A Guide to Beer Pairings
Published: September 03, 2012
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Tinika Green
Tinika Green is the Beverage Director at Blue Smoke Beer and is a Certified Cicerone, or beer sommelier. Born in Washington, D.C., Tinika grew up in southern Florida, later studying theater at The Actors' Conservatory in Hollywood. She began working in restaurants in 1994, later attaining Cicerone certification and passing the first level of the Court of Master Sommeliers. Tinika has been a part of the Blue Smoke team since 2006.
Tinika Green is the Beverage Director at Blue Smoke Beer and is a Certified Cicerone, or beer sommelier. Born in Washington, D.C., Tinika grew up in southern Florida, later studying theater at The Actors' Conservatory in Hollywood. She began working in restaurants in 1994, later attaining Cicerone certification and passing the first level of the Court of Master Sommeliers. Tinika has been a part of the Blue Smoke team since 2006.
Blue Smoke
A pioneer in New York's growing and vibrant barbecue scene, Blue Smoke offers mouthwatering, authentic pit barbecue from executive chef & pitmaster Kenny Callaghan, complemented by specialty cocktails, beers and wines, seasonal sides, and homestyle desserts. Now in two Manhattan locations, Flatiron and Battery Park City, Blue Smoke's menu offers a selection of regional barbecue styles from across the country including St. Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, North Carolina, and Texas, along with other Southern and regional American specialties. Visitors enjoy warm hospitality in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
116 East 27th St. New York,NY 10016
Helpful Tips
- 30|One of the key things to remember when tasting and pairing beer is to trust your instincts and go with what you like.
- 59|With a rich, creamy dish that has a fair amount of fat content, like deviled eggs, you'll want a beer that's really light and carbonated to help balance out the richness. Try a Pilsner-style beer, like a Heinken or a Victory Prima Pilsner.
- 95|With a light, summer salad made with vegetables and tomatoes, you'll want to balance out the high acid content. Pair this dish with a wheat beer, like a Paulaner, Franziskaner, or a Uinta Hefeweizen. The light, citrus-y beer will complement the vinaigrette dressing.
- 131|With a dish like Blue Smoke's Kansas City ribs - the meat is first smoked and then lightly caramelized on the grill top for a nutty and sweet flavor - go with a nutty brown ale. Try an Abita Turbodog, a light, refreshing, crisp, brown ale with a malt character to it, complementing the sweetness of the meat and the sauce.
- 137|For quick and easy pairings, try to find beers with similar flavors to the dish you are serving.
- 152|If you would like to get more advanced, pair a rich dish with a carbonated beer, to help you constantly cleanse your palate and enjoy each new bite.
- 166|If you're looking for something a bit more textured, pair andintensely-flavored dish with an intense beer. For example, a spicy and bold dish would match with a bold, rich beer.