Summertime brings warm weather, backyard barbecues, and of course, cold beers. Relaxing with a couple of brews is always fun, but if you want to expand your options even more, give these wines for beer lovers a taste!
Pilsner – Prosecco
For those who prefer a light and understated type of Pilsner, Prosecco makes for an enjoyable alternative. This sparkling wine from northern Italy typically displays clean flavors of orchard fruit, subtle minerality, and sometimes a hint of almond.
Blonde Ale – Viognier
Originally grown in France’s northern Rhône region, the Viognier grape produces floral and exotic-spiced white wines with rich notes of stone and tropical fruits. These wines are a worthy substitute for the crisp flavors of fruit, hops, and coriander found in Blonde ales – especially those made in the Belgian style.
Wheat Beer – Chardonnay
The traditional German Hefeweizen is an unfiltered wheat beer with hints of banana, clove, and vanilla. These aromas and flavors are often found in white wines like barrel-aged Chardonnay from the Alexander Valley, an appellation located in California’s Sonoma region.
India Pale Ale – Sauvignon Blanc
With plenty of hoppy, herbal, and tangy citrus character, India Pale Ales are among the most popular styles of beer today. Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand’s Marlborough region is known for a pronounced grass and grapefruit taste profile, making it an ideal white wine for IPA fans.
Amber Lager – Cava
Vienna Lagers are amber-hued and particularly popular in the United States. Their toasty flavors remind us of Spanish Cava – a bubbly wine produced in the same way as Champagne, but for a small fraction of the price.
Sour Ale – Beaujolais
If you’re into mouth-puckering sour beers, try a glass of Beaujolais. These lighter red wines are made from a southern Burgundy grape called “Gamay” and offer plenty of tart red cherry and cranberry flavors, along with juicy acidity and a low amount of tannins.
Brown Ale – Amarone della Valpolicella
The sweet flavors of toffee, chocolate, and nuts found in many brown ales are also prevalent in the intense yet velvet-textured Amarone della Valpolicella, a red wine made from dried grapes in Italy’s Veneto region.
Porter – Ribera del Duero
Dark Porter beers have some weight, as well as a roasted, smoky quality with notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and nuts. Based on Spain’s Tempranillo grape, red wines from the Ribera del Duero region are often full bodied with concentrated black fruit flavors complemented by accents of smoke, tobacco, and vanilla.
Stout – Cabernet Sauvignon
The richness and dark character of Stout beers need a full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon to take its place. Examples from California’s Napa Valley region are especially generous, offering gobs of black fruit, oak, and spice, along with the firm structure to stand up to even the heaviest of foods.