Harmony and Balance

For centuries, beer and food have been enjoyed together as part of the good life. The grain-based nature of beer makes it a food in itself, and the huge range of flavors, aromas and textures makes it a perfect match for nearly any kind of food, from a handmade sausage to the most luxurious gourmet dish; choosing beers and foods that enhance one another means paying attention to the qualities of both.

Balancing flavor intensities

• Causes of intensity in Beer
• Causes of intensity in food
• How they work together

3-C’s

• Cut
• Compliment
• Contrast

Adjusting to proteins, cooking methods, spices and even flavors in the beer.

Understanding of the 3C’s is foundational to Food & Beer Pairing Knowledge & Skill.

CUT: Palate-cleansing provided by Alcohol, Bitterness and Carbonation “ABC” in beer.  This step must be understood before explaining the beauty and importance of complementary and contrasting flavor profiles.

COMPLEMENT:  Similar texture, temperature, aroma and flavor profiles that allow one another to taste better due to their similarities-complements can:

• Bring out the flavor of similar tastes in the food / beer
• Sometimes deaden the taste if the complement is the exact same flavor
• Add a needed complement to each other- i.e. adding citrus complement to salad or seafood

CONTRAST: Opposite texture, temperature, aroma and flavor profiles that allow each other to taste more rewarding because they are opposites. 

Complementary & Contrasting Flavor Profiles-  Pairing Goal: TO FIND HARMONY AND BALANCE BETWEEN COMPLEMENTS & CONTRASTS THAT ARE DELICIOUS.

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