Food for froth

Wheat beer with prawns? Or light lager with cheese? The author studies the science behind beer and food pairing

Who would have thought that there is an entire science behind beer and food pairing - that subtle fruity notes of wheat beer would go well with Gruyere cheese, while the heavy and rich porters would taste divine with smoked and barbecued food? "There's definitely a change in the way people perceive beer. There was no notion that beer could be citrusy, lemony or rich," says sommelier Magandeep Singh, who has designed and curated the menu at the Naya Beer Garden at Anya, Gurgaon.

Mild: Light lagers
If the beer is very mild, say the citrusy Stella Artois, or a light lager like Corona, then the accompanying food should be mild as well. "So that it doesn't mask the taste of the beer completely," says Singh. So tandoori prawns, charcoal roasted mushrooms, tilwale tandoori aloo, grilled fillet of sole, sushi, grilled meats, light pasta dishes would be ideal with these.

Medium and rich-bodied: Ale, stouts, porters

If the beer is rich, heavy and caramelly like a stout, porter, ale or barley wine, it would be best accompanied by smoky, charred flavours. The ideal accompaniments to these would be gosht Irani kebabs, rich stews, sausages, south east Asian and Mexican fare. There are certain sommeliers who find similarities between beers and wines and then pair the food accordingly. For instance, it is said that ale is like a robust red wine and so, a spicy Thai cake would go well with it. "But these are easy generalisations. Beer is a different product and, hence, will result in a different kind of food combination," says Singh.

Aromatic and fruity: Wheat beer
"Creamier textures would go with wheat beers," says Singh. Wheat beer is not just beautiful to look at - it's sunshine in your glass, with the colours ranging from lemon yellow to flaming orange - it has delicious undernotes of herbs and spices such as cloves and galangal. According to BBC Good Food, Mexican food such quesadillas and guacamole pair well with it as "the scrubbing bubbles [of wheat beer] are perfect for cutting through the fat of cheese and avocado, or the starchiness of black beans and rice." Shellfish preparations such as steamed mussels and paella, and light salads also go well with it.

Light bodied: Lagers
"Fried food would go well with lagers as the drink cuts through the fat of the dish," says Singh. One must visit the culinary website, Epicurious, for more such suggestions. An article here by James Oliver Cury states that the best pairing for lagers are with south east Asian and Latin fare, spicy Indian food and grilled pork and chicken.

Indian food and beer?
Indian food pairs well with certain kinds of beer. "In the West, people have chilled lagers with spicy food to kill the heat. However, in India, we are not daunted by the spice, so we can see and appreciate flavours beyond the heat," Singh says.