The Best Beer and Chicken Wing Pairings
From buffalo to salt and pepper, wing flavours are endless. So are beer styles! This makes it really easy to pair chicken wings and beer. When you’re heading to your next wing night, here are 7 tasty beer and chicken wing pairings to consider.
By Mairyn Chorney on Jun. 24, 2019
Beer is the best drink to order alongside your pub wings. Why? Because like beer, chicken wings are versatile and come in a number of different styles/flavors. This makes it super easy to find a beer that will pair perfectly with your chicken wings. Just like wine can compliment cheese, beer can compliment chicken wings.
Whether you like it spicy and hot wings are your go-to, or if you’re more of a honey garlic person, there’s a perfect beer pairing for whatever kind of chicken wing you love.
How to Pair Popular Chicken Wing Flavours with Beer Styles
Buffalo Chicken Wings & Craft Beer Pairings:
What beer styles pairs best with buffalo / hot wings?
Buffalo wings can be anything but subtle. They are either hot hot hot or the perfect level of spiciness that has you taking a sip of beer after every other bite. Hoppy beers are your best bet when pairing with hot wings. Next time you’re ordering a basket of hot, buffalo wings, order a hoppy IPA to go along with it. The hop flavour can play up the spice in your wings while the residual sugars in your beer will compliment it perfectly. India pale ales will also taste great with your side of blue cheese dip.
Beers to pair with hot wings:
India Pale Ale – Laughing Dog Brewing
Juicy IPA – Barrelhouse Brewing Company
Red Racer IPA – Central City Brewers & Distillers
Beer & Honey Garlic Wing Pairings:
What beer pairs best with honey garlic wings?
You might think that when eating sweet wings, such as honey garlic, you’d want to go with a crisp and clean beer. This can be true, but when looking for a beer to compliment the gooey-ness of your wings, try finding a beer that also has sweet undertones. Look for a beer that uses honey and other sugary flavours. A honey brown lager will give you the perfect balance of sweet and refreshing that you want.
Beers to pair with honey garlic wings:
Cypress Honey Lager – Granville Island Brewing
Honey Brown Lager – Sleeman
Texas Honey Ale – Guadalupe Brewing Company
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Salt & Pepper Wings & Craft Beer Pairings:
What beer styles pair well with salt and pepper wings?
With wings as basic as salt and pepper, you have a lot more options when it comes to pairing them with a beer style. If you’re looking for something a little more laid back, go with a cream or blonde ale. If you want to cut through the saltiness of your wings, try a pale ale with medium hop characteristics.
Beers to pair with salt & pepper chicken wings:
Begbie Cream Ale – Mt. Begbie Brewing Co.
Electric Avenue – Wild Rose Brewery
Trail Beer – 10 Barrel Brewing Company
Beer & Barbecue Flavoured Wing Pairings:
What beer styles pair with BBQ wings?
Most barbecue chicken wings are coated with a spicy rub before being drenched in a tangy barbecue sauce. This is what gives your chicken wings the perfect sweet and spicy flavor. If you want to cut through the sweetness while also complimenting the spices on your wings, order a berliner weisse. The dry, but drinkable beer features in a berliner weisse will keep allowing you to taste and enjoy every flavor soaking in your BBQ wings.
Beers to pair with barbecue sauce wings:
Creative Loafing’s Loafing Brau – Cigar City Brewing Company
Farm Table Weissbier – Beau’s Brewing Company
Raspberry Wild Child – Black Swan Brewing Company
Honey Hot Wings & Beer Pairings:
What beer styles pair best with honey hot wings?
Can’t decide between hot wings or honey garlic wings? Have the best of both worlds and order honey hot wings! Since these wings are already creating a balancing act, you’re going to want to pair a beer that acts as a natural palate cleanser between bites. A kölsch is a light, delicate beer that will keep you refreshed and ready for more wings.
Beers to pair with honey hot wings:
Cactus Cat Kölsch – Nine Band Brewing
Hybrid Theory – Origin Malting & Brewing
Rhine Stone Cowboy – Big Rock Brewery
Wanting to pair your beer with more of your favourite meats?
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Beer & Teriyaki Chicken Wing Pairings:
What beer styles pair best with teriyaki wings?
Belgian witbiers are brewed with spices, such as coriander and citruses, such as orange peel. These unfiltered, spicy and fruity beers pair great with Asian flavors, like teriyaki. A witbier is going to pull out every spicy and sweet note in your teriyaki sauce so you can eat them experiencing every flavor.
Beers to pair with teriyaki wings:
5 Lizard – 5 Rabbit Cerveceria
Floreffe Blanche – Licorne Brewing Co.
Golden State of Mine – Ale Industries
Spicy Korean Style Chicken Wings & Beer Pairings:
What beer styles pair best with Korean style wings?
Korean style wings are usually sweet and tangy with a swift kick of spiciness. To cut through the stickiness, pair your Korean style wings with a premium lager or a crispy Czech pilsner. The smooth, clean texture of a lager will contrast the pleasant heat while the sweetness from the malts will compliment the brown sugars in the sauce.
Beers to pair with spicy Korean-styled wings:
Lager Beer – Innis & Gunn
Premium Lager – Creemore Springs
Wonderstuff – Bauhaus Brew Labs
Looking for more beer and food pairings? Here are some articles we think you will enjoy:
Everything You Need to Know About BBQ and Beer Pairings
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How to Pair Your Beer with Traditional Mardi Gras Meals
The Best Beer and Thanksgiving Dinner Pairings