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We’ve talked about pizza and beer. Now, let’s explore pizza’s Italian cousin by pairing pasta with beer. I have a pasta dish at least once a week, and when I was a student, at least once a day (if we count Pot Noodles). During my student days, I got to try different beers with my various pasta dishes, and in this article, I will set out the best beer with pasta. Not fancying pasta at Prezzo? Do not worry; I will share the best beer with Italian food more generally and give you a few Italian brews to try at home. Buon appetito!
Best Beer Styles to Pair with Pasta
Put the wine down, Sandra, and grab a brew, as I promise it’ll take your pasta dish to the next level. But not all beers work equally well with every type of pasta. Different sauces and ingredients call for specific beer styles to balance or complement their flavours. No stress; let’s break it down by common pasta categories.
Lagers with Cream-Based Pasta
Creamy pasta like fettuccine alfredo or carbonara can be rich and indulgent, so you’ll want a beer that cuts through that heaviness without overpowering the dish. Crisp, light lagers are perfect for the job. They’re clean and refreshing, making them a great palate cleanser between bites. Think of popular Italian lagers like Peroni or Birra Moretti. These beers won’t compete with the cream but instead highlight its smoothness.
Pilsners with Seafood Pasta
Seafood pasta, like spaghetti alle vongole (with clams) or pasta with shrimp, benefits from a more delicate pairing. Pilsners, with their slightly bitter finish and light malt flavour, perfectly contrast the briny, salty notes of seafood. They’re light enough not to overpower the delicate seafood flavours while bringing some bite to the table.
Amber Ales with Tomato-Based Pasta
You need a beer with enough depth for heartier pasta dishes like spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna, or anything with a rich tomato-based sauce. Amber ales are a great match. Their slight caramel, malty sweetness complements the tomatoes’ acidity and enhances the meat’s richness. An amber ale like Rogue Dead Guy Ale (fun name, I know) or Fat Tire can add a new layer of complexity.
IPAs with Spicy Pasta Dishes
If you’re brave enough for the spicier Italian dishes—like pasta arrabbiata (spicy tomato sauce) or dishes with chilli flakes—an IPA (India Pale Ale) is the way to go. The bitterness from the hops can counterbalance the heat, while the bold citrus or piney notes often found in IPAs enhance the spice.
Wheat Beers with Herb-Based or Vegetable Pastas
Light, herb-based pasta dishes like pesto or pasta primavera need a beer that complements the fresh, green flavours. Enter Wheat beers (like Hefeweizens). They’re light, a bit fruity, and have a slight tang that plays well with herbs like basil or dishes loaded with vegetables.
Porters and Stouts with Hearty, Meaty Pasta
When dealing with heavy, meaty pasta dishes—think wild boar ragu or pasta with braised short ribs—you need something to match those bold flavours. Porters and stouts, with their roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee notes, provide the perfect contrast to savoury, meaty dishes. These beers can hold their own against strong flavours, bringing depth and a hint of sweetness to balance the meat’s richness.
The Best Beer with Italian Food: From Antipasti to Desserts
Pairing beer with Italian food isn’t just about pasta. There’s a whole new world of Italian cuisine ready for you and your beer. From light appetisers to decadent desserts, here’s how to choose the best beer to complement every course of your Italian feast.
Antipasti & Light Starters: Pale Lagers or Blonde Ales
Italian antipasti, often featuring cured meats, cheeses, olives, and marinated vegetables, presents a range of savoury and piquant flavours. To balance this variety, you’ll want something crisp and clean that doesn’t overpower the delicate nuances of these appetisers. Pale lagers or blonde ales are excellent choices.
Beer Recommendation: Peroni Nastro Azzurro (pale lager) or Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (blonde ale).
Salads & Vegetable-Based Dishes: Wheat Beers or Saisons
For lighter, vegetable-forward dishes such as caprese salad or bruschetta, you’ll want something refreshing and slightly fruity. Wheat beers or saisons are your best bet here.
Beer Recommendation: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (wheat beer) or Saison Dupont (saison).
Risotto & Heavier Rice Dishes: Bocks or Porters
Risotto has a creamy consistency and earthy ingredients (think mushrooms or seafood) and needs a beer with depth. Bocks or porters are fantastic choices.
Beer Recommendation: Shiner Bock (bock) or Samuel Smith’s Taddy Porter.
Italian Desserts: Sweet Stouts or Fruit Lambics
I know you think I’m mad, but you can absolutely pair beer with dessert. For rich, chocolate-based Italian desserts like tiramisu or chocolate torte, opt for a sweet stout or milk stout. If you’re finishing your meal with something fruity, like a torta di frutta (fruit tart), a fruit lambic is the way to go.
Beer Recommendation: Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro (sweet stout) or Lindemans Framboise (fruit lambic).
Top Italian Beers to Try!
Why not go the extra mile and not only eat like an Italian but drink like one, too? Below is a curated list of the top Italian beers for you to knock back whilst tucking into some spaghetti.
- Birra Moretti 4.6% (Heineken Italia): A famous Italian lager known for its crisp and smooth taste with a subtle bitterness, offering a refreshing finish with notes of corn and a light malt sweetness.
- Peroni Nastro Azzurro 5.1% (Birra Peroni Industriale): A well-known Italian premium lager, characterised by its thin, crisp texture and an aromatic blend of citrus and balanced bitterness, delivering a clean and refreshing palate.
- La 150° Bionda 4.8% (Menabrea Brewery): A traditional Italian blonde lager that is aged longer to develop its distinctive floral and fruity aroma, coupled with a balanced, slightly sweet malt character and a crisp finish.
- Ichnusa Non Filtrata 5% (Birra Ichnusa): An unfiltered beer that offers a cloudy appearance and a rich texture, featuring flavours of fresh bread, yeast, and a hint of citrus, ending with a gentle hoppy note.
- Birra Messina 4.7% (Heineken Italia): A pretty, dark yellow, crisp lager with floral notes and a little honey sweetness.
- 4 Luppoli Originale 5% (Birrificio Angelo Poretti): 4 Luppoli Originale translates to “original beer with 4 hops varieties” is a low fermentation lager with a great flavour.
Let me know which Italian beer is your favourite!
Summary
Put the wine aside and consider pairing your pasta with beer to elevate your meal. Crisp lagers like Peroni and Birra Moretti are perfect for creamy plates of pasta, while pilsners enhance seafood dishes with their light, bitter finish. Amber ales like Fat Tire match well with tomato-based sauces, offering a sweet balance. IPAs cut through the heat of spicy pasta, and wheat beers like Hefeweizens complement herb-infused dishes. For meaty sauces, robust porters and stouts provide a hearty contrast. Beyond pasta, pale lagers and blonde ales suit antipasti, while wheat beers are great with salads, and dark ales enrich risottos.
FAQs
What beer goes with carbonara?
For carbonara, opt for a crisp, light lager like Peroni or Birra Moretti. These lagers cut through the richness of the creamy sauce without overpowering the delicate flavours, making them ideal for such indulgent dishes.
Is there a “wrong” beer to pair with Italian food?
There are no hard-and-fast rules, but some beers may overpower certain dishes. For instance, extremely bitter or high-alcoholic beers might overwhelm delicate pasta dishes like seafood or pesto pasta.
What is the main Italian beer?
The main Italian beer is Peroni Nastro Azzurro, widely recognised as Italy’s flagship lager. Known for its crisp, clean taste and refreshing finish, it is a premium beer that enjoys popularity both in Italy and internationally.
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