I spent many of my formative years in the Baltimore/ DC area enjoying world famous blue crab. As a kid I paired it with lemonade, and as a college student I looked to a cold Yuengling.
Now that I’m deep in the wine and craft beer worlds, I realize there are so many more pairing options to make this sweet meat sing.
Don’t get me wrong, a cold pilsner can do no wrong at a crab feast, but just to pay proper tribute I thought I would further break down the possibilities.
What Wines Pair With Crab?
Crab is both sweet and delicate and calls for sparkling or dry, light, white wines. These choices act as a dash of lemon does to crab. Shellfish have iodine and paired with tannic wines can taste of “tin can”.
This is why “surf and turf” with red Bordeaux is a horrible match.
French Champagne, Italian Prosecco, Spanish Cava, and other Brut are wonderful with both fried and steamed crab.
Ideal dry light white wines to choose are Sauvignon Blanc and French Chablis.
Sauvignon Blanc is perfect if any herbs or greens are present with the crab. For more info on Sauvignon Blanc click here.
Chablis is Chardonnay made from a cool region in France, and is high in acid and minerality. It’s not as rich and bitter as New World Chardonnay from countries like the US and Australia.
Chablis brings tart lemon and a rich mouthfeel for steamed crab drenched in butter.
What Wines Pair With Spicy Crab?
Riesling is a match for spicy crab. Avoid Alsatian and German Riesling as their nuances are lost on very spicy dishes. Instead choose a Riesling from New Zealand or Upstate New York. You’ll also save a few dollars.
What Beers Pair With Crab?
The traditional pairing for crab has been pilsner due to it’s light body and low alcohol. These lagers are designed for hours of drinking at a crab feast. For quality over quantity choose a Belgian Wit, American Pale Ale, or an Amber.
A Belgian Wit will bring a dash of lemon to your crab.
An American Pale ale will bring a citrus aroma and a bit more hop bitterness.
An Amber will bring both hop bitterness and a caramel malt.
What Beers Pair With Spicy Crab?
Spicy crab pairs well with IPA’s and Ambers. The increased hop bitterness of both play well with spice, and an Amber’s caramel malt backbone is a good call if you really ramp up the Old Bay and cayenne.
A few decades ago the beer and wine options available or served with crab were basic and not always opportune. The US was primarily consuming American Pilsners and light beers, and the wine available at crab houses was usually the wrong selections due to both a lack of availability, and wine knowledge.
Today more and more are savvy to different international wine varietals like Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, and the craft beer world has exploded with thousands of options.
Hopefully these pairing ideas will come in handy the next time you order from a menu at a crab house, or pick up a bottle on the way to a friend’s crab feast.
Enjoy making memories! Cheers!
