Happy St. Patty’s Day! Today we explore some beers for any form of corned beef you may be enjoying..
From a full plate of beef with carrots and cabbage, to a pastrami Reuben from your local 100 year old Jewish deli, there are a handful of beer styles that will make a great day even better.
What Is Corned Beef?
Corned Beef is beef that’s been salted with rock salt “corns” which help to preserve it while curing. The salt kills botulism. Corned beef was served to the British and French Empire as a convenient and safe way to ration meat to soldiers and slaves alike. It was made popular and available during the Industrial Revolution, and again during WWI and WW2.
During the Industrial Revolution people flocked to cities and meat demand increased.
The Irish were made to give up their land to the British to raise cattle for corned beef production intended for global distribution. The Irish couldn’t afford it at home and planted potatoes in areas of land that they could.
In the New World the Irish would eventually enjoy the corned beef pastrami served in Jewish deli’s of New York and a bond would be made for all St. Patty’s to come!
What Beer Goes With Corned Beef?
Corned beef is salty, surprisingly light, and sweet. Pair it with a creamy nitro Irish Stout, Scottish Ale, or Red Ale to help enhance the sweetness while not crushing the flavor of the meat itself.
A traditional plate with corned beef, carrots, and cabbage will have a great deal of sweet in the meat and carrots, with bitterness in the cabbage.
Irish stouts, Scottish Ales, and Red ales, all have light to moderate hop bitterness to make a “bitter-sweet” combination while bringing some roast or caramel malt backbone for the caramelized parts of the meat.
Beers To Pair With Corned Beef:
- Wexford Irish Cream Ale Nitro
- Murphy’s Irish Stout Draught
- Guinness Irish Draught
- Belhaven Scottish Ale
- Ohara’s Irish Red Ale
- Smithwick’s Irish Red Ale
- North Coast Red Seal Ale (US)
- Samuel Adams Irish Red (US)
What Is Corned Beef Pastrami?
Corned Beef Pastrami is smoked and brined corned beef made popular by Jewish Deli’s in New York. It is served in a Reuben sandwich with either slaw or cabbage, Russian dressing and sometimes swiss cheese.
What Beers Pair With Corned Beef Pastrami?
Corned beef pastrami is smoky and peppery, requiring a hoppy, malty beer to keep up. Red ales and IPA’s are a great way to match the meat’s smoke and sweet, with bitter and citrus. American Ambers are slightly more hoppy and less sweet than Irish Red ales and really work with the bold flavors of a Reuben.
My favorite Reuben pairing is Modern Time’s “Blazing World” Amber/ IPA cross. This beer has citrus and dank aromas with a nice caramel, resinous backbone that is extraordinary with a complex Reuben.
Beers That Pair With Corned Beef Pastrami:
- Fat Tire Amber Ale (US)
- North Coast Red Seal Ale (US)
- Modern Times Blazing World Amber/IPA (US)
- Bells Two Hearted Ale IPA (US)
It really does ring true that “What grows together goes together.”
This refers to not just “from the earth” growth, but “cultural growth” as well.
Irish beer and Irish food is perfect.
American Irish food and American beer is perfect.
Enjoy some fun combinations today with good food if you can get to a pub or get takeout from a Jewish Deli.
That’s what I plan on doing. A fat Reuben (from Brent’s Deli) and a few different styles poured.
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
Cheers!
