Traditional Jewish food boasts bold flavors that are often overlooked when it comes to beer pairings. This Hanukkah, try tasting beers alongside those latkes and kugels. Beer might just win the day ... or all eight of them.
Potato Latkes + Heavy Seas Brewery Winter Storm
(Halethorpe, Maryland)
The staple Hanukkah food is, of course, latkes. Once named the perfect beer food by DRAFT, these savory potato pancakes are a great match for the biscuit malt flavors, fruity esters, and finishing bitterness of ESB. Pair them with Winter Storm, Heavy Seas Brewery’s Imperial ESB, that’s available from October to November each year.
Bagel, Cream Cheese, and Lox + Southern Tier Tangier
(Lakewood, New York)
Add a tangy twist to your bagel and lox dish with Southern Tier Brewing Company’s Session IPA brewed with tangerine peels. It’s hopped with spicy and citrus-forward Azacca hops that will brighten up this umami-bomb of a breakfast. At only 4.6 percent ABV, Tangier is a great way to start the day. Don’t forget the capers.
Olives and Bread + Shmaltz Brewing Slingshot
(Clifton Park, New York)
Go light on this antipasto pairing with a crisp blonde lager. Noble German hops will stand up strongly to the rich aromatics and savory flavors of the likes of Kalamatas and Castlevetranos. The dry, bright finish and drinkability of Shmaltz Brewing’s Slingshot American Craft Lager will prep your palate for six more days of Hanukkah.
Braised Brisket + Anchor Brewing Porter
(San Francisco, California)
The complexity of Anchor Brewing’s American Porter will stand up well to the rich flavors in tender beef brisket. Chocolate and coffee flavors meld with toasty, toffee notes that are all rounded out by this beer’s smooth, creamy mouthfeel.
Stuffed Grape Leaves + Green Flash West Coast IPA
(San Diego, California)
Caramel malts and piney hops meet lemon zest and savory Mediterranean spices. This pairing packs a punch that brightens these rich olive oil−soaked leaves and their earthy, hearty fillings. Their richness will also tame the bitterness of IPAs such as the extravagantly hopped double IPA from Green Flash Brewing, which is brewed with Simcoe, Columbus, Centennial, Citra, and Cascade hops.
Pickled Herring + Boulevard Tank 7
(Kansas City, Missouri)
Salty pickled herring meets its match in this peppery farmhouse ale that has notes of citrus and a fresh floral aroma. Esters from the Belgian yeast contrast with the brine of this cured delicacy, which is often flavored with mustard, sherry, or dill.
Noodle Kugel + Sam Adams American Kriek
(Boston, Massachusetts)
Kugel is a lot like bread pudding, but made with egg noodles and sometimes potatoes. Add some zing to its breadiness and subtle sweetness with a tart fruit beer such as Sam Adams’ American Kriek. It’s a Belgian-style, crimson-colored ale that ages in oak on Balaton cherries.
Doughnuts + Jailbreak Brewing Into The Dark
(Laurel, Maryland)
Balance out the sweetness of sugar-dusted doughnuts with a dry, roasty stout. Jailbreak Brewing’s Into The Dark, which is made to showcase the natural roastiness of its malt, has nuances of caramel, dark chocolate, and dark fruit that add complexity to this doughy dessert.
All the beers in these pairings are STAR-K Kosher-certified.