A lot of people have tried flipping burgers and sausages with one hand and drinking beer with the other. And for a good reason because grilled meats and beer go hand in hand, and with just one easy-to-remember tip you can take that grill and beer experience to the next level. 

Steaks, pork chops, and duck breast with rich grilled flavours marry beautifully with the roasted caramel malts that you find in dark beer. If the dish is extra rich with fatty sauces, then your dark beer should have a certain bitterness and a bit more alcohol to balance the fatty flavours.

But let’s go a bit more into detail. If you’re cooking up a menu with grilled steak and a luxurious bearnaise sauce aim for a rich brown ale to meet the strong flavours of the beef. If your meat of choice is pork, then go for a beer with a slightly lighter body and higher bitterness like a semi-dark lager. The trick to make the perfect food and beer match is getting that flavour balance right and, in the case of grilled meats, it means going dark.