Fal’s Guide to Tailgating At Home
Down, set, tailgate! We asked Brewmaster Fal, whose three favorite NFL teams are the Oakland Raiders, LA Raiders and Las Vegas Raiders, about his All-Pro beer and menu pairings when the season kicks off tomorrow night. (Incidentally, Go Bills.)
We kick off the list with ribs and burgers (because ribs and burgers) and if you need any food inspiration we recommend checking out the endless depth of knowledge from the folks at AmazingRibs.com and The Burger Lab at Serious Eats. So we hereby present Fal’s guide to tackling your football viewing beer & menu pairing like an All-Pro.
Ribs (spicy or not)
Pairing: AVBC Bourbon Barrel Stout
Take a time out for flavor. Your patience under fire will be rewarded with this barrel aged beer, which will pair perfectly with almost anything that comes off your grill. For extra points, use a bourbon based BBQ sauce.
Burgers
Pairing: Boont Amber Ale
The caramel maltiness of Boont Amber matches perfectly with the grilled beef and onions – it’s a guaranteed win.
Brats or sausages
Pairing: Boonville Gold
Like a long bomb for a touchdown this is classic teamwork; sausage and spice linking up with a crisp golden beer.
Barbequed or fried chicken
Pairing: Poleeko Pale Ale
Chicken’s light meat flavors are matched and balanced by Poleeko’s light malt and hop combination.
Spicy quesadillas
Pairing: Tropical Hazy Sour
The mild tangy sourness cuts cleanly through the heavier cheese flavors, and Tropical Hazy’s fruit character blends nicely with the cheese and tortilla.
Grilled lamb
Pairing: Black Rice Ale
Wow, this is an incredible pairing that Fal has “thoroughly researched.” The earthy notes of the lamb elevate the earthy umami notes of the black rice. This should be on everyone’s list to try.
Chili
Pairing: Hop Ottin’ IPA
The caramel notes of the Hop Ottin’ match the roasted meats in the chili and the solid bitterness of the hops cuts through the spice of the chili.
Stock up in time for game day at a retailer near you. (Go Bills.)
