The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Beer Pairings

No holiday celebration is complete without the perfect holiday beer to complement the feast. While big meals and decadent desserts bring joy, a thoughtfully chosen brew can elevate the holiday cheer to the next level. Beer has long been a staple of holiday traditions, and finding the right beer pairing for your menu can add an unforgettable touch to your customers’ experience. Curious about which holiday beers pair best with your seasonal dishes? We’ve brewed up this guide to help you serve festive flavors and frothy favorites in harmony. Let’s get started!

Start the Evening with a Festive Welcome

Kick off your guests’ dining experience with a refreshing beer aperitif. A lighter holiday beer makes a fantastic choice to cleanse the palate and set the tone without being overly filling. It’s also a great way to keep customers happy while they wait for their entrees to arrive. We recommend offering a crisp Czech or German pilsner as a starter. Its balanced bitterness slows the pace of sipping while its clean flavor leaves no lingering aftertaste—just the right note to begin a festive evening.

Cheese and Beer Pairing: A Match Made in Heaven

A charcuterie board with cheeses galore is a holiday crowd-pleaser. Pairing the right holiday beer with each cheese enhances the tasting experience and ensures every bite is savored to its fullest.

For Fresh Cheeses Light German beers like hefeweizens or pilsners pair beautifully with soft, fresh cheeses. These beers offer a clean, subtle flavor that complements the creamy texture of cheeses like mozzarella or chèvre.

For Aged Cheeses Stronger, aged cheeses such as cheddar or gouda shine when paired with a dry, hoppy IPA. The bold flavors in the beer balance the robust, nutty notes of aged cheeses, creating a harmonious beer pairing.

For Washed Rind Cheeses Tangy and aromatic washed rind cheeses call for a beer that matches their intensity. Belgian ales, with their slightly sour and bready profiles, are a fantastic choice to balance the funk and elevate the cheese’s complexity.

Main Courses Meet Their Match

Holiday mains like ham, turkey, and roast beef are staples of the season, each with distinct flavors that can be enhanced by the right holiday beer pairing.

With Christmas Ham Salty, smoky, and glazed to perfection, ham pairs wonderfully with a hefeweizen or lager. These lighter beers cut through the saltiness and enhance the glaze’s sweetness for a balanced bite.

With Roasted Turkey The comforting, savory flavors of turkey—especially with stuffing or cranberry sauce—benefit from the slight fruitiness of an Amber ale. Alternatively, a M?rzen lager’s tart undertones can provide a refreshing contrast.

With Roast Beef Rich and hearty roast beef pairs well with malty brown ales or robust porters. The caramel notes in a brown ale or the chocolate undertones of a porter complement the depth of the beef’s flavor while enhancing its succulence.

Dessert Beer Pairings

Pairing holiday beer with dessert might not be the norm, but when done right, it’s a game-changer. Here’s how to sweeten your menu with the perfect beer pairings:

For Chocolate Desserts Rich chocolate cakes or fudges pair seamlessly with stouts or dark malts. These creamy beers echo the chocolate’s decadence without overshadowing its flavor.

For Sugar Cookies Santa’s go-to snack deserves a light companion. A blonde ale’s delicate flavor perfectly matches the simplicity of sugar cookies.

For Gingerbread Treats Earthy, spicy gingerbread cookies shine when paired with coffee-flavored beers or breakfast stouts. The beer’s roasted notes enhance the ginger’s warmth for a holiday-inspired combo.

Cheers to the Holidays!

We hope this guide inspires you to get creative with your holiday beer pairings. At A Head for Profits, we love helping restaurants explore the world of craft beer, and the holidays are the perfect time to showcase exciting flavors to your customers. With the right holiday beers, you’ll create a festive dining experience your patrons will savor and remember. Here’s to great food, great beer, and a holiday season full of cheer. Cheers!