And just like that, 2019 has almost come to a close. Holiday party season is in full swing, and folks everywhere are thoughtfully and diligently planning what to serve family and friends. Let’s be real here, traditional Christmas dinners look a whole lot like traditional Thanksgiving dinners, and that’s fantastic. But if you’re looking to add just a little twist to the same-old-same-old, why not swap out that bottle of wine for some beer? Here we’ll share a few ideas about how to expertly pair beer with your traditional holiday meal.

First and foremost, we have the appetizer course; and really that can be any number of things: shrimp cocktail, chips and dip, or a charcuterie board featuring cured meats, cheeses, and olives. A light- to medium-body beer like an IPA (for example our G.P.A. Geneva Pale Ale) would be a great contrasting choice. The bright, spicy, crisp effervescence of this beer would work well with the salty, savory appetizers.

Traditionally, ham or turkey would be served for the main course; each pairing with different beers. If turkey is on the menu, pour your guests a Dopplebock, one of our current seasonal selections. The richness and underlying sweetness of the caramel notes highlight the turkey as well as sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, etc. On the other hand, pair a Belgian White Wheat, like our Older But Weisser, with ham. The coriander and clove notes of this refreshing, light-bodied beer will perfectly balance the sweet and salty taste of a honey baked ham.

Onto everyone’s favorite part: dessert. Beer can make an amazing companion to all types of desserts if you know what to look for. Why not try a Porter, like our Doc’s Porter? This malty, creamy beer has just enough sweetness to perfectly complement any holiday dessert you may choose from pie to cookies, chocolate to vanilla, you can’t go wrong.

If a beer pairing experience sounds like a great idea for your holiday table, our brews are available for purchase to-go in growlers. We also host monthly beer pairing dinners at the restaurant. But whatever your plans for the season may be, all of us at Stockholm’s wish you a safe and warm holiday with beloved friends and family. Skoal!

The next step in this process is to start identifying the flavors and characteristics of the food or beer that you are trying to pair. If you’re planning on serving a Creamy Shrimp Fettucine at an upcoming dinner party and want to find a beer or two to pair with it, make some notes on the dish’s flavor profiles. Not only is it rich on account of the cream and cheese, but the onions and garlic impart caramelized notes as well. If you’re looking for a contrasting choice, a bitter and citrusy pale ale will work to cut through the richness of the dish. On the other hand, the nutty, roasted notes of a porter will accentuate the mouthfeel of the creamy sauce and highlight the caramelized flavors of the onions and garlic.

And of course, you can work the other way as well. For example, if you have a Belgian White Wheat that you’re looking to pair with food, identify its unique flavor profiles: for example medium body, refreshing, fruit-forward, and clove notes. As a complementary pairing, you can find a dish that has some brightness and high acidity, such as a butter lettuce salad with citrus vinaigrette and goat cheese. Conversely, a savory and briney dish featuring oysters or sardines would be a fabulous contrast to the fruitiness of the beer.
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Coming up next, we’ll feature some of our favorite pairings of Stockholm’s entrees and Stockholm’s handcrafted beer. We’ll also invite you to show us some of your favorites, too. There might even be some prizes involved. See you soon!