From Backyard BBQs to Fine Dining: The Best Beers for Every Occasion

The versatility of beer is often overlooked compared to wine, and beer’s ability to match with seasons, times of day or even momentous occasions is unparalleled. The rapidly growing number of restaurants serving beer to complement food is evidence of this, so what's stopping you from finding beers that accompany every occasion?

Of course, wine lovers will have something to say; they'll argue that the strength and flavors from a vineyard aren't comparable, resulting in wine being the most suited option for a celebration. However, beer connoisseurs can instantly shoot this idea down with scientific evidence that suggests beer produces a much greater variety of tastes, and sometimes, those celebratory pints can even deliver alcohol levels of up to 15%!

Whether you're hoping to match beers from a seasonal standpoint, for an event or for each meal (excluding breakfast, we don't recommend this), we have you covered in today's deep dive of finding the best beers for every occasion.

The BBQ Beer (aka Party Beer)

There's no denying that beer is an ideal companion for events, and I've never heard of a BBQ that lasts less than two hours. For this reason, you want to consider a beer’s ABV (alcohol by volume). The last thing you need is your guests stumbling over the patio before the burgers are served, so the perfect choice would be within the range of 4.5 - 5%.

As barbecues and outdoor get-togethers often retain similar themes, we'd suggest the same methodology for most summertime parties. You want a beer that accompanies your guests from daytime as well as throughout the night, and with what I'd expect to be a sunny day, selecting a flavourful beer alongside the ABV range of 4.5 - 5% is advisable.

Victoria is an underrated Mexican lager that pairs beautifully with BBQ. The tasteful malt and slight hops drift to smooth, crisp afternotes.    

Game Day Beer  

Nothing complements a huge sports event such as the FA Cup Final, World Cup or main event boxing match quite like a beer does. You could go to the bar but who needs to pay those prices, so instead, you invite your friends over to watch the game/event.

Unlike BBQs and parties, a sports event isn't going to extend late into the night, so we can raise that ABV and have some fun. We can gamble during intermissions, even reach for the beer pong table and obnoxiously chant for our team.

I wouldn't, however, suggest drunken gambling with the best live dealer casinos; gamble responsibly when waiting for the second half of sports. With that said, I wouldn't refute having a pack of Asahi Super Dry while hitting the blackjack table because this Japanese Rice Larger has just enough kick (5.2%) with a dry, crisp taste and quick, clean finish. It's the No. 1 beer in Japan and is so flavorful you won't regret giving it a whirl on game day.    

Dinner Beer: Before & After  

Aperitif beers are an excellent choice before any meal, whether lunch or dinner. They're often dry and bitter-flavored beers created to stimulate an appetite and are typically low in ABV. We highly recommend Czech or German Pilsners, fruit beers or Hefeweizens if you plan a large meal.

Pilsners give a crisp flavor with a moderate amount of bitterness. The light body removes the bloated feeling you'd want to avoid before meals. Hefeweizens are similar in that they deliver moderate bitterness with a light body, the difference being that you'll find herbal and spiciness dissimilar to a pilsner.

Fruit beers are low in ABV and are the fancy approach to greeting guests as they're often visually appealing. While being the perfect pre-dinner aperitif, the fruity notes range in various flavours, from mango, banana, berries and more. Alongside lambics, they're the ideal aperitif for special occasions.

Dinner is complete; now what? We want the perfect after-dinner beer, of course! So, we look toward nightcap beers, which often have a higher alcohol percentage, to raise our relaxation on a full stomach. You can also consider killing two birds with one stone and making the nightcap beer a dessert beer. Look for imperial porters or stouts, Eisbocks or Belgian dark ales.

It's hard to single one beer out in this category, as the tasty choices are endless. However, at 11.3%, Trappiste's Rochefort Ale will provide an excellent conclusion to your meal, and its strong hints of chocolate and dark berries pair wonderfully with dessert.

It's Seasonal: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn Beers   

At the forefront of seasonal beer, it's best to look at the beer's structure. Naturally, summer beers are light, refreshing and zesty, winter beers are dark and complex, while autumn and spring beers sit somewhere between. When picking seasonal beer, your selections intertwine with holiday-specific flavors and/or will be crafted to fit seasonal foods. Almost every seasonal brew works with seasonal ingredients, thus reflecting on the alternating seasons by utilizing available components at that time of the year.

Winter Beers

It's freezing cold, and there's only one way to warm up: with a strong, heavy, deep-flavored, dark beer with a high ABV. With Christmas approaching, you can also expect to find spices linked with the holiday season.  

Winter Beer Variations: Dark ales, bocks, stouts, imperial stouts, Christmas beer  

Spring Beers

The flowers are beginning to blossom, leaves are sprouting and with it comes a beer transition to a light, dry and crisp style to match the temperature. Spring is the start of hop season, so exploring the endless IPAs and hoppy beers that begin to roll out is nice.  

Spring Beer Variations: Irish ales, blonde ales, fruit beers, wheat beer, IPAs

Summer Beers

Say goodbye to the dark beers, Summer is here, and it's time for some refreshing, fruity and citrusy flavors with floral hops that can accommodate a BBQ or weekend at the beach. Pilsner is often a go-to in the summer due to its refreshing, crispy tones, but Saisons that are specifically brewed during the winter and ready for warmer months are also an excellent choice.

Summer Beer Variations: Saisons, gose, kolsch, session IPA, pilsner,  

Autumn Beers

Autumn is one of the most-loved seasons for beer connoisseurs, as seasonal spices impact autumn beers. From pumpkin to cinnamon and nutmeg, this season’s beers have it all. And if you're in or around Munich, Germany, don't neglect the world's most famous beer festival, Oktoberfest!    

Autumn Beer Variations: Pale ales, red ales, harvest IPAs, pumpkin ale, marzens