PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 19 PAIRED UP A social lubricant, a bonding experience, a complement to the meal before you: whatever role your alcohol of choice plays, it is clear that wine and beer are as good at being center stage as they are at being supporting characters. At barbecues, a bottle of beer is something to hold while listening to a pair of friends or sip from during the silences. For latenight television-watching, a glass of wine is the companion who keeps quiet but comforts you nonetheless. And for moments that call for celebration, both beverages wonderfully accent the proceedings. In most casual endeavors, you probably just drink whatever you’re in the mood for while eating whatever sounds good. With just a little planning, however, both experiences can be made noticeably better with some smart pairing. Sitting down to a hearty, meaty meal? Why not try a beer that will really satisfy? Hosting a cheese and chocolate party with girlfriends? The perfect wine could really go a long way to making the evening more fun and more delicious. Sure, you could go to the latest downtown restaurant and allow your waiter to navigate you through the sometimestricky world of food-and-alcohol pairings. Or you could chart your own course with our handy guide over there and be the pilot who steers your dinner party to its next great success. When it comes to wine, you’ll want a cheese that has a taste similar to the beverage you’ll be imbibing. This is because wine is (usually) sipped, and a chew here and a mouthful there can eventually create a steady flow of flavor. When it’s time to break out the sweets, just remember, the darker the wine, the darker the dessert. Think vanilla with a white and chocolate with a red. After cracking open an icecold bottle of your favorite brew and letting the fizz settle, you’ll want to take advice opposite from the wines above. Beers tend to be consumed more quickly, so pick a cheese that doesn’t really compete. You wouldn’t want a strong cheese with a dark beer when you’ve got some mild Gouda sitting right there. When it comes time to throw some meat on the barby, light beers equal white meat, and dark beers equal red meat, and preferably the darker the beer the rarer the chuck. What we’re giving you here is nothing new. People have been pairing foods with complementary or contrasting drinks ever since mankind discovered the benefits of fermentation. So continue the progress of the human race by venturing outside your comfort zone and trying a cheese you’ve never had with a wine you always avoid, and discover your new favorite pastime. Do right by your forefathers who forged alliances and brokered contracts over a meal and a perfectly paired beer. Get paired up with friends, colleagues, meats and cheeses. BEER & WINE COMBOS PERFECT FOR THE PICKIEST PALATE by Josh Newby
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