Beer + Pizza = Heaven!
May 12th, 2009 by Goldie
This is an oldie, but a goodie…Honestly…
A few months ago I bought He Said Beer, She Said Wine, a great book on beer and wine food pairing. I must admit, I was a little skeptical at first. I always thought wine and cheese parties were a little gay (ok, a lot gay). Then, I started reading about grapes, regions, barley, and malts and started to appreciate the true craftsmanship of beer and wine. I guess all the Jim Koch commercials really didn’t sink in (Sorry, Sam Adams!).
Being a true pizza lover, I immediately looked up which beer would go well with a Little Ceasars Hot and Ready. Hey, times are tough and Thursday nights are Hot and Ready Thursdays at my house! The book suggested the sweetness of Brooklyn Brown Ale to contrast with the spiciness of the pizza’s pepperoni. Little did the writers know, I live in a small town where the town’s name can appropriately use ‘-tucky’ as its suffix. So, Brooklyn Brown Ale isn’t as readily available as Busch Light, Bud Light, and Miller Lite at my local liquor store. But, leave it to the Brits with their classic Newcastle Brown Ale to save the day! The malty brew made its occasional cameo at local shops and bars and this was my lucky day!
A large pizza in one hand and a six pack in the other, I was excited to try my little gourmet science experiment. I also felt like a matchmaker bringing these two delectable gems together. I took my first bite of the cheesy, pepperoni pizza and could feel the fusion begin. It was so good. Then, I took my first sip of the Newcastle. The flavors began to flirt with each other and after a while it became full-blown foreplay. As I chewed a bit more, it was evident that there was a little taste of heaven in my mouth. The blissful flavors of the pizza and beer neutralized one another and became a state of righteousness.
I became a believer that night. I could finally relate to the Top Chef Judges when they referred to acidicity and other gourmet speak. It’s funny how once you experience a divine miracle, you want to preach the gospel to the world- even if it is a simple $5 pizza and six pack of beer.
