Hey friends, we hope you’ve been filling your stomachs with all the tasty treats and tasty beers over the Holidays! It’s almost the end of the year, which means there is still time to indulge in all those yummy cravings before our healthy New Year Goals begin (but let’s be real, that only usually lasts for a month or two anyways)!
So gather up your buddies and enjoy a night in with some finger-licking snacks to finish the year off! To make things even better, we have put together a little Holiday Appetizer and Beer Pairing Guide for you to explore with all your favourite people! And if you’re anything like us, an appy night is only done right when paired with hand-crafted beer!! So put on those stretchy pants (we know you’ll need them) and dive into these delicious food & beer pairings!
BUFFALO CHICKEN - OFF TRAIL PALE ALE
An appy night just wouldn’t be the same without a heaping mountain of saucy chicken wings for everyone to enjoy, and if you like your wings hot like we do, buffalo sauce is the way to go! The tangy & spiciness of this dish is balanced out SO well when paired with our refreshingly tasty Off Trail Pale Ale. Your taste buds will be thanking us later…
SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE DIP - KNOTTY BLONDE ALE
Keep solving all your finger food needs with a classic Spinach and Artichoke dip served with fresh baked bread! This one is surely a crowd pleasure that is bound to be gobbled up in no time, so make extra! The only thing left to do is compliment it with our crisp, clean and straightforward Knotty Blonde Ale. The subtle tropical notes within this beer will not only give you a little piece of paradise, but will offer a refreshing finish to balance out the creaminess of the dip. You’re welcome…
GRILLED PRAWN SKEWERS - HEAD SHAKER HONEY LAGER
Impress your guests with some juicy & flavourful Grilled Prawn Skewers! Having at least one seafood dish is an absolute must… There is also something so satisfying about eating a freshly grilled prawn off of a stick… it’s the simple pleasures in life. And for the best experience, pair it with our crisp, mellow and refreshing Head Shaker Honey Lager!
CHOCOLATE FONDUE - SASQUATCH STOUT
Chocolate Fondue needs to make an appearance in your evening to fulfill all those sweet tooth cravings! After all, what are Holiday’s without loads of sweets?! Our mysterious Sasquatch Stout is smooth with notes of Chocolate, Espresso and dark roasted malts… which makes for the perfect Chocolate Fondue pairing.
GOAT CHEESE AND CRACKERS - MOONDANCE MANGO WHEAT
Goat Cheese and Crackers are pure perfection in a bite. Not only do they come together so quickly, they make an excellent companion to our smooth and tropical, Mango Wheat Ale!
BACON WRAPPED FIGS - BLACK CURRANT GINGER SOUR
For this one we are blending sweet & salty! Real talk, bacon makes everything better!! And figs… well…the bacon truly transforms the figs into a tasty treat that no one will be able to resist!! Make sure to pair it with our tart & fruit-forward, Black Currant Ginger Sour and enjoy the lingering kick of fresh earthiness from the Ginger.
BRIE CHEESE WITH RED PEPPER JELLY - RASPBERRY LEMON BERLINER WEISSE
Now if you’re looking for something out of the blue and into the Brie, look no further! Pairing our crisp and sour Raspberry Lemon Berliner Weisse with some Brie cheese and Red Pepper Jelly is a great way to get your loved ones lingering around the snack table!
PROSCIUTTO AND CRACKERS - WEST COAST IPA
Nothing pairs better with our West Coast IPA than a salty cracker covered in a thin strip of Prosciutto. Creating that perfect balance of Hops and salt on the pallet, this is an easy combination piece that is a must for finger food lovers!
HUMMUS - RIVER VALLEY AMBER
Next up is a creamy and flavour-packed Hummus! We’ve got to throw in something healthy to balance out all the cheesy snacks don’t we!? This dip is filled with earthy notes that your taste buds will absolutely LOVE. The best part about Hummus is that it is so versatile! Whether you’re dipping into it with some veggies or crackers, make sure to pair it with our roasted & malty, River Valley Amber. The smoothness of this beer compliments the smoothness of the Hummus so well.
BUTTERED SOFT PRETZEL WITH BEER MUSTARD - FRASER VALLEY LAGER
Did someone say PREZELS? And beer mustard?? And BEER?! Pure perfection right here… If you think we wouldn’t include a Buttered Pretzel with beer infused mustard, than you don’t know us a all! To elevate the experience we suggest you enjoy this snack with our crisp, light and easy-drinking Fraser Valley Lager.
SUGAR COOKINGS - IRISH CREAM IMPERIAL STOUT
If there is one dessert that screams, “HOLIDAYS!!” it has to be sugar cookies! When your sweet tooth is calling for sugar cookies, be sure to pair them with our Irish Cream Imperial Stout for a mind blowing combination! Sweet cookies with a smooth dark roast beer that carries an indulgent kiss of Irish Cream has to be one of our favorites!
There you have it, the ultimate Holiday Appetizer and Beer Pairing Guide. Thanks for following along, we hope this inspires you to pair our craft beer with your favourite finger foods!
If you try any of these beer food and beer pairings, make sure to share it with us at @oldyalebrewing or with the hashtag #OldYaleBrewing!
Happy Holidays!