So, you purchased one of St Ambrose Cellars’ signature meads, wines, ciders, or brews but now hesitate at the fridge with the plaguing question: ‘what food pairs best with my beverage?’
No worries, we got you covered with a comprehensive list of drink pairing that will help no matter where your tastebuds meander.
Mead
Imagine a canvas on which it is your job to elegantly paint only two of the many pigments on the palette spectrum-ing robust, dark, sweet, bitter, fruity, or dry. It might seem overwhelming.
However, there is a trick to blending a beautiful mead portrait – which is to pair light meads (such as our Dancing Bare Ambrosia) with light foods (i.e. fish, chicken, etc.), dark melomels (AKA fruit meads such as Cherry Amore or Rhythm & Blues) with heavier foods (think stews and beef), and light melomels (John Lemon, Razzputin, and Razzmatazz) with fresh and popping flavors (perhaps salads or spicy shrimp tacos).
There is some room for play here but, to continue this painting metaphor, as you shade your landscape of sunset over Lake Michigan, restrain from smearing too much yellow into the waves.
Wine
No pressure here except the taped lines your art teacher has placed between colors. Meads have guidelines, wines have laws.
To reference our menu directly:
Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio (as well as other dry whites) pair well with vegetables and some fish.
Chardonnay (a rich white) pairs well with cheeses, most fish, and lighter meats.
Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and all dark reds) pair well with heavier meats and cheeses.
It should be said that most wines love bread and other starches so if you ever feel lost in the nitpicking, grab a baguette and enjoy the rest of your evening daydreaming of the cobblestone avenues in Paris.
Beer
Pairing beer to food is less a chore and more an exciting experiment. Even lighter ales can shine with the spicy or dark meals and darker brews can work wonderfully with fish. Our recommendation is to order a pizza and pick at the toppings between swigs.
How about you?
Do you have any favorite mead, wine, or beer pairings using St. Ambrose products? We’d love to see them!