BBQ Beer
The aromas are unmistakable and seductive as you wait to take your favourite cut of meat off the grill – sweet smoke. The smoke contains a number of volatile compounds, mainly polyphenols, such as tannins, that are released into the air and create that unique smell. Contributing is the marbling and the barbeque sauce with its tomato sauce, spices, vinegar and sugars that penetrate the meat and then are released via the very high temperatures of grilling.
While we tend to think of full-bodied red wines as the ideal pairing, certain specialty beers are ready to step up to the challenge. In this case, it’s smoke beer, called Rauchbier, a specialty of the Bavarian city of Bamberg in Germany. Aecht Schlenkerla is the icon producer with a history going back to 1405 and is one of the few exporters of this specialty brew. The smoky, full-bodied flavours come from following very old brewing and malting traditions. Selected barley is malted at the brewery and kilned over a fire of beechwood logs. The result is a dark, bottom fermented beer with intense smoky aromas and flavours. Not for the faint of heart, enjoy with burgers or your favourite cut of dark meat. The alcohol is a modest 5.1% alc./vol.