Food is more than the fuel to keep us alive. It is an element of who we are and whole cultures are often recognized by their food. A specific meal has the power to unite people and stir up nostalgia. Especially if you think back to those meals that always make you miss home. But have you ever paired craft beer and home cooked classics?
There are lots of beer pairing guides that focus on high end, exotic, or trendy foods. That isn’t this list. Instead, let’s take a look at those feel-good, comfort foods that are cooked in homes every night. If you are like me, you eat these simple meals quite often.
The pairings below will provide a beer recommendation for each along with a second option for those that live in my area, Cincinnati (gotta show my hometown some extra attention). I will limit my recommendations to beers that are packaged since the goal is to drink these at home with you home cooked meal.
After reading the list, comment below and let me know what your favorite home cooked classics are and I’ll try to update the article with those if I can find a good beer pairing for it.
Craft Beer And Home Cooked Classics
Meat Loaf
I’m not sure there is a home cooked meal more classic than the meat loaf. Everyone knows what it is and has probably had it many, many times.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t have the most glamorous name but that hasn’t stopped it from being on dinner tables generation after generation.
While there is a good amount of ground beef in this dish, the fillers help make it light. It’s often paired with mashed potatoes and vegetables to complete what many of us consider to be a great family dinner.
My recommendation for meat loaf is a brown ale. Much like the meat loaf, it is not as heavy as it might appear. And with a balanced approach to hops and malts, it will elevate flavors of the meal without altering them.
Recommendation: Cigar City Maduro
Cincinnati Pick: Dogberry Bray’s Brown
Lasagna
One of the challenges of pairing beer and food is to create a combination that elevates the flavor of both. The other challenge is to prevent the beer or food from making you too full to enjoy the meal.
Lasagna is such a filling meal on its own that the beer needs to add flavor but as little body as possible.
A great pairing for this classic Italian dish is a berliner weisse. While most beers in this style that you’ll find will have fruit added, I recommend one without. The light body will ensure you can finish the lasagna while the tart flavor will stand up to the big flavors.
Recommendation: Creature Comforts Athena
Cincinnati Pick: Jackie O’s Berliner Weisse
Tacos
People go crazy for tacos. Much like pizza, the great thing about tacos is they can be made with just about anything. Their versatility and mobility and unmatched by other food options.
Since you can put just about anything in a taco, it’s really tough to pick a specific beer for pairing. But one thing that is common among all tacos are bold flavors. These bold flavors might be driven by peppers or spices but either way you’ll want something that can stand up to it.
The beer that can consistently do that is an IPA. While many beer styles would fade into the background, an IPA will keep pace with whatever you throw its way. Look for an IPA that focuses on piney or resin hop flavors with maybe a touch of citrus flavors. This is often called a West Coast IPA.
Recommendation: Stone IPA
Cincinnati Pick: West Side Double IPA
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Timeless and simple. That is how I’d describe spaghetti and meatballs. And it’s a dish that can be found on dining room tables across the world while also being served at high end restaurants.
While I am sure there are those that would argue about how the sauce should be made and what type of meat is used in the meatballs, those same people would agree that this meal is in their regular rotation.
While many will say that wine would pair better with a red spaghetti sauce, beer can rise to the challenge. And for this dish, I’d recommend a pilsner. Its light body won’t get in the way of the heavy pasta. While the tomato sauce is acidic, the lager finish of the pilsner is not. And the effervescence of a pilsner is a great distraction from the heaviness of the meatballs and pasta.
Recommendation: Victory Prima Pils
Cincinnati Pick: Rivertown Kontrola
Pot Roast & Vegetables
When it comes to cooking at home, many recipes allow the entire meal to be cooked in one container. Not only does this make preparation easy but more importantly it allows all of the flavors to come together.
That blending of flavors is exactly what happens in a pot roast. It’s a rich, hearty meal that deserves a rich and hearty beer. That can only mean one thing, I’m recommending a stout or porter to pair with a pot roast.
There are many different variations of these styles so it is best to stick to a basic stout or porter. Avoid any that have added flavors like coffee as that wouldn’t pair well.
Recommendation: North Coast Old Rasputin
Cincinnati Pick: Rhinegeist Panther
Roasted Chicken
Much like a pot roast, a roasted chicken is often cooked with lots of vegetables. As it cooks, the flavors mix to create a one of a kind flavor. Much of the flavor of the chicken will be dictated by the kinds of herbs and spices that are used.
Unlike the pot roast, this meal is much lighter. So we will pair a beer that won’t overpower but instead add flavors that go well with herbs and spices often used with chicken.
A farmhouse ale or saison will do just that. There are great elements of earthy, floral flavors in this beer that will bring to life the roasted chicken.
Recommendation: Boulevard Tank 7
Cincinnati Pick: Yellow Springs Captain Stardust
Chili
There’s few foods that remind of me fall and football like chili. Chili will warm you up and is perfect for feeding large groups gathered to watch the game on a Sunday afternoon.
You’ve probably got your own special recipe as most people love making a chili that is unique. Some go super spicy while other use every kind of bean they can find.
Regardless of how you make it, a classic pale lager is a great pick to drink when enjoying chili. The low ABV means you can grab another can every time you get another serving of chili. And if the chili is spicy, a lager is great to cool your taste buds and prepare you for another bite.
Recommendation: Founders Solid Gold
Cincinnati Pick: March First American Craft Lager
Tuna Casserole
If you love eating fish, then this list was probably not for you. Even this dish isn’t what most people think of as a fish based meal.
But I had to include it as it’s a meal that is very nostalgic to me. I’m confident that I ate tuna casserole hundreds of times growing up. Rich, creamy and filling; this isn’t your standard fish dish. My Mom always included peas in it as well which added a nice crisp snap.
Obviously, I wasn’t drinking beer with this meal as a child but that doesn’t mean I can’t recall the flavors and wonder what would have made a good fit.
This casserole is heavy and rich but the flavors are quite soft. Which makes it very difficult to find a beer that will work. So I’m going with the gose as my style of choice. Light body, low ABV, assertive flavor and a touch of salt. All of this will add to the tuna casserole making it better than ever.
Recommendation: Sierra Nevada Otra Vez
Cincinnati Pick: Urban Artifact Gose Series
Final Thoughts
Beer and food are really similar. Sometimes it is simplicity that makes it great; while other times it is the complexity. But when it is great, you know it.
They are quickly connected to memories of people and places. A sip of beer or the aroma of a meal can quickly bring you back to a time and place.
So pairing craft beer and home cooked classics just seems natural. Take your favorites from both categories and put them together to create something new yet nostalgic at the same time.
What’s your favorite home cooked meal?
Leave a comment and let me know what beer you think pairs best with it.
