Summer Beers on WNBC

Most of us care about the food we put atop an open flame on the back yard grill. Prime cuts of beef, the choicest hotdogs with the right mix of spices. Fresh caught seafood and vegetables straight from the garden. So why just pair these excellent summer delicacies with just any beer? Here are a few craft beer and food pairings as seen on WNBC.

STEAMED CLAMS AND HOP SUN SUMMER WHEAT BEER

A lot of people will think of steamed clams and white wine. Well, I’ve swapped out the vino for cerveza and we’re left with a nice citrus flavor and sweet malt taste from the beer that balances remarkably well with meaty, salty taste of the clams. I’ve prepared them in a very simple way. I steamed the clams in the beer (once they open they are ready to eat), added a bit of lemon and some fresh parsley. Reserve the juice for dipping and you’re left with a great snack. Plus the left over cold beers from the six pack make a great accompaniment.

Learn more about Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Hop Sun Summer Wheat Beer.

And for more about craft beer and clams, check out this article I wrote for CraftBeer.com

GRILLED SAUSAGE AND SESSION BLACK LAGER

This is a lager that gets its color from the malts used, but it is not a heavy beer. 5.4% alcohol, this beer balances the spicy notes of a sausage sandwich, leaves you with a nice aftertaste and gets you ready for the next bite and sip. Also try the regular Session lager from Full Sail. Crisp and refreshing it’s a great year-round beer. Plus they come packaged in the stubby bottles that somehow make drinking a little more fun.

STEAK AND SAMUEL ADAMS BOSTON LAGER

The Boston Lager Cut

This ubiquitous American craft beer has teamed up with Jake Dickson of Dickson’s Farmstand Meats in Manhattan to offer what they call the “Boston Lager Cut.”

Essentially it is the cap to the top sirloin that resembles a leaner New York strip or shell steak, the brewery says. ”It’s not overly marbled,” said Dickson in a interview last year. “It’s not filet mignon either.” Dickson said he was drawn to this cut because of the intense “beefy” flavor it exhibits and how it plays well with the malt characteristics in Boston Lager. The cut is available at Dickson’s store in the Chelsea Market.

Sam Adams is also offering a mail-order meat pack through Robinson’s Prime Reserve.

A BEER FRUIT SALAD

Few things are better than an inviting bowl of freshly harvested, perfectly rip summer fruits. Mix them together and you don’t need any sweeteners or sauces to enhance it. Brewers too are making a fruit salad of sorts and we have a few of them here:

*Hell or High Watermelon from 21st Amendment Brewery, Honey Rye Ale from Lake Placid Brewery, Cherry Lager from Lakefront Brewery (brewed with Wisconsin cherries), Dogfish Head Festina Peche and Abita Satsuma Harvest Wit

EXPLORE SUMMER BEERS

These are just a few of the many great warm weather craft beers out there. Check out some other summer beers worth checking out here.

The best advice I have is to head into a local beer and wine shop and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Impress your friends by bringing an inventive craft beer to the next gathering. You  might even find a new favorite.

Cheers!

Thanks to Spiegelau Glass and the Beer Stick for providing glassware and a way to open the bottles for the WNBC segment.