Not sure how to choose a beer to best complement your food or meal? Here are some guidelines to get you started:

• Not only does beer enhance the flavor of food, but food enhances the flavor of the beer. There is no better way to learn to appreciate the complexity of hidden flavor within various beers than to pair it with food.
• Start by considering the flavor of the beer. Take a slow sip of the beer and try to determine the prominent flavors. Is the beer yeasty or hoppy? Sweet or dry? Does it have a tangy, sharp taste with a clean finish? Make a few quick notes about your observations.
• Think about how the beer would best relate to foods, keeping in mind that there should be a balance between the two. Key points to remember: The beer should either complement or contrast the food.
• As a general rule, heavier Ales work well with red meat dishes and lighter Lagers with white meat. But exceptions to this can be delicious!
• Ethnic beer and food pairings are generally safe and a good way to sample complementing flavors. Try German pork dishes, sauerkraut and horseradish with German dark beers, tangy Mexican beers with Southwestern dishes, or hoppy American Pilsners with New England seafood.
• If you’re planning a beer dinner with a different beer for each course, plan to serve lighter beers first and progress through the dinner to the heavier, stronger beers. Serve small portions of beer – about four ounces per course to ensure that your adult guests enjoy each paired course.
• There are some very strong beers, such as Barley Wine or Old Ale, that are too powerful for all but the heartiest flavors. End a meal with one of these unique beers, served alongside pieces of very strong cheese or dark, bitter chocolate.