The Best Pizza and Beer Pairings
From Hawaiian to Meat Lovers, pizza flavours and toppings are endless. So are beer styles! This makes it really easy to pair your favourite pizza with your best craft brew. When you’re planning your next pizza night, here are 5 tasty beer and pizza pairings to consider.
By Mairyn Chorney on Jul. 08, 2019
Pizza and beer — two things that make life worth living! Alone they’re great, but together they are even better. Didn’t think it was possible? Try these five pizza and beer pairings for yourself!
Top Beer Styles for Pizza: A Pairing Guide
Cheese Pizza & Craft Beer Pairings:
What beer styles pair best with a classic cheese pizza?
In my opinion, a cheese pizza is underrated. Sometimes an gooey, stringy cheesy pizza is all you need to feed your hunger (unless you’re lactose intolerant, of course). If you’re into a basic, albeit classic pizza, try pairing it with a hoppy pale ale. The malt in this beer style won’t overpower the cheesiness, but the it will cut through the grease and balance nicely with the sweetness of your pizza sauce. A crisp, hoppy pale ale will help cleanse your palate between slices.
Beers to pair with a cheese pizza:
I’ve Been Thinking About Getting The Band Back Together – Arrow Head Brewing Company
Greatest Hits – Acoustic Ales Brewing Experiment
Beer & Pepperoni Pizza Pairings:
What beer pairs best with a pepperoni pizza?
When pairing beer with a pepperoni pizza, we suggest going with something big and hoppy, like a double IPA. The aggressive hoppiness in a brew like a double IPA will help bring out the spice of the pepperoni, while balancing out the saltiness.
Beers to pair with pepperoni pizza:
Headed West – 13 Virtues Brewing Company
Twenty Pounder Double IPA – Driftwood Brewery
Hawaiian Pizza & Beer Pairings:
What beer styles pair well with Hawaiian pizza?
While we know that the pineapple on pizza debate may be a touchy topic, we couldn’t exclude Hawaiian pizza from this list! To elevate the sweet, tropical flavors of a Hawaiian pizza, pair it with a light fruit ale. The sweetness in your brew will play up the sweetness in the pineapple but will also compliment the acidic and salty flavors from the tomato sauce and ham.
Beers to pair with Hawaiian pizza:
Park Life Passion Fruit Ale – Bomber Brewing
Transatlantique Kriek Ale – New Belgium Brewing Company
Beer & Vegetarian Pizza Pairings:
What beer style pairs best with a veggie pizza?
When eating a vegetarian pizza, you’re usually receiving an abundance of flavors from each veggie at once. It’s like a veggie-orgy party in your mouth. When pairing a beer with your vegetarian pizza, go with something light. A kölsch is the perfect beer to play up the delicate flavors without overpowering them.
Beers to pair with vegetarian pizza:
1857 Kölsch – Abe Erb Brewing Company
Oddball – MobCraft Beer
Meat Lovers’ Pizza & Beer Pairings:
What beer styles pair best with a meat lovers’ pizza?
Meat lovers are the type of people that get excited over the sight of bacon AND sausage AND pepperoni AND beef AND ham on a pizza. Screw the green things, they might say! Try pairing your meat pizza with a dark smoked beer, like a rauchbier. Smoky beers will soak your palate with flavor, and it’ll play up the authentic meaty flavors.
Beers to pair with a meat pizza:
Prairie Fire Rauchbier – Town Square Brewing Co.
Leap Year Smoked Bock – Tree Brewing Company
Looking for more great beer and food pairings? Check out these articles:
How to Pair Beer With Your Favorite Fast Food Orders
Craft Beer & BBQ Pairings
Delicious Donut & Beer Pairings
Pair Beer with Thanksgiving Dishes