Ok, I get it . . . beer and carrots might seem like an odd pairing at first glance. But I promise you, there’s more to this orange vegetable than you might be thinking. And once you discover all the possibilities, pairing craft beer and carrots won’t be such a foreign concept.
Carrots have long been my favorite vegetable and I think that’s because of how my mom would prepare them. I’ve included a variation of her recipe below, but let’s just say it involves butter and brown sugar. Being introduced to this vegetable in such a sweet way at a young age, gave me a built-in affinity for this orange treat.
What I discovered as I grew up is that carrots are already quite sweet compared to other vegetables so no matter how they are prepared, you typically get a nice sweet undertone. The irresistibly crunchy carrot is more versatile than one may think so, I’ve come up with five different ways to prepare carrots and a beer that pairs perfectly.
I’ve used all Cincinnati beers for this craft beer and carrots pairing guide. Not in Cincinnati? Feel free to swap it out for a beer near you of the same style.
Want to learn more about the amazing carrot? Check out the California Crunch Council on Instagram or on Facebook.
Craft Beer And Carrots Pairings
Carrots Dipped In Carrots
Any hummus fans out there? If you haven’t discovered hummus then you’re missing out. It’s a snack that is flavorful, filling, and typically healthy. And while most hummus is made from chickpeas; it can be made from other ingredients – including carrots.
I made a homemade carrot hummus but you can also purchase it at most grocery stores. For my dipping apparatus, I opted for a simple wheat cracker as well as carrots. That’s right, I dipped my carrot in some carrots.
To take this hummus to the next level, I’m pairing it with the West Side Brewing Hefeweizen. This German-style wheat beer brings great notes of clove and spices. It perfectly complements the hummus and elevates the overall flavor.
And while some may consider this a snack, I can easily make this into a lunch on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
Thai Carrot Soup
While you can probably find this soup on a menu somewhere, it is also great to just make at home. There aren’t many ingredients and it is the perfect dish to add as a side to a Thai-themed meal, or keep it simple by grabbing a piece of naan and a beer to complete your dinner.
What I also like about this recipe is you can kick it up a notch by adding items like cilantro, basil, hot sauce (sriracha), brown sugar, or any other simple ingredient. By doing this, you can really intensify the profile of the soup from spicy to sweet to savory. I’d opt to kick up the spice on it.
For a soup this unique and flavorful, I wanted to ensure the beer could stand its ground so I am pairing it with a big IPA. And in Cincinnati, big hoppy IPAs are often associated with Rhinegeist. And while they offer a number of different IPAs, I’m selecting their flagship, Truth. It gives lots of piney, resinous flavors along with a hoppy bitterness that pushes back against this bold soup.
Candied Carrots
Want parenting advice on helping your kids enjoy carrots? Add brown sugar.
While I know many aren’t fans of adding sugar to their kid’s food, it worked for me. The carrots in my childhood home were made with brown sugar and butter, and to this day I still love carrots in all forms.
This recipe is simple, canned carrots work just as good as raw. Boil them, then add butter and brown sugar until you find the flavor desired. About a quarter cup of each is a good place to start. Some recipes will call for salt and pepper as well. The end result is a sweet treat as a side dish.
Any time we are talking sweet foods, I tend to lean towards dark beers. That’s normally because we are talking dessert. But that’s not the case here as these carrots will probably be served with dinner. So, I’m recommending a brown ale; specifically, MadTree Knotty Brown. You’ll get a nice smooth beer that has subtle chocolate, brown sugar, and vanilla notes. It accentuates the carrots amazingly while also pairing well with just about any entree that’s on your plate.
Roasted Carrots
Since carrots are most often used as a side dish, I had to go with a classic – roasted carrots. These are so simple and the best part is you can add different seasoning to change up the flavor. Traditionally, salt and pepper along with some olive oil is all you really need.
In addition to adding your own flair of seasoning, you can easily add other vegetables but I’d recommend sticking with just the carrots – I mean, they are the best. The key to a dish like this is not over cooking the carrots. They are naturally crunchy and that gives your meal character and complexity.
The natural sweetness and earthy flavors of the carrot are really prominent when cooked this way so I like to pair it with a beer that is clean and crisp, but still packs a lot of spice-like flavors. Fifty West Doom Pedal is perfect for this.
It provides elements of coriander, orange, grains of paradise, and has a slight peppery finish. It is the perfect complement to the carrots and your entire meal.
Gajar Halwa
As I considered all of the great ways to enjoy the crunchy carrot, I knew I wanted to include a dessert. But using carrot cake seemed way too basic, which led me to discover Gajar Halwa.
It was the first time I’ve enjoyed this Indian-inspired pudding. The recipe does include nuts, but I am allergic so I left those out and instead roughly chopped up some additional carrots to add the crunch that the nuts would have provided.
The result was amazing. Primarily smooth with a nice crunch that makes it interesting.
So, what do you pair with a carrot-based dessert? I couldn’t help but go with a stout. It is my go-to for dessert pairings. In this case, I wanted something that accentuated the natural sweetness of the carrots. My selection is the Wooden Cask Corruption. This barrel-aged stout has great vanilla and bourbon notes from the bourbon barrel, but still retains a nice smooth roast character as well.
Craft Beer & Fast Food Pairing Guide
Go Crunch Out On Some Carrots
Carrots are the most versatile vegetable I know. They can be enjoyed in any way imaginable, all the way from raw to steamed to roasted to blended, and even included in desserts.
The natural sweetness, crunchy profile, and bright color adds great variety to any meal. For me, it is a nostalgic and simple food that reminds me to slow down, relax, and enjoy the moment.
Want to get more crunchy carrots in your life? Check out the California Crunch Council on Instagram or on Facebook.
Beer pairing should be a part of your everyday, rather than being reserved for fancy meals or special events at breweries. If you drink beer while eating, then it is worth slowing down and thinking about how they pair. You’ll get so much more enjoyment out of the food and the beer.
But before pairing any other types of food, go pair craft beer and carrots!
Disclaimer: This article was sponsored by the Crunch Council Of California. All food and beer recommendations were selected by me and were not controlled by the sponsor. The only requirements were the use of carrot-based dishes and Cincinnati beer.
