Maybe it’s you or the person you’re dining with who is a devout beer drinker. You’ve given wine a try before, but it was about as enjoyable as a Saison when you wanted a Stout. There’s no reason to completely shut out wine. I love pairing beers with food, but let’s not forget that food’s original pairing was with wine.

Finding a beer drinker’s wine is a matter of matching the flavors of favorite beer style with a comparable style of wine. Just as there are variances in styles of beer so there will be in wine types. You may need to try a few of a particular style to find your favorite. This also works in reverse. If you’re a wine person who wants to give the world of beers a try, give a beer that matches your favorite wine a try.

 

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Here are six common beer styles and their wine counterpart.

Lager:

If you like the dry crisp refreshing taste of a lager, give Brut Cava (a Spanish sparkling white wine) a go.

Why you’ll like it: Brut Cava is generally light, bubbly, dry, crisp, and pair well with most dishes. They’re also not expensive.

Wheat Beer:
Wheat beers are typically smooth and creamy (occasionally fruity). The choice for you is Chardonnay.

Why you’ll like it: Chardonnays are known for their smooth fruity round flavor usually with hints of oak.

Pale Ale:
Because of their balanced flavor, body, and aroma pale ales are a recommended entry point for new beer drinkers. Just like the pale ale, Merlot is a middle of the road wine.

Why you’ll like it: Merlots are typically medium in body, with the perfect balance of dryness and fruitiness.

 

IPA:
IPA lovers enjoy the complexity of beer. Citrus, fruity, bitterness, and everything in between works. Carmenere is your choice.

Why you’ll like it: Carmenere is a wonderful balance between fruitiness, savory, and bitterness. The variety and balance of flavors will remind you of a good IPA.

Porter:
A medium body beer with some earthy flavors, dark fruits, and occasional spices.
The wine for you is Syrah.

Why you’ll like it: The Syrah and porter share many of the same flavor and body qualities. They also pair with similar foods.

Stout:
Like the silky, full bodied, toasted taste of a stout? Then you’re choice is the unofficial king of wines, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Why you’ll like it:
Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, full flavored, complex wine. The big fruit, heavy tannins, and lots of flavor make this a wonderful wine for those who like to drink big drinks…like a stout.
Variety is the spice of life. Whether your go to choice for drink is beer or wine, get out there and give the other a try. Follow the flavor suggestions and see which wine (or beer) you like best.

We’d love to hear what your experience was.
Did you find a wine (or beer) that you enjoyed?
Do you have a better recommendation for a place to begin?
Let us know.