Pairings | Beer & cider
6 of the best drinks to pair with tacos
Tacos are the ultimate crowd-pleaser—easy to love, endlessly adaptable, and downright delicious. But when it comes to finding the perfect drink to go with your favourite taco, things can get a bit trickier. Should you reach for a cold beer with tacos? If so, should it be a lager, a pale ale or something else? Do margaritas work with tacos, or they better left as a pre-taco tipple? Can wine work with tacos? If so, red or white?
In this post, I’ll diving into the best pairings for popular types of tacos, including fresh fish tacos, rich carnitas and everything in between. Whether you’re hosting a taco party or just looking to upgrade your weeknight meal, discover which drinks will take your taco game to the next level.
The 6 best drinks to pair with tacos (bearing in mind you’re likely to have more than one kind)
Beer
Lager would be the usual go-to but the London-based taqueria Breddos has its own full-flavoured 5.4% version, Zirkus from Magic Rock, which they describe as a ‘tropical lager’. Absolutely delicious and perfect with the food.
Margaritas
You can’t beat the classic kind in my book. Spot on!
Mezcal
Hand in hand with the taco boom there has been an accompanying growth in the popularity of mezcal the more artisanal form of tequila. Most taquerias have extensive lists, either as shots or in cocktails.
Aguas frescas
I drank a tepache at El Pastor which is described as ‘lightly fermented pineapple juice with spices. Refreshing and not too sweet. Not necessarily alcohol-free but very low. Here’s how to make it at home.
Sauvignon Blanc
Generally chimes in well with the citrussy vibe of Mexican food
Dry rosé
Better than a red IMHO. Breddos stocks the Domaine des Triennes rosé from Provence which I really like.
Drink Pairings for 5 Popular Types of Tacos
Image credit: Roman Odinstov
Tacos al Pastor - Margarita or Mexican Lager
This popular taco variety features thinly sliced pork that has been marinated in a blend of spices, chilies, and pineapple, then cooked on a vertical rotisserie. It’s typically served on small corn tortillas with onions, cilantro, and a slice of pineapple. A classic Margarita or a cold Mexican lager can be a great pairing. The acidity and citrus notes of a Margarita cut through the fat and complement the sweetness of the pineapple, while a lager offers a refreshing contrast to the spiciness.
Carne Asada Tacos - Malbec or Negra Modelo
These tacos are made with grilled, marinated beef, usually skirt or flank steak, chopped into small pieces. They are often garnished with onions, cilantro, and salsa, served on corn tortillas. A robust red wine like Malbec or a Zinfandel can pair well with the rich flavors of carne asada. If you prefer beer, a dark Mexican beer like a Negra Modelo can complement the smoky and savory beef.
Tacos de Pescado (Fish Tacos) - Sauvignon Blanc or Wheat Beer
Originating from Baja California in Mexico, fish tacos consist of grilled or battered and fried fish (like cod or tilapia) placed on a corn tortilla and topped with a variety of garnishes such as cabbage, crema (a Mexican-style sour cream), and fresh salsa. A light and zesty white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio pairs well with fish tacos, enhancing the lightness of the fish and the tanginess of the toppings. A wheat beer or a light pale ale can also be a refreshing choice.
Tacos de Carnitas - Amber Ale or Mezcal
Carnitas tacos are made with pork that is braised or simmered in oil or lard until tender and then shredded or chopped. The meat is then often crisped up before being served in tortillas with various toppings. An amber ale or a German-style Märzen beer pairs nicely with the richness of carnitas, balancing the pork’s fattiness with their malty sweetness. A smoky Mezcal or an Añejo Tequila can also complement the richness of the meat.
Tacos de Barbacoa - Syrah or Stout
Barbacoa is a traditional Mexican cooking method where lamb, goat, or beef is slow-cooked until incredibly tender, typically with seasonings, and then shredded. The meat is then served on tortillas with onions, cilantro, and salsa. For barbacoa tacos, consider a full-bodied red wine like Syrah or a Tempranillo, which can stand up to the bold flavors of the meat. A dark, roasty stout or porter can also match the meat’s richness and smokiness.
See also: Wine, beer and other pairings for Mexican food
Top image credit: Jeswin Thomas
10 different drinks to pair with smoked salmon
Smoked salmon is most commonly associated with champagne but in fact it goes with many other wines as well as with beer, whisky and vodka.
I tend to go for lighter, crisper whites and beers with lighter smokes and sherry and spirits with stronger ones.
Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and other Loire Sauvignons
The ultra-dry minerally Sauvignons of the Loire with their delicate gooseberry fruit are perfect for simply served smoked salmon. Other top new world Sauvignons will work too so long as they’re not too ‘herbaceous’ as the green bean/asparagussy notes of some Sauvignons are sometimes described.
Chablis
Especially young, unoaked Chablis which has the freshness and clean, crisp acidity to counteract the slight oiliness of smoked salmon. Richer Chardonnays go well with hot smoked salmon.
Dry Riesling
Dry being a relative description when it comes to Riesling. Young German Kabinett Rieslings with their vivid green apple flavours work especially well, but young Alsace and Australian Rieslings are also good. Avoid medium dry and sweeter Rieslings though.
Gewurztraminer
I’m not a big fan of Gewurz and smoked salmon myself but many people swear by it. Again, Alsace would be the obvious source.
Manzanilla and very dry fino sherry e.g. Tio Pepe
If you like dry sherry this is one of the best matches. The tangy salty taste of dry sherry is perfect with smoked fish. Serve it freshly opened and well chilled.
German or Czech Pilsner
Another excellent match, the freshness and slight bitterness of a pils is just what you need with smoked salmon. (Think smorgasbord . . . )
Weissbier/Witbier/Wheat beer
‘White’ beers go with most kinds of seafood, smoked fish not excepted. The slightly spicy coriander flavours are great with smoked salmon.
Malt whisky
Maybe not the ideal party tipple but an outstanding match for an impromptu smoked salmon snack. Choose a lighter, more fragrant malt with delicately smoked salmon (Springbank is my all-time favourite), a peatier ‘island’ malt if you’re dealing with a stronger smoke.
Aquavit
In particular the glorious Aalborg Jubilaeums Akvavit from Denmark, flavoured with dill and coriander, the best match bar none for gravadlax
Vodka
Good, well chilled Polish vodka works a treat.
You may also find this post 20 Christmas wine pairings to learn by heart useful.
10 great beer and food matches for summer
We all know a beer goes down well with a ploughmans and that it’s a great drink to wash down a barbecue but here are 10 more unusual pairings which should liven up your summer drinking.
Crab and witbier
My own favourite, I confess. Doesn’t matter if the crab is simply dressed or gussied up Thai-style, it works brilliantly though I prefer the Belgian style to the more banana-y Bavarian one with seafood.
Ham and parsley paté with English bitter
Cold ham and English bitter is a classic but this gives the pairing a bit of a twist (and is a great way to use up some leftover ham into the bargain). You simply cut up about 140g of cooked ham (smoked is nice) and whizz it in a food processor until finely chopped. Add an equal amount of unsalted butter and a couple of tablespoons of water, whizz until smooth then season with 1 - 2 tsp of English or Dijon mustard and fold through some finely chopped parsley and chives.
Kebabs and lager
What else do you drink with a kebab? Make your own straight off the barbecue, stuffed into warm pitta bread with lettuce, onion, houmus and a good squeeze of lemon juice and accompany with a good pils or Kolsch.
Prawn, fennel and leek risotto with wheat beer
A summery seafod and herb (dill) risotto which we found went really well with Colomba, a light, aromatic Corsican wheat beer. Would also pair well with a witbier or bière blanche
Joloffe rice and IPA
Joloffe rice is a spicy West-African rice dish that’s a bit like a paella and makes great outdoor eating. I’ve successfully drunk a light English bitter with it but would usually go for an IPA or an amber ale.
Beer-can chicken and amber lager
Yes, you may cook the chicken on a bog standard can of lager but the finished dish deserves something better! With its spicy dry rub and accompanying BBQ sauce or salsa you’ll find it goes really well with a Viennese-style lager or amber ale.
Chicken Caesar salad with a blonde or golden ale
The creamy, tangy sauce makes this much-loved salad a great match with a golden ale or lager such as Duvel or Schiehallion.
Cheesecake and cherry (or raspberry) beer
A fantastic match so long as you top the cheesecake with similar berries to the ones in the beer. (The great thing about matching beer and food is that you can mirror the flavours in the dish. That doesn’t work with wine where the food tends to strip similar flavours out of the wine)
Bakewell tart and raspberry beer
Similar thinking. You pick the fruit flavour - in this case raspberries - out with the beer. If you live in the states there’s a wonderful one called Raspberry Tart from the New Glarus Brewing Co in Wisconsin but Lindemans Framboise will do nicely
Blueberry and peach beer jellies
A bit of a cheat as the beer is actually in the dish rather than paired with it but fruit beers make absolutely knock-out jellies that are perfect for summer desserts (find the recipe here.) Try two or three different kinds such as blueberry and peach beer, raspberry and cherry beer and mango and passionfruit beer - a real showstopper.
8 great food pairings for stout and porter
Although there are obviously differences between the two types of beer, dark stouts and porters tend to pair with similar types of food. Here are my top matches ...
Oysters and Guinness is one of the beer world’s classic pairings only bettered in my experience by an oyster rarebit. A creamy chowder with oysters and scallops is also great with a lighter stout
Dark beefy or venison stews like my recipe for braised beef with port and porter. Ox cheeks, ox tail all love stouts and porters
Steak pies such as this steak and stilton pie I enjoyed with a London porter or a hot game pie
Boiled bacon and cabbage - a classic St Patrick’s Day pairing with a smooth dark creamy Irish stout. Mmmm.
American-style barbecue especially BBQd ribs or smoked brisket - one for an American-style porter - even a smoked one if you want to layer on some extra smokey flavour.
Stilton and similar mellow blue cheeses - porter works in the same way as port: a strong dark contrast. Brilliant.
Dark chocolate cakes and desserts - If you don’t have a very sweet tooth and enjoy black coffee with your chocolate you’ll enjoy a porter too. A stronger, sweeter imperial stout is arguably better still. Especially with brownies.
Vanilla ice cream - Imperial stout and ice cream makes a great float. Here’s Garrett Oliver’s Imperial Stout Float from the Brooklyn Brewery
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Food pairings for hefeweizen and other German-style wheat beers
Image © bbourdages - Fotolia.com
What to drink with chicken wings (and your other Superbowl snacks)
Let’s face it a well-honed wine pairing probably isn’t top priority on Superbowl night but there’s no reason why you can’t sip something delicious as you’re nervously nibbling your chicken wings (or your nails).
Chicken wings can of course come many different guises - with a honey marinade, classic barbecue, buffalo wings or with this hot and spicy siracha sauce but the common factor is likely to be that they’re spicy, more than a little sweet (and sticky) and maybe crunchy too.
I know chicken wings aren’t likely to be the only food on offer but it's not like these drinks won’t pair with anything else . . .
* Lager. Gotta be, really hasn’t it and that doesn’t mean the most tasteless, cheapest brew on the market. A good lager from your local microbrewery - like Meantime if you’re in London.
* Pale Ale - I usually recommend an IPA over a pale ale but if you’re looking for a session beer, a lower alcohol pale ale is probably a better choice on this occasion. And there’s enough flavour going on in the food not to need a massive wallop of hops
* Prosecco or - be patriotic! - an all-American sparkling wine. Possibly not one for the boys but fizz totally hits the spot with crunchy, crispy foods.
* Rosé - OK, it’s not summer but that doesn’t mean you can’t drink rosé - it’s great with party food. Maybe even sparkling rosé. Maybe - gulp! - even white zin . . .
* Off-dry riesling especially if the wings have an Asian twist
* A soft fruity red like a Zinfandel which is particularly good with smoky barbecue flavours.I’d keep the alcohol under 14% ABV though. It’s going to be a looooong night ...
For a totally off-the-wall pairing for wings check out this brilliant cocktail match I came across in Portland's Pok Pok.
You might also enjoy The Best Wine (and Cocktail) Pairings for Garlic Cheesy Bread
Image © Brent Hofacker - Fotolia.com
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