers, bold stouts, tart fruit beers, and malty barleywines all provide delightful contrasts. Wheat beers offer a balanced match, while amber ales lend a malty backdrop. Sessionable summer ales and barrel-aged brews also make stellar companions. Explore the versatility of beer and calamari for your next unforgettable dining experience.
Key Takeaways
- Crisp and refreshing lagers like German pilsners or Belgian-style witbiers provide a light and balanced contrast to savory fried calamari.
- Robust stouts with coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt notes pair excellently with the savory, briny flavors of fried calamari.
- Hop-forward IPAs with floral and citrus notes can offset the savoriness of sesame-grilled calamari.
- Barrel-aged barleywines offer a full-bodied, malty backdrop that supports the umami-laden flavors of calamari dishes.
- Tart, fruity acidity in certain beer styles can cut through the richness of fried calamari, cleansing the palate and providing a refreshing contrast.
Victory Brewing Co.'s Prima Pils
Brewed in the classic Czech-style, Victory Brewing Co.'s Prima Pils offers a hoppy and spicy alternative to most pilsners. With its light, dry finish, Prima Pils complements the crispy fried calamari, balancing the light and crispy nature of both.
This pairing is reminiscent of the classic beer-pairing delight of mini fish and chips, offering a similar contrast of flavors and textures. The beer's hoppy bitterness offsets the savoriness of the fried calamari, creating a well-balanced and complementary flavor profile.
For those seeking innovation, this pairing provides a unique twist on the classic beer and seafood combination. The hoppy and spicy notes of Prima Pils enhance the crispy fried calamari, making for a delightful and harmonious dining experience.
Harpoon Brewing Co.'s UFO Hefeweizen
Often, Harpoon Brewing Co.'s UFO Hefeweizen captivates beer enthusiasts with its American wheat beer profile. Elevating shrimp cocktail with beer pairings can be equally successful with calamari dishes.
The citrus flavor of this invigorating wheat beer beautifully balances the saltiness of roasted garlic in a grilled squid dish. The cloudy appearance and foamy head of the UFO Hefeweizen complement the flavors of a dish combining grilled squid, pineapple, and roasted garlic.
The lightness and drinkability of the UFO Hefeweizen pair well with the savory tastes of a grilled squid dish. This versatile beer's balance of tart and sweet malt notes makes it an excellent pairing for various seafood preparations.
Lagunitas Brewing Co.'s India Pale Ale
Lagunitas Brewing Co.'s India Pale Ale's hoppy bitterness with floral and citrus notes offsets the savoriness of sesame grilled calamari. While this pairing works well, it's worth noting that beer and seafood combinations can be versatile and offer unique flavor experiences.
The floral and citrus character of Lagunitas IPA complements the seasoning of salt, soy, and citrus often used in grilled squid preparations. The bitterness of Lagunitas IPA provides a nice contrast to the lightly charred and seasoned calamari.
Based in Petaluma, California, Lagunitas is known for its bold and hop-forward IPAs. The complex, hoppy profile of Lagunitas IPA makes it a versatile pairing for a variety of grilled and fried seafood dishes.
Crisp and Refreshing Lager Pairings
A crisp, invigorating lager can be the perfect foil to the savory, lightly fried calamari. The light, ideal nature of a German pilsner like Victory Prima Pils complements the tender calamari and balances the fried texture.
Similarly, the zesty, citrus notes in a Belgian-style witbier like Allagash White create a bright contrast to the savory calamari. When considering beer and cheese pairings, the principles of balancing flavors and textures also apply to calamari and lager combinations.
For a classic American pairing, a clean, neutral lager like Budweiser or Miller Lite provides the best backdrop to let the calamari's flavor shine. Ultimately, the best lager and calamari pairings marry crispness, luminance, and balance for a match made in heaven.
Bold and Roasty Stout Pairings
While lagers provide a crisp, invigorating backdrop for calamari, bold and roasty stouts offer an equally compelling pairing. Much like stuffed mushrooms, calamari benefits from the rich, complex flavors of stout beers. The contrast between the light, tender squid and the robust beer creates a delightful taste experience.
Guinness Draught's creamy mouthfeel and toasted barley taste provide a complementary balance to crispy calamari. Bell's Expedition Stout's intense dark fruit and licorice flavors cut through the richness of heavily battered calamari. Founders Breakfast Stout's notes of chocolate, coffee, and oats create a harmonious pairing when enjoyed with calamari. Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout's silky, full-bodied texture and subtle sweetness enhance the natural sweetness of grilled or sautéed calamari. Robust stouts with coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt notes pair excellently with the savory, briny flavors of fried calamari.
Hop-Forward IPA and Calamari Combo
In addition to robust stouts, hop-forward IPAs make for an equally alluring pairing with the savory delights of fried calamari. The piney, resinous notes in West Coast-style IPAs complement the deep-fried calamari's seasoning, while juicy, tropical fruit-forward New England-style IPAs strike a perfect harmony with the crispy batter.
Double IPAs stand up to the bold flavors of fried calamari while cutting through the oil, and the high-bitterness and assertive hop profile of classic American IPAs create an ideal balance to the rich, savory nature of the dish. The intense bitterness and citrus/piney hop flavors of hoppy IPAs and DIPAs provide a delightful contrast to the crispy, salty calamari.
Balanced Wheat Beer and Calamari
Balanced wheat beers like Blue Moon or Allagash White can provide a delightful pairing for the savory and crispy notes of fried calamari. The lightly fruity and spicy flavors of these wheat beers help balance the saltiness and richness of the fried seafood. Their smooth and invigorating qualities cleanse the palate between bites.
The creamy mouthfeel and subtle tartness of wheat beers create an interesting textural contrast to the crispy calamari. Additionally, the subtle hop bitterness can cut through the fried breading and highlight the natural sweetness of the calamari. This complementary pairing allows both the beer and the fried dish to shine.
Malty Amber Ale Calamari Delight
An amber ale's malty, caramel-like sweetness pairs perfectly with the savory, tender texture of fried calamari. The fuller body and moderate hop profile of an amber ale can stand up to the bold seasoning often used on fried calamari.
The slightly toasted, biscuit-like malt character of an amber ale complements the lightly charred, crispy exterior of the calamari. An amber ale's low to moderate carbonation helps cleanse the palate between bites of the rich, fried calamari. The amber ale's malt-forward profile balances the saltiness and umami notes often found in calamari dishes.
Calamari With Sessionable Summer Ales
When the weather warms, you'll find calamari's light, crispy texture pairs remarkably well with sessionable summer ales boasting citrus and floral hop notes. A crisp, invigorating Kolsch-style beer like Sam Adams Summer Ale can balance the salty and fried flavors of calamari.
The light and dry finish of a pilsner like Victory Prima Pils complements the delicate nature of fried calamari. Wheat beers like Harpoon UFO White have a zesty, effervescent quality that cuts through the richness of calamari. American blonde ales with their subtle malt sweetness provide a nice counterpoint to the brine of calamari.
Barrel-Aged Beers for Calamari Indulgence
For calamari indulgence, gaze no further than barrel-aged beers. Barrel-aged stouts and porters with their rich, roasted malt flavors pair beautifully with the savory, charred notes of grilled or fried calamari. Bourbon barrel-aged imperial ales provide a delightful contrast to the light, crispy texture of calamari with their complex notes of vanilla, oak, and bourbon.
Wild ales fermented in oak barrels pick up funky, earthy flavors that complement the briny, oceanic essence of calamari. Aged sour ales with their tart, fruity acidity can cut through the richness of fried calamari and cleanse the palate. Barrel-aged barleywines offer a full-bodied, malty backdrop that supports the umami-laden flavors of calamari dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Beer Pairs With Calamari?
When pairing beer with calamari, you'll want a brew that complements the dish's light, fried texture and savory, umami flavors. Consider a crisp pilsner, hoppy IPA, roasty porter, or fruity hefeweizen – they'll all bring out the best in your calamari.
What Beer Pairs Best With Seafood?
Did you know that 97% of beer lovers enjoy experimenting with new beer and food pairings? When it comes to seafood, lighter lagers and wheat ales complement delicate dishes, while bold IPAs and malty porters elevate heartier options.
What Is a Good Beer to Cook Seafood With?
For cooking seafood, you'll wanna try pale ales, IPAs, and lagers to enhance the natural flavors. Stouts and porters add depth, while wheat beers and Belgian-style ales offer complex notes that pair perfectly with your favorite seafood dishes.
What Is the Best Combination for Beer?
For a more refined palate, craft brews with complex flavors perfectly complement the delicate essence of seafood. Experiment boldly – the perfect union of beer and calamari awaits your discerning taste.
