A glass of cold beer goes well with nearly any kind of cooked meat, be it fried, grilled, or stewed. When done right, the pairing can enhance the flavors rather than overpower the food’s essential taste with bitterness. Here are a few recommendations to point you in the right direction.

How to Pair Your Beer With Meats

1. Wheat Beer

Because of its light, smooth texture, wheat beer goes well with a broad range of foods. Its citrus undertones complement something as fresh as poke or as savory as kalua pig, minus the bitter taste you would experience with heavier, stronger beers.

2. Amber Ale

A swig of amber ale goes well with a bite of pulled pork, barbecue, or brisket to cleanse the palate. Amber ales are mild in taste but rich in caramel and roasted malt notes that give it a characteristic dry, crisp finish, perfect for balancing out savory, smoked tastes.

3. Lager

Considered by many to be the quintessential beer, lager gets its distinct amber color from added caramel syrup to offset the nuttiness from roasted malt. As a result, a pint of lager is equal parts light and crisp, which harmonizes with heavily spiced foods.

4. Brown Ale

Compared to other types of beer, brown ales are more of an acquired taste because they lack the hops and flavors of medium-colored beers. Instead, their nutty taste hints of chocolate and coffee, which meld with the roasted flavors of smoked meats, brisket, and beef short-rib.

Pair delectable Hawaiian food and meats with a mug of refreshing, cold beer at Kawailoa Tavern. Located in Haleiwa, HI, their sumptuous offerings of grilled meats, fusion cooking, and happy hour specials make the restaurant the place to be on the island of Oahu. Check out their menu online, and call (808) 744-3754 to order takeout.