Do you ever grow tired of reading about how to pair craft beer with food that you’ve never had? Let’s be real that most of us aren’t eating gourmet meals on a regular basis. Or is that just me? Either way, let’s pair craft beer and fast food since we are probably eating it much more often than Beef Wellington or scallops.
If you are fancy enough to enjoy the finer things in life on a regular basis then this probably isn’t the beer pairing guide for you. But if you are like me, then you find yourself in the drive thru line more often than you’d like to admit. So why not get it to go and bring it home to pair it with a nice craft beer.
Beer that is packaged and more widely available was chosen when possible.
Craft Beer And Fast Food Pairing Guide
Taco Bell
If you don’t like Taco Bell then we can’t be friends. Yes, there’s much better food available but there is something great about how they’ve created an entire menu out of the same core ingredients.
And it just tastes good. It may not be the highest in quality but it’s tasty, cheap and fast. Which is what fast food is all about.
When it comes to eating Taco Bell, everyone has their favorite but I’m still a fan of the classic soft taco with at least two packets of hot sauce. And while some may look towards a Mexican lager for this pairing, I am going the opposite way and making Taco Bell as classy as possible with a nice Saison (aka Farmhouse Ale).
The Saison will cut through the fatty ingredients but remain light enough so you can still eat mass amounts of tacos.
Recommendation: Boulevard Tank 7
Cincinnati Pick: Yellow Springs Captain Stardust
McDonald’s Breakfast
Quite possibly the most popular spot for breakfast on the go, McDonald’s has dominated the early morning fast food scene for years. Despite being very popular, I think the Egg McMuffin is one of the worst things ever made. I find it nauseating for some reason.
But give me a McGriddle and I’m happy.
So if you are grabbing some McD’s breakfast and want a beer to go with it, I don’t think there’s a better option than a coffee stout.
Recommendation: Founders Brewing Breakfast Stout
Cincinnati Pick: Braxton Brewing Dead Blow w/ Starter
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A has created a new category of fast food where service comes first and the chicken sandwiches are legendary.
I hear the trick is they marinate the chicken in pickle juice. (read the comments section to see that this is actually an internet myth!) Which leads me down the road of complimenting this with a beer that brings in some additional salt.
That’s right, let’s put a nice Gose with that Chick-fil-A sandwich and their waffle fries (upgrade the dipping sauce because they are too good for ketchup!)
Recommendation: Anderson Valley Gose
Cincinnati Pick: Urban Artifact Pickle Gose
Chipotle
My next comment might upset you . . . I do not like Chipotle.
I know that everyone goes nuts for it but I think there are much better burrito places. But since it is popular, I had to include it on this list.
Chances are you are getting either a burrito or burrito bowl when you go to Chipotle and the portion size is going to be really big. For that reason, I suggest embracing the “Mexican” nature of their food while keeping the beer light. Let’s pair a Mexican Lager with Chipotle.
Recommendation: Oskar Blues Beerito
Cincinnati Pick: Christian Moerlein Lime Lager
Wendy’s
There are certain foods that I associate with specific restaurants. For better or worse, I think of chili when I think of Wendy’s. Most probably think of their square hamburger patties or their snarky social media responses.
I’ve enjoyed their chili for decades and it has remained the same while the rest of their menu has evolved.
Their chili is simple but satisfying. However, one thing it lacks is heat. So since it is a mild chili, let’s add a beer that will kick up the spice level.
Recommendation: Oddside Imperial Mayan Mocha Stout
Cincinnati Pick: Rivertown Death
Burger King
While Wendy’s and McDonald’s are also on this list, I saved the cheeseburger for Burger King.
Why? Because I prefer the Whopper. It is a big, messy cheeseburger that embodies all that is right (and wrong) about fast food. Flame broiled and delicious, their burgers have a ton of flavor. I also recommend substituting the french fries for onion rings.
You’ve got a lot going on with a Whopper so you’ll need a beer that isn’t going to fight you. Let’s stick with a simple but flavorful porter. It’s got enough flavor to be noticed but not so much that you miss out on the Whopper. And the slight roast of a porter will compliment the flame broiled smoke flavor of their burger.
Recommendation: Deschutes Black Butte
Cincinnati Pick: Rivertown Roebling
Arby’s
We Have The Meats!
Or at least that is what they claim. I have to give Arby’s credit as they hold their own against fast food restaurants that focus on burgers and the occasional chicken sandwich while they sell roast beef.
Arby’s is a great option when you are burnt out from the standard fast food menu. So grab a roast beef sandwich and some potato cakes with ample amounts of their Arby sauce then pair it with a straight forward IPA.
Recommendation: Stone IPA
Cincinnati Pick: Rhinegeist Truth
Read A Full Review Of Stone IPA
KFC
There’s nothing like taking a food that is healthy and preparing it in a way that makes it not. But I think that is what makes deep fried chicken an American favorite.
Crunchy, greasy, and messy this fast food option is famous for selling their food by the bucket-full. Which when you think about it, that is kind of disturbing.
If you are eating chicken by the bucket then let’s have a beer that can be found served by the bucket as well. That’s right, a nice lager goes perfect with KFC fried chicken.
Recommendation: Yuengling Lager
Cincinnati Pick: March First Craft American Lager
Subway
The biggest complaint about Subway is there is more bread than meat. For those that feel that way, you are probably not loading your sandwich up with enough toppings.
The magic of Subway isn’t the amount of meat but rather that you get to put as many of the toppings on that you want. It is a fully customized sandwich.
But I understand the complaint so let’s give you a craft beer that pushes the filling feeling over the “bready” edge with a malty brown ale.
Recommendation: Bell’s Best Brown Ale
Cincinnati Pick: Dogberry Bray’s Brown
Pizza Hut
If you want the complete rundown on what craft beer to pair with pizza, then check out this article.
But for this article, I couldn’t pass up the chance to include Pizza Hut on my list of craft beer and fast food pairings. Pizza is quick, easy, and you’ll be hard pressed to find many that don’t enjoy it. It has become an American staple.
For this article, we will keep it simple with a pepperoni and cheese paired with a classic pale ale because a classic deserves another classic.
Recommendation: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Cincinnati Pick: MadTree Brewing PSA
White Castle
You either love or hate White Castle. There’s no in between.
And when you decide to eat White Castle, you are making a commitment that you may regret. So to help see past that regret, I’m going to suggest you go big with the craft beer choice to pair with their sliders.
Drown those sliders in Stout. This style won’t back down from the heavy onion flavor and it will help you stay optimistic if you immediately regret your decision.
Recommendation: Deschutes Obsidian Stout
Cincinnati Pick: West Side Brewing Stout
Read A Full Review Of Deschutes Obsidian Stout
Whether you love or hate fast food, you probably find yourself eating it from time to time. The balance of price and convenience fits perfectly into our busy lives.
But just because we are eating fast food, doesn’t mean we can’t indulge in a well made craft beer. So hopefully these craft beer and fast food pairings will help inspire you to crack open a beer the next time you bring home some fast food. Or maybe you’ll take some fast food with you when you head to the next taproom.
Regardless of what you are eating, think about how craft beer can make it even better.