Being a Team Player, I took on the onerous duty of working out which beers are best paired with pulled pork BBQ. I made the pulled pork myself, allowing a large chunk of pork to lie wreathed in mesquite smoke for 18 hours. It was indeed a hard task, but somehow we pulled through relatively unscathed.
The core question was which is better – Doppelbock or Old Ale? I always went with Doppelbocks because Garrett Oliver recommended it highly in his book. I agree with him that Doppelbock is great with roast pork, but pulled pork BBQ is a very different eating experience.
First up is Tommyknocker Butt Head Bock, which is a Doppelbock despite the name. This is a tasty, easy to drink beer, and I was convinced it would pair well with the BBQ. Sadly this was not to be: although the initial combined flavour is very tasty, bringing out sweet richness in the meat and the beer, it ends with a nasty bitter twist just at the back of the throat. I couldn’t put a name to the wrong flavour, just that it is there. Quite a disappointment as it started out extremely well.
Next up was Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock. I have paired this very successfully in the past with roast pork and accordingly had very high expectations, especially as this beer is rated (at the time of writing) as the 45th best beer in the world on beeradvocate.com.
This is, indeed, a very tasty combination with some strange effects. The pairing makes the Celebrator taste almost like it was made with English Fuggles hops – it brings out that hop funk flavour that makes English beer so distinctive. The BBQ brings out a subtle but distinct oak woodiness in the beer. This was an extremely agreeable pairing, but how would the Old Stock hold up?
Old Stock Ale is an Old Ale from North Coast Brewing Co and it clocks in at a significant 12.50% ABV. This was recently paired by Danner with smoked ribs. I knew that this would be a good pairing… but just how good?
It’s an absolute winner. The beer and the BBQ go together like they were meant to be: the beer pulls out sweet and rich flavours from the BBQ, the BBQ brings out a creamy rich smoothness in the beer. Old Stock even achieves greatness with BBQ beans! There is never a harsh or clashing moment with Old Stock, just rich, tasty, deliciousness. I have a new “go-to” beer for pairing with BBQ.
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Beerlicious articles by Stuart Carter, stuart@beerlicious.net is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Tags: BBQ, Doppelbock, old ale, Old Stock, Pork, pulled pork BBQ
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