How to Pair Drinks With Classic Backyard BBQ Foods

Try pairing crisp lagers/pale ales with burgers and hot dogs, robust ambers and red wines with ribs and smoked meats, and lighter whites or wheat beers with grilled chicken. For sides like corn, coleslaw, or potato salad, try dry pilsners; rosé or even non-alcoholic citrus drinks will do the trick. A crisp pilsner will be a great beverage during a beer dinner – especially when served with creamy or mayo sides.

BBQs in the backyard combine char, sweetness, tang, and heat! The appropriate beverage can complement those flavors or be a refreshing contrast. Some of the most popular pairings of the classics, plus a few hints to help the buzz in the bar.

Burgers and Hot Dogs: Bold, Casual Matches

Burgers and hot dogs offer a lot of savoury meaty flavour, especially with some cheese, ketchup and mustard as well as charred edges. Lagers or pale ales are a natural choice along with these: They don’t dominate or dominate over the food.

Sweet sauces and grilled onions are also good complements for light IPAs. Cola or unsweetened iced tea is an easy choice for non-alcoholic beverages. Serve everything well chilled and have a couple of options easily available. No one wants to go far for one more drink at a backyard BBQ.

Ribs and Smoked Meats: Sweet, Smoky, and Robust Pairings

Ribs and smoked meats are what add deep smoke, sticky sauce and plenty of seasoning. They need some drinks that will hold up to them.

• Pair up malty amber ales or stouts with the caramelized barbecue sauce.
• Serve a robust and dark red wine, like a Zinfandel or Syrah, with smoky and spicy meats.
• If you are not a fan of drinking alcohol, ginger beer or spiced lemonade are good options to try for some added zing.

If you like to try some of the other beers that may work for the BBQ, check out the list of light and smoky BBQ beers provided by PorchDrinking. Drinks that are fuller-bodied should be enjoyed cool, not ice-cold, to better appreciate their flavours.

Grilled Chicken, Sausages, and Lighter Proteins

Grilled chicken and sausages tend to be easier to pair, regardless of how much char and seasoning is added, since their flavors are lighter. Herb chicken is great with refreshing whites like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. Simple citrus highballs are a good match, too, as are beer and wheat beers.

If you don’t want to drink alcohol, you can’t beat sparkling water with lemon or orange. On a cold day, drink these beverages, and make sure they are very cold—especially in the heat of an afternoon.

Classic Sides: Corn, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, and Beans

Classic BBQ sides add their unique blend of sweet, creamy, tangy, and savory taste. Corn adds sweetness, coleslaw and potato salad add creaminess, and beans add depth. Richer sides are cut through by crisp pilsners. A dry rosé can also be a good choice at the bar, especially as a partner to sweet corn and tangy slaw.

Also, there’s a refreshing alternative to alcoholic drinks, which is homemade lemonade or herbal iced tea, and will be a great choice for refreshing your guests while you’re serving the beers.

Building a Flexible Drink Station for the Whole Spread

A good drink station does not need to be complicated. Stock a few beers, one or two wines, a simple cocktail option, and some non-alcoholic choices. PorchDrinking’s roundup of beers for hot backyard hangs is another useful starting point when choosing lighter options.

For wine, Canterbury Wines. One way to search for bottles in various styles to suit a BBQ spread is. Store beers and whites in the fridge and reds a little cooler than room temperature.

 Place the beverages out of the way, but where they will be easily reached from the main BBQ area. Provide lots of ice and a pitcher of sparkling water with citrus to make it easy for guests to serve themselves.

Easy Ways to Pair Drinks With BBQ Favorites 

The only thing that’s important is to have some simple ideas that combine the flavors: contrasting them, complementing smoky/ sweet flavors, and maintaining a cool temperature. A good beer can just have those and not be a complicated match just for a backyard BBQ.

These ideas are to get you started; then, you can fine-tune them to your tastes and your guests. When it comes to a backyard BBQ, it should be relaxing, and so should be the alcoholic beverages, with some cleverly selected beers adding some spice and excitement without overpowering the meal.