Beer Pairings for Your Favorite Christmas Desserts
From candy canes to gingerbread cookies, every holiday treat can have a perfect beer pairing.
Illustrations by Em Sauter
Christmas is THE holiday for food. The dinners, the cookies, the treats! I've chosen three holiday treats and paired them with three English beer styles. Expand your horizons this holiday season and try some new beers.
Candy Canes and Stout
For people who say you shouldn't pair mint with beer -- they are missing out on one of the best flavor combos of all time: mint and chocolate. The silkiness of chocolate flavor in the beer meshes well with a classic candy cane. Chocolate flavors tend to vary in beers from heavy bakers chocolate to creamy milk chocolate. American porters and stouts tend to be more bitter and hoppy than their English counterparts so reach for something across the pond like Young's Double Chocolate Stout. Pairing beer and foods are all about creating new flavor sensations, similar to when you cook or bake.
Another beer to try:
Great Life Brewing Classic Milk Stout (Kingston, NY)
Gingerbread Cookies and Dark Mild
Gingerbread is one of the holidays' most recognized flavors. And pairing a beer with those scrumptious cookies should complement the ginger, not hide it. Dark Mild is a wonderful beer style that is sessionable (usually around 3% ABV) with notes of raisin, toffee, licorice and coffee - these flavors have great appeal during December. This beer pairing creates a ginger laden fruitcake in every bite. Visit your local brewery if you are looking for a Dark Mild; the style has been brewed more in the United States in recent months. If you find yourself in England Banks' Mild is easy to find.
Another beer to try:
IBEER Into the Mild (Italy)
Pecan Pie and UK Strong Ale
My mother's pecan pie brings back memories of sitting around my grandmother's dining room table after Christmas dinner. For this super sweet treat, a beer style like UK Strong Ale will work nicely- adding complexity with alcohol warmth and flavors of dried fruit and walnuts. Don't let the "strong" ale name scare you away either- most UK Strong Ales are 5.5-8% ABV. Beers like Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome are the perfect beer to sip after a large meal.
Another beer to try:
Lake Placid Ubu Ale (Lake Placid, NY)
From Pints and Panels' family to yours- Happy Holidays!