What's Brewing Bergseth Bros.

Weekly Online Newsletter Vol.40

Summer certainly kicked into over-drive this weekend and the smell of barbecuing foods wafted through the air. In fact, I enjoyed a hamburger with sautéed jalapeños paired with Lagunitas IPA. The IPA turned up the heat on the jalapeños, if you wanted to tone down the spiciness; Fargo Brewing Company Stone’s Throw would have been a good choice. The sweetness of the malt would contrast with the spiciness of the jalapeños, balancing out the flavors.

With Rib Fest, one of Fargo’s most attended events of the summer wrapping up this past weekend. I thought it would be fitting to pair some beers with pork ribs, pulled pork and beef brisket. Finding the right beer to balance the flavors and spiciness of barbecue may seem over-whelming but beer is the perfect companion to whatever you’re barbecuing. The three most common ways to pair beer with any food is contrast, complement or cut.

Most barbecue sauces are a combo of sweet and acidic, sugar and vinegar, in one form or another with sauces ranging from mild to intense spiciness. Fortunately, beer’s carbonation cuts through barbecue’s fire and spice while refreshing and recharging the palate. At the same time, its complexity can complement the layers of flavor in any slab of meat.

Pork Ribs – balance the spiciness of the sauce

Fulton Sweet Child of Vine – ABV: 6.4% IBU: 69

Fargo Brewing Company Wood Chipper – ABV: 6.7% IBU: 70

Schell Fire Brick Lager – ABV: 5.1% IBU: 25

Samuel Adams Boston Lager – ABV: 4.9% IBU: 30

Pulled Pork – balance the richness

Summit Great Northern Porter – ABV: 5.4% IBU: 48

Lagunitas Lucky 13 Ultra-Mega- Mongo Red Ale – ABV: 8.8% IBU: 55

Grand Teton Bitch Creek Extra Special Brown Ale – ABV: 6% IBU: 60

Empyrean Dark Side Vanilla Porter – ABV: 5.6% IBU: 22

Beef Brisket – balance of the smokiness

LakeFront Fixed Gear Red IPA – ABV: 6.8% IBU: 35

Samuel Adams NITRO Coffee Stout – ABV: 5.8% IBU 24

Rhombus Guys Brewing Company Invincible Pale Ale – ABV: 5.5% IBU: 32

Fargo Brewing Company Stones Throw Scottish Ale – ABV: 4.5% IBU: 19

Please check with your sales person on availability and pricing (please note some products are not available in certain markets).