Valentine’s Day Beers

Valentine’s Day; a day Hallmark relishes, a day in which florists and chocolatiers rejoice, a day for lovers, dates, and dinner reservations. Whether you’ve got plans to hit the town or make a romantic dinner at home, you’ll probably need something to drink. Most people probably think of wine when they think of toasting with their special someone on Valentine’s Day but, I’m here to tell you, skip the grape drink and get yourself some Valentine’s Day Beer!

While wine is typically higher in alcohol content and viewed as more sophisticated, beer, with all it’s strengths, is clearly the superior beverage. Beer is more approachable, runs the gamut of flavors which lends to some extraordinary food pairings, and is typically found at a much lower price point. Make no mistake, I’m not suggesting one surprises their significant other with a six pack of Budweiser, instead I’ll be offering a plethora of beer choices under broad categories.

Main Course:
The variety of dinners can be wide so instead of trying to pair specific beers with what one might order or make, here are some general options:
-Have a soft, delicate Wheat beer like Hoegaarden with your salad or light fish or chicken dishes! Neither should overpower the other.
-Steak preparation can vary considerably, so it’s hard to nail something down exactly. Grilled, seared, or crusted, shoot for a dark Belgian beer such as Chimay Blue. When draped with blue cheese or any sort of spice heat, grab an IPA (India Pale Ale) like Bell’s Two Hearted. For a twist of mild smoke, pour a Baltic Porter like Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter. Even a nicely roasted American Porter, such as Sierra Nevada Porter, will go well here too.
-The big, juicy hamburger you’re craving deserves an English ESB like Fuller’s ESB or Pale Ale such as Boddington’s Pub Ale.
-Mixing things up with a spicy, possibly Mexican-style dinner? Time to reach for an IPA again. It’s mild-to-strong (depending on the beer) bitterness plays well with the spiciness!

Chocolaty:
You don’t have to skip chocolate altogether, but instead of indulging all those treats, why not have a chocolatey beer with, or for, dessert?

• Higher in alcohol, fuller in body, and powerfully malty, a Russian Imperial Stout can do just the trick! Try one of the following:
  • North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
  • Victory Storm King Stout
  • Stone Imperial Russian Stout
  • Samuel Adams Imperial Stout
  • Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout
  • Founders Imperial Stout
• To pack an even bigger chocolate flavor punch, some times it’s necessary to reach for a brew that’s brewed with chocolate!
  • Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout
  • Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
  • Southern Tier Choklat
  • Southern Tier Mokah
  • Southern Tier Creme Brulee
  • Tyranena Down ‘N Dirty Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
  • Great Divide Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti

Fruity:
For him or her that doesn’t care much for typical “beer” flavor, try one of these fruitier alternatives. They can also pair very well with dessert:

• Lighter, more delicate fruit nuances can be found in plenty of Belgian and Belgian-style beers. Try these for starters:
  • Sprecher Belgian-Style Dubbel
  • Goose Island Pere Jacques
  • Trappistes Rochefort 10
  • Ommegang Three Philosophers
  • Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw
  • Chimay Blue
• For bolder, richer fruit flavors, grab any one of these beers, typically brewed with fresh fruit or fruit puree:
  • New Glarus Raspberry Tart
  • New Glarus Belgian Red
  • Lindeman’s Framboise (Raspberry)
  • Lindeman’s Kriek (Cherry)
  • Drie Fonteinen Oude Kriek
  • Lakefront Cherry Lager

Sour:
Are you alone and bitter about it this Valentine’s Day? Have a beer to match your sour attitude:

• Darker in color and typically a little sweeter, these Flanders styles are for the romantics that still hold out hope:
  • Monk’s Cafe Flemish Sour Ale
  • Duchesse de Bourgogne
  • Rodenbach Grand Cru
  • New Belgium La Folie

• While lighter in color, make no mistake, these sours (most are Gueuzes) are for the completely hopeless (do NOT read “faint of heart”).
  • Petrus Aged Pale
  • Boon Oude Gueuze
  • Lindeman’s Cuvee Rene
  • Boon Oude Gueuze Mariage Parfait
  • Drie Fonteinen Oude Gueuze

In conclusion, the list of beers you could sample from this Valentine’s Day is virtually endless. Cast the thoughtless purchase of red or white wine aside and pair some exquisite beers with your meal and dessert!

Cheers,
-Andy
P.S. No, actually, I don’t hate wine!