Three Craft Beer And Pizza Pairings You'll Love

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Pizza and beer is a classic culinary pairing that's been on the American food scene for decades. However, the traditional combination involves ice-cold, domestic pilsner-style beer with pizza made primarily from meat and cheese. Although this can be a delicious dinner choice, both pizza and beer have evolved significantly in recent years. Craft beer has gone from a trend to a normal fixture on the food and beverage landscape, and pizza ingredients have expanded to include items such as roast duck, seafood, and hazelnuts -- and these are all perfect pizza options for pairing with craft beer. Following are three delightful craft beer and pizza pairings available to modern diners.

Feta Cheese, Roasted Vegetable, and Hazelnut Pizza With Hazelnut Porter

This simple but delicious pizza features a base of feta cheese topped with roasted vegetables with a handful or two of chopped hazelnuts sprinkled on top. Hazelnut porter is a natural pairing because its rich, dark texture provides a perfect contrast for the feta cheese and vegetables, while the predominant hazelnut top note is an ideal accent for the hazelnut topping. Hazelnut porter is generally crafted by Pacific Northwest breweries because of the abundance of hazelnuts grown in that region.

Roast Duck Pizza and Classic Brown Ale

Roast duck pizza and brown ale are a gourmet pizza lover's dream come true. Well-crafted brown ale has the same type of complex flavor profile as roast duck, and it's yeasty enough to complement pizza crust made from hand-tossed dough. American style brown ale is brewed all over the country, and at least one selection can be found anywhere that craft beer is served with pizza.

Seafood Pizza and Kölsch

Kölsch is a fruity, light-to-medium-bodied ale that can always be counted on to play nicely with seafood, and it makes an ideal companion for pizza crafted with shrimp, salmon, oysters, mussels, and other culinary gifts from the sea. Kölsch originated in Germany, but many American brewers have put their individual spins on the style. It's generally pale and clear with a slightly hoppy bouquet that's got the right amount of dryness to allow it to properly pair with most types of seafood. Although it's still considered relatively obscure in many parts of the U.S., most establishments that serve seafood pizza have enough culinary awareness to have a good Kölsch on tap.

However, there are times when nothing but the old classics will do, so feel free to pop open a can of ice-cold domestic pilsner to enjoy with that slice of old-school pepperoni pizza.

For more information, contact Original Italian Pizza Pa or a similar location.


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