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Beer and food pairing...starting a cellar?
Product selection and notes by:
Bruce Mathisen, Product Research Editor
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Beer and food pairing; starting a cellar
Q: Certain wine and food pairings are better than others. Is this also true of beer?
A: Without question, the variety of beer styles and flavours is equal to or greater than that of wine. Wine, beer and cuisine are all regional developments and progressed in concert with each other. Like wine, beer and food pairings are hotly debated and, while theories abound, there are no hard and fast rules. If you're just starting to experiment, below are some general pairings to keep in mind.
| · | Malty lagers go well with milder meats like pork, veal, and poultry |
| · | Stout goes well with shellfish |
| · | Crisp, full-bodied ale and red meat. |
Probably the best way to experiment food and beer pairings is to find a brewpub or similar establishment that offers quality food and an ever-changing roster of beers. Chances are the proprietors are beer and food fanatics so will have many suggestions. They may even have special nights dedicated to the subject of your question.
Q: How do I go about starting a cellar on a small budget?
A: Small budgets and wine cellars need not be mutually exclusive terms. For the purposes of this exercise, I will assume that you have a place to store the wine and have a budget of $360.00.
With limited means, you should focus your attention on wines meant for current consumption. Only 1 or 2 of the selections should have aging potential as resources are too scarce to tie up funds. To start, I would recommend six reds (two bottles each), four whites (two bottles each), two sparkling and two dessert for a total of 24 bottles. Once you have established your two cases, you should replace whatever you consume as the cellar is limited in size. Though don't forget to keep the variety. The following list is a suggestion of the kind of quality products that are available and suitable for the cellar. There are many more. If you are interested, you can also consult a product consultant in any of our BC Signature™ Liquor Stores.
Reds
| 1. | Domaine de la Bastide (France) #587196 $8.95 |
| 2. | D'arenberg Stump Jump Red (Australia) #607085 $12.95 |
| 3. | Cono Sur Pinot Noir (Chile) #341602 $9.95 |
| 4. | Torres Corona (Spain) #29728 $12.95 |
| 5. | Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Antiguas Reservas (Chile) #298075 $15.95 |
| 6. | Banrock Station Shiraz (Australia) #455014 $12.99 |
Whites
| 1. | Quails' Gate Limited Release Riesling (B.C.) #308312 $13.99 |
| 2. | Sumac Ridge Pinot Blanc (B.C.) #327882 $10.95 |
| 3. | Dunavar Pinot Gris (Hungary) #438119 $7.95 |
| 4. | Lindemans Padthaway Chardonnay (Australia) #415067 $14.95 |
Sparkling
| 1. | Segura Viudas Brut (Spain) #158493 $13.99 |
| 2. | Chateau Ste. Michelle Brut (Washington) #398198 $21.95 |
Other
| 1. | Taylor 10 yr. old Tawny Port (Portugal) #121749 $38.95 |
| 2. | Errazuriz Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc (Chile) #427054 $13.95/375ml |
The total for the above is approximately $332.00, leaving you enough money to buy a good corkscrew. Remember that the selection for your modest cellar should be based on your personal preference while maintaining the flexibility needed to increase your options.
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All prices are subject to change without notice. Not all products shown are available at all BC Liquor Store locations.
Prices shown do not include container deposit cost where applicable.
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