Sockeye and Lager

Shadow's Wild Black Premium Blackberry Lager
Photograph by Melody Flammger

Shadow's Wild Black Premium Blackberry Lager
Photograph by Melody Flammger

I've noticed I do a lot of pairings with salmon at this point.  It's probably because it's so versatile and it's one of my favorite types of fish to work with.  It also happens to pair with a lot of different beverages.  That said, this is unique because I've paired fish with beer (something I haven't done before).  Without further ado, on to the food and beer pairing!

Beer:

• See: very garnet in color- not a common color for a lager.  There is also very little head on the beer.
• Sniff: Blackberry, cherry and hints of molasses 
• Sip: Blackberry and cherry on the forefront with and almost woody backbone
• Swallow: Clean and crisp finish with very little aftertaste.

Sockeye Salmon and Steamed Peas
Photograph by Melody Flammger

Food:


Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon with a side of steamed peas.  The salmon was flavored with seasoning salt and black pepper and then oven-baked skin side down until flaky.  The peas were microwave steamed.

Food and  Beer:

The fattiness from the salmon immediately softened the woody and bitter flavors in the beer.  Because of the more bitter flavors being softened, it allowed the blackberry flavor to shine.  Paired with the fish, the pairing was almost like eating a glazed piece of salmon rather than two separate entities.  It was an excellent combination.  I even forgot to sample the peas with it, but they were more for a vegetable than for actual tasting value.