Ah, brisket — everyone’s favorite smoked meat. With the temperatures rapidly getting warmer, we can’t help but think of all the smoky, barbecued goodness in the foreseeable future. While brisket on the grill makes for an amazing summer evening, we love this smoked meaty treat all year long. What goes better with brisket than an ice cold beer? We’re rounding up 10 of the best beers to drink with brisket, no matter what time of the year. Head to your local market, grab a slab and a six-pack, and get to smokin’!
Shiner Bock
The rich, roasted barley malt fermented with German hops makes this dark lager a perfect pairing for brisket. It’s brewed in the heart of the South itself — Texas!
Good People Brewing Company Coffee Oatmeal Stout
This strong brown ale bursts with savory flavors of coffee beans and molasses. The robust sweetness of this beer with a piece of barbecued brisket is delightful.
Hofbräu Dunkel
Dark lagers are the most simple and easiest-to-find choice for pairing beer with brisket. What better place to look than Munich? The toasty malt flavors of Hofbräu’s Dunkel lager go great with the hearty flavors in the meat.
Sierra Nevada Coffee Stout
Brisket and stout go hand in hand; the beer’s chocolatey, savory components match the meat beautifully, no matter how you choose to marinate it. Sierra Nevada’s rich coffee stout is an ideal choice, and very easy to find.
Goose Island Nut Brown Ale
This medium bodied brown ale shows aromas of honey and tobacco, a perfectly smoky match for a perfectly smoky brisket.
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier Dunkel
This delicious dark wheat beer is creamy and fresh, with fruity notes of banana and caramel. Brewed on the Weihenstephan Hill, this German treat is flawless with smoky brisket.
Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro
The addition of nitrogen to this beer makes the bubbles smaller, giving the beer a creamier, smoother feel on the palate. The lactose addition (a.k.a. Milk Stout) is not fermentable by beer yeasts, therefore remains in the beer while adding sweetness and structure. Left Hand’s Milk Stout Nitro presents toasty notes of mocha and brown sugar, ideal with barbecued brisket.
4 Mile Brewing Co Bourbon Oak Aged Scotch Ale
This full-bodied Scotch ale, aged in ex-bourbon barrels, pours a dense head and presents aromas of spicy vanilla oak, thanks to the casks. Roasty malt notes and oak dominate the palate, making this beer great with a super-smoky piece of brisket.
Lagunitas Imperial Stout Ale
The thick and creamy stout presents intense flavors of coffee and nuts, making this roasty bottle delectable with smoked brisket.
Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale
What screams America more than a barbecued piece of meat and an American brown ale? Nothing. That’s why this pairing is straightforward and superb. Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale is slightly bigger and more hopped than a classic English brown ale, making it able to stand up to heartier marinades and the robust smokiness of brisket.
