There’s more to beer than mass-produced lager – there’s a huge amount of variety out there and many go superbly with food. Craig Butcher plays matchmaker.
At delicious. we like to take the hassle out of things. So we’ve sniffed and supped countless beers – the good, the bad and the just plain ugly – to help you broaden your drinking horizons. We recommend you experiment with different brands and styles; we're certain that even those of you indifferent to beer will find one to your liking!
Grolsch Weizen (5.3% ABV. 500ml)
A cloudy white beer from mega-brand Grolsch, there are bananas and tangerine fruits on the nose; it's lively in the mouth with good complexity and some sweetness.
Buy at: Asda and Morrisons
Match with: Creamy dishes like chicken, chive and mustard gratin
Moosehead (5% ABV. 350ml)
From the large Canadian brewery, Moosehead is a refreshing amber lager with a mild nutty aroma. With only very light maltiness this is an accessible session beer that will appeal to a wide variety of tastes – an excellent alternative to other lager monoliths.
Buy at: Online from Pierhead
Match with: On its own or with a hearty seafood dish like fish pie
Kasteel Cru (5.2% ABV. 330ml)
Fermented with champagne yeast, this is a zippy lager with citrus notes and is wonderfully refreshing when cold – a great alternative to Champagne and incomparable with the major lager brands.
Buy at: Waitrose, selected Tesco stores and Booths
Match with: Lighter fish dishes like seared scallops
Freedom Organic Lager (4.8% ABV. 330ml)
From an organic micro-brewery, this has a bright hoppy aroma with a good rounded malty flavour, a subtle bitterness and smooth caramel undertone. This is lager with a welcome flavour profile.
Buy at: Oddbins
Match with: Thai green curry or moussaka
God Lager (5.3% ABV. 330ml)
A pilsener style beer from Swedish microbrewery Nils Oscar. ‘God’ is Swedish for good, and we couldn’t agree more. Extremely nutty on the nose, it’s well balanced with malty sweetness and a hoppy dryness to the finish.
Buy at: Waitrose
Match with: Robust poultry, like roast turkey
Duvel (8.5% ABV. 330ml)
This cloudy Belgian golden ale packs an alcohol punch but the reward is a lively head, strong vanillas on the nose with some hops and spice.
Buy at: All major supermarkets.
Match with: A gutsy main course, like roast beef
Norfolk Bitter (4.6% ABV, 500ml)
From Woodforde’s Brewery and brewed for Marks & Spencer, this is more typical of bitter, with good maltiness, light fruits and a welcoming complexity.
Buy at: Marks & Spencer
Match with: A hearty venison and chestnut stew
Sussex Bitter (3.8% ABV. 500ml)
From the Hepworth brewery, this Sussex bitter is brewed for Marks & Spencer. It's light golden ale, relatively low in alcohol and an excellent introduction to bitter owing to its mildness and shortness of length.
Buy at: Marks & Spencer
Match with: Makes a refreshing aperitif or with pork
Old Thumper (5.6% ABV. 500ml)
With a deep brown hue, this full-flavoured strong ale with chocolate notes is a great winter warmer.
Buy at: Waitrose and Booths
Match with: Lighter, sweet desserts like sticky toffee pudding
Brakspear Oxfordshire Gold Organic Ale (4.6% ABV. 500ml)
An organic golden ale with a bright amber colour, there are lively fruits on the nose and refreshingly sparkling. One of the nicest beers we tried – this will challenge your perceptions of ale.
Buy at: Morrisons, ASDA, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Booths
Match with: Anything you like, it’s versatile but goes well with sausage and mash
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