Beer & Food
The journey of pairing Beer & Food largely depends on personal preference, but below are some of our favourite Muskoka Beer & Food pairings to get you thinking about flavour matching. As well, we have highlighted our brewery staff's personal picks. Tried and tested.
Post your favourite Muskoka Beer & Food pairing on our Facebook page or email us at tap.room@muskokabrewery.com.
Download a printable version of our food parings here, or have a look at some of the other food & beer ideas.
Winter Beard; Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout
Cheesecake:
Our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is a rich and sturdy beer allowing it to compliment rich & sweet flavours. The bitterness from the dark chocolate is a beautiful pairing with the cheese and the cranberries are a natural match. Instead of a cup of coffee with your cheesecake, try 6oz of our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Chocolate:
What goes great with chocolate? More chocolate. The dark roasted malt brings out distinct notes in the chocolate and the chocolate evolves the flavours of the beer. It is truly a magical pairing that has a world of possibilities. Pair the beer with fudge, mousse, your favourite chunk of dark chocolate or cake. Each will take on a life of their own when paired with Winter Beard. Go one step further and add in some fresh raspberries, strawberries or cherries.
A Frigid Day:
Is this a food pairing? No. Is it one of the best pairings we recommend? Yes. Winter Beard Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is a beautiful beer for a crisp winter’s day. The chocolate adds comfort, the cranberries contribute to the body and the slightly higher alcohol makes it a perfect beer to sip on during a day outdoors.
Muskoka Cream Ale
Roasted Chicken:
The roasted caramel flavours from a roasted chicken blend very nicely with the malty sweetness of our Muskoka Cream Ale.
BBQ/Smoked Ribs:
Maybe the perfect pairing for Muskoka Cream Ale. The tang of the BBQ sauce pairs extremely well with the select malts and hops in our British Style Cream Ale.
Montreal Smoked Meat:
Intense meats are best paired with bold malty beers that can stand up to the rich flavours. Our Muskoka Cream Ale provides the body and malt character that nicely complements dishes with Montreal Smoked Meat.
Grilled Salmon:
Salmon is a pretty oily fish and it required a beer that can withstand and complement it. Muskoka Cream Ale is the perfect complement for grilled salmon because the hops cut through the oil while the malt ties in nicely with the grilled flavour.
Muskoka Mad Tom IPA
Spicy Dishes:
The intense amount of hops in this beer cut through spicy flavours really well. A spicy curry is a classic pairing for this beer, but also think jerk spice, wasabi and your favourite spicy gourmet wings.
Smoked Fish:
Smoked fish like salmon or trout have a delicate, yet rich flavour. The variety of hops we chose in Mad Tom IPA provide a great contrast to the flavours of smoked fish.
Burgers:
We'll leave this one to you. Build your favourite burger with some unique and flavourful toppings - bacon, old cheddar, avocado...etc. The hoptitude of Mad Tom IPA will compliment some of the flavours and will cleanse your palette between bites. The best of both worlds! Email us your favourite burger combo or post it on our Facebook page.
Sharp Cheese:
Sharp and artisanal cheeses are a great compliment.
TWICE AS MAD TOM IPA
Grilled Meats
The big bold flavor of Twice As Mad Tom pairs well with grilled meats smothered in sweet barbeque sauce. The bitterness of the hops captures the carmelization of the meat and accents the sweet flavour in the sauce.
Indian Cuisine
The marriage between Double IPA’s and Indian cuisine dates back to the late 1700’s when English brewers would ship beer from England to India for the troops to enjoy.
Twice as Mad Tom is no different from its ancestors. The intense hop profile cuts through spicy flavours and accents medium – hot curry chicken or chicken korma extremely well.
Pulled Pork
The roasted sweet flavour from the meat along with a spicy rub compliments the bold flavor of Twice as Mad Tom.
Sharp Cheese
Sharp cheddar or strong blue cheese is a great pairing with Twice as Mad Tom. These cheeses have the flavor intensity to hold their own with a Double IP. The salty cheese plays well to the bitterness of the hops and all of these cheeses leave a creamy, mouth-coating film that the hops and alcohol will clear away.
Muskoka Craft Lager
Summer Salads:
For your first course, try an avocado and mango salad with a touch of lemon or lime juice. The fresh flavours and ingredients of any summer salad will pair nicely with our Canadian style Muskoka Craft Lager.
Grilled Chicken:
Our humid Canadian summers often call for a refreshing lager, especially when navigating the BBQ. Grilled chicken brushed with your favorite barbeque sauce pairs best with a crisp, ice cold lager. Incredible with sweet potato on the side.
Chicken Fajitas:
Everyone presents fajitas differently, and be creative, but rest assured that our Craft Lager compliments the guacamole, the spicy slasa, the grilled chicken and the cheddar cheese perfectly!
Muskoka Summer Weiss
Bacon & Eggs; Pancakes & French Toast:
Mornings call for refreshing beers. The natural fruity aromas and flavours of Muskoka Summer Weiss can be a great compliment to a variety of breakfast dishes. Great with bacon & eggs and legendary with pancakes/french toast topped with berries.
Goat Cheese:
Goat cheese has a unique, natural flavour which complements the earthiness of our Summer Weiss.
Guacamole:
Fresh tasting beers pair well with the fresh tasting ingredients of guacamole (cilantro, avocado, lime). This is a great pairing for the patio.
Lobster:
Always a summer favorite, lobster's rich sweet flavours are nicely balanced by the bright complexities of our Summer Weiss.
Muskoka Dark Ale
Brie Cheese:
The roasted malts in our Muskoka Dark Ale offer smooth sweet flavours that pair extremely well with the creamy and nutty richness of a Brie or Camembert chesse.
Steak:
A nice steak will have some big flavours no matter how it is prepared. You will need a nicely balanced beer to not only complement the meat but also cleanse your palate for the next bite. The up front malt flavour in our Muskoka Dark Ale goes well with the rich grilled flavours of steak.
Pot Roast:
The big, bold flavours of pot roast are complemented by the robust malt character of our Muskoka Dark Ale. The malt blend gives the ale the body to stand up to the flavourful mixture of meat and gravy.
Muskoka Harvest Ale
Smoked Salmon:
Smoked salmon (or most smoked fish) need enough in a beer to stand up to the strong flavours. Our Muskoka Harvest Ale tends to pair really nicely. Our seasonal ale has some nice deep malts and a natural hoppiness that can bring out unique flavours in smoked salmon.
Blue Cheese:
Not for the faint at heart - this is a bold pairing, but a rewarding one. Blue cheeses need a bold and well hopped beer to cleanse the palate. Our Harvest Ale is a great beer to match with this cheese as the intensity of the cheese increases.
Roasted Lamb:
This pairing is going to really depend on the spices used in preparation. If prepared with other big heavy flavours, lean towards our Muskoka Harvest Ale. Excellent with rosemary, thyme and even mint!
Curry:
Curry is a whirlwind of spices and flavours. The complexity of these dishes call for a sturdy beer that can cut through the heat and add to the dish as true pairing. Muskoka harvest Ale acts as an ideal companion to virtually any curry dish. The spicier, the better!
Crab Cakes:
With crab cakes you want a beer that won't be overwhelmed by the sweet flavours of the crab. The match depends upon the spiciness of the crab cake and the sauce. Our Harvest Ale has a slightly sweet malt flavour and a predominant hop presence that will match the meat of the crab, but not overpower it. This is also a great pairing if the sauce has some spice to it.
Pesto:
Pesto contains strong olive oil, herbal and nutty flavours meaning a nice hoppy ale will be a great match. The full flavour of our Harvest Ale has the hop bitterness to lift these heavy flavours.
Legendary Muskoka Oddity
Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Spinach & Artichoke Dip is all about the melted cheese. Legendary Oddity will contrast the distinctive flavors from the cheese and provide balance to this dish. The flavor of the Juniper will compliment the artichoke nicely.
Guacamole
Avocado, lime, and cilantro are a perfect pairing with Legendary Oddity. The citrus and hint of juniper berries compliment the lime and fresh green cilantro flavors. Unique and rewarding.
Baked White Fish (Tilapia, Pickerel)
This is a very flexible pairing. Bake (or grill) your favourite white fish with some lemon, fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme or dill) and salt and pepper. Legendary Oddity will enhance the flavours of the herbs and will add a unique dynamic to the subtlety of the fish.
Ginger
There is something to this pairing. We’re not sure what it is, but Legendary Oddity pairs extremely well with the flavor of ginger. Have fun with this one. If you’re adding ginger to a soup or chicken or pork, be sure to try a glass of Oddity with it.
Calamari
A lightly breaded calamari with a splash of lemon pairs well with the crisp citrusy undertone of Legendary Oddity.
