All the tips you need for pairing beer and chocolate

The slightly bitter after-taste that the two share seems to be the secret that makes beer and chocolate work together, provided you choose the right kinds. What’s particularly important is striking the right balance—in terms of taste and smell—between the soft, aromatic chocolate and intense beer. So here are a few suggestions to inspire you to try some new and exciting taste experiences! 

 

How to enjoy beer and chocolate together 

To enjoy beer and chocolate together and make the most of this unusual experience, there are no set rules per se, but you should take two important aspects into account: temperature and format. 

As a general rule, beer should be enjoyed chilled, but never ice-cold: pale, low-strength beers should be served at a temperature between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius, while dark beers should be served at a higher temperature. Most types of chocolate, however, are best enjoyed at room temperature, to help them release their exquisite flavours and aromas.  

In terms of format, each kind of beer has its own suitable glass. The tall, conical flute glass that flares outwards at the top is used for Pilsners, while the snifter glass with its rounded base is perfect for malty beers and strong ales, and tall, narrow glasses are recommended for lagers. 

When pairing chocolate with beer, you can opt for any chocolate format you like, but we recommend cubes or squares, which provide the perfect bite-sized chunks. 

Now that we’ve given you an introduction, it's time to get down to business and go over the most exciting beer-and-chocolate pairings. 

 

Beer and dark chocolate 

Dark chocolates, especially those with a high cocoa percentage, such as our 85% blend chocolates, need to be paired with a structured, full-bodied beer like Stout. This is a bitter drink with a higher percentage of alcohol, whose barley is roasted longer to give the beer its particularly intense colour. 

If, on the other hand, you choose dark chocolate with a cocoa percentage lower than 70%, you can pair it with a beer that, while still full-bodied, has a softer and sweeter taste, like a Brown Ale with notes of caramel, or a long-aged Old Ale. 

 

Beer and milk chocolate 

For the right pairing of milk chocolate and beer, it’s a good idea to contrast the flavours: milk chocolate has a particularly sweet flavour given to it by the sugar and soft, rounded milk, so pairing it with a similarly sweet beer might be a little overpowering on the palate. As such, a bitter and slightly fizzy Pilsner, which is perfect for cleansing the palate, is a better option, while more adventurous people may choose a Pale Ale with notes of fruits and spices. 

Those who prefer to play it safe can try some typical Belgian Beer Chocolates: these individual milk chocolates, filled with craft beer, are surprisingly delicate! 

 

Beer and white chocolate 

The pairing of beer and white chocolate is probably one of the most difficult because of white chocolate’s distinct sweetness. For a more harmonious finish on the palate, you can choose a similarly sweet and sugary beer such as a Strong Ale or Lager, or you could go against the grain and pair it with a noticeably bitter and structured beer, like Barley Wine or Porter, brewed with roasted grains. 

 

Chocolate beer from cocoa beans 

To round off your beer-and-chocolate tasting experience, there’s another more direct and original combination for you to try: chocolate beer. This artisan beer is made by infusing cocoa beans during the brewing stage, which gives the end result a sweet, full-bodied taste to enjoy with each sip.  An interesting alternative to a classic cocktail to impress your party guests!