The festive season is all about delicious food and drink, and wine and food pairings often take center stage at holiday celebrations. But what if we told you that beer can be just as versatile and rewarding when it comes to matching with your favourite dishes?
This year, we’re celebrating the incredible variety of beer styles and their ability to enhance the flavours of seasonal dishes. With the help of our beer experts, we’ve put together some inspiring pairings that will bring out the best in your festive menu. Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or just curious to try something new, these suggestions are here to encourage you to sip outside the box. Cheers!
Our Level 1 Award in Beer is perfect for beginners looking to explore the world of beer. With guided tastings and interactive activities, you’ll learn how to pair beer with food, discover key beer styles, and taste like a pro using WSET’s Systematic Approach to Tasting. Looking for a unique gift this festive season? Treat the beer lover in your life to a course that’s as fun as it is educational.
Learn more about the WSET Level 1 Award in Beer ➜
Stuffing Sandwich & English Bitter
Sara Hobday, Head of Research and Curriculum for Beer
There’s nothing quite like a sandwich with plenty of leftover sage and onion stuffing washed down with some English bitter. The gentle herbal notes from British hops compliment the sage, and there’s enough toasty maltiness to harmonise with the bread. Adding leftover roast turkey is optional but will also work well.
Nut Roast & Munich Dunkel
Sara Hobday, Head of Research and Curriculum for Beer
A nut roast deserves a beer that’s just as rich and satisfying. A Munich dunkel, with its roasted malt and nutty undertones, creates a wonderful harmony with this vegetarian favourite. Its carbonation also refreshes the palate, making every bite feel like the first.
Turkey or Goose & Belgian Triple
Malcolm Venter, Educator Development and Delivery Manager for Beer, Spirits, and Sake
If you’re going the traditional route on Christmas day with turkey or goose, try pairing the main dish with a Belgian Triple. The fruity notes from the yeast go brilliantly with the accompanying cranberry sauce, while the clove note in the Triple adds a bit of Christmas spice to everything.
Tourtière & Amber Bière de Garde
Mirella Amato, Senior Business Development Manager for Beer
My favourite French-Canadian festive meal at this time of year is tourtière at midnight. This is a meat pie that, in my family, is served with a homemade ketchup. This dish requires a beer with deeper, toasted malt flavours, to bridge with the meat, as well as a little sweetness in order to stand up to the ketchup. As it is a meal that is consumed in the middle of a cold winter night, a warming character from alcohol is generally welcome. The ideal beer for this dish would be an amber Bière de grade, but these can be hard to come by. A solid backup option would be a Dunkles Bock.
Chocolate & Stout
Natalya Watson, Business Development Manager for Beer
I’m a big fan of beer and chocolate pairings. While milk and dark chocolate can be great matches for stouts and porters because of their similar aromas, it never hurts to experiment. An unexpected success? Duvel Tripel Hop Citra with Café Tasse lemon white chocolate. Both share complementary citrus aromas, while the beer’s carbonation and bitterness cut through the chocolate’s creamy sweetness.
Blue Cheese & Porter
Sara Hobday, Head of Research and Curriculum for Beer
I remember when the blue cheese and porter pairing was first introduced to me, and I’ve been a fan ever since. From Gorgonzola to Stilton, I love trying different blue cheeses with porter. The dried fruit and chocolate notes, and hint of sweetness from malt work beautifully with the saltiness of the cheese and bring enough intensity to match its flavour. This year I have my eye on a Baltic porter and Stichelton combination.
Roast Lamb or Beef & Rauchbier Märzen
Malcolm Venter, Educator Development and Delivery Manager for Beer, Spirits, and Sake
A smoky, malty Rauchbier Märzen pairs perfectly with roasted lamb or beef. The beer’s rich smokiness complements the roast’s flavours for a bold and hearty pairing.
Christmas Pudding & English Barleywine
Malcolm Venter, Educator Development and Delivery Manager – Beer, Spirits, and Sake
The warming alcohol from the Barleywine together with the rich aromas of dried fruit and the hint of sweetness from the Christmas pudding make for an indulgent end to a festive meal.
