Which beer

[thelawnet]

So what do we think the best beer to go with BBQ is?

I like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Or Paulaner. Anything really if I'm honest.

There's an article about it here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/ ... bbq-summer

"The hosts have rolled out their spanking new, top of the range monster grill, and by the time you arrive it's already smoking nicely thanks to the addition of some restaurant-grade hickory woodchips to the burning coals. The meat, expensively procured from an award-winning local butcher, is ready to go after resting for the best part of two days in family-secret marinades. High-end bottled sauces and carefully put-together salads are arranged on a sidetable. An iPod is playing music you actually like.

But then comes the fly in the ointment, the wasp in the honey-and-mustard dressing. Offering you a drink, your host points you in the direction of a large bucket of ice filled with beer. As you reach in to grab one you realise this is in fact an unlucky dip from the land of the discounted multibuy: 24 cans apiece of Foster's and Carlsberg jostle for space with 24 mini-bottles of weak own-label French lager."

He then goes on to recommend five beers, all for around £2 a bottle.... Sorry but I don't mind paying for good food, but when I know that people will start drinking from a bottle of beer and then abandon it somewhere, I'm not forking out for anything other than supermarket French lager (I don't buy the 3% stuff though, there's usually a stronger one for a similar price). Plus if you've bought a crate of Duvel then you are going to need the glassware to go with it to do it justice.

Most beer consumed in this country is swill, alcohol water basically, and while I'm sure people will appreciate decent food, I'm not so sure they'll notice a good beer.

Anything worth drinking is expensive in this country; I went to Oktoberfest last year and stopped off at the supermarket and picked up a couple of crates, of mixed bottles (Augustiner is the main local brew), about €0.79 a 500ml bottle, which I put in my suitcase coming back on BA. Unfortunately 1 bottle out of the 30 or so smashed and made a bit of a mess, but still it was worth it..... Will have to do a beer run to Belgium at some point this year I reckon..... Even the Americans have a better selection of affordable beers on sale than we do, despite the prevalance of Budweiser, Rolling Rock, Coors Light and all the rest of the swill.

Anyway, what beer do you think for BBQ?

[KamadoSimon]

Tend to drink more wine than beer, but after a business trip to the USA, really like Sam Adams from Boston Lager - Costco stock it. Sits somewhere in between a lager and an ale. And after a summer holiday with friends near the French / Belgium border, also got into slighter stronger but smaller bottled beers of that area, especially Leffe. But some of these are more like wine than beer.

[thelawnet]

Drinking a Sam Adams now, actually. I think it was on special in Morrisons.

Lager doesn't have to be swill at all. You get light and dark lagers, the dark ones are usually pretty good, and then from the light ones helles is very good, I'm not a pilsner fan but there are some good ones too.

[keith157]

In all honesty most times I'm glad that the food taster doesn't drive, all that seems to be on offer at bbqs is whatever cut-price offer is on at the supermarkets. With one exception, my boss stocks good beer so I treat myself to one then back to diet cokes and usually end up leaving with a goodie bag of Lion or Castle (South African brews) or a bottle of red or white wine. Okay I work for it, I'm the "look after these while I greet my guests" guest cook .
Sam Adams is a righteous brew and I heartily agree most beers & UK lagers worth drinking are expensive. Newquay Steam Brewery "Rocket Fuel" is one from the past and I'll drink Hopback's "Summer Lightning", at home, till the cows come home. St Peters brewery do a good fruit beer (Belgian style.....more good beers there) as well as a very quaffable lager.

[KamadoSimon]

Forgot about St Peters, they do a good pale ale which you can drink a few of too. Think my mate buys these by the case at Majestic so they work out reasonable priced.

[Davy]

I fully agree with the OP. I am a big German beer fan and I go there quite often where good quality beer costs next to nothing. Luckily for me I have a local pub that serves regional German beer on draught as well as a range of Belgium beers.

As you have said good bottled German beer here is expensive compared to the same product in Germany itself. So to be honest I will usually prefer to spend the money on the meat and pick up a a cheap crate of bud. Then when Im doing another beer run I'll pick up some more German and Belgium beer.

[Big_Fat_Dan]

I like Sam Adams a lot, but i have been getting into Brooklyn Lager also, very very nice.

[keith157]

I agree German beers are very nice but come on lads n lasses, it's the Jubilee, the Olympics, our wonderful hot steamy summer Back Briitish Beers Ciders & Lagerbeers

[Mighty]

There's only one beer to drink with BBQ for me, but sadly its just not really available outside Texas, so I don't get to partake anywhere near often enough!

Shiner Black is definitely my brew of choice. Although the more common Shiner Bock probably works better with pork, the black works with beef and I'm a brisket kinda guy!

In general here at home I'll take whatever is cold and wet and simple enough not to affect the taste of the barbecue, so I tend to go for very light, easy american beers like Coors Light or Bud 66 (yes I know that's a European invention).

[keith157]

Yes Bud is a European invention