Five of the best beer and curry pairings

By James Beeson

- Last updated on GMT

Great opportunity: pubs should take advantage when it comes to pairing beer with curry
Great opportunity: pubs should take advantage when it comes to pairing beer with curry

Related tags Curry

For many years, the universally accepted combination of curry and mainstream lager has ruled supreme.

However, with the broad range of different curries available across the world, many consumers are now looking to explore different alternatives. In this regard, pubs definitely hold the upper hand to curry houses, with a far greater range of beers available for customers to try.

This National Curry Week (9-15 October), we’ve put together a list of some of the best beers to pair with some of the world’s most famous curry dishes. 

1) Chicken tikka masala and IPA

A curry-house classic, Tikka Masala’s moderate spice and rich creamy sauce pairs excellently with a citrusy and floral IPA or pale ale with a malty backbone, such as Thornbridge Jaipur​ or Siren Undercurrent.

2) Seafood laksa and witbier

This Malaysian-influenced recipe is heavy on coriander, ginger and chilli. The slightly sweet and banana-like notes of a Witbier such as Camden’s Gentleman’s Wit​ or a hazy hefeweizen such as Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier​ will work well here.

3) Lamb jalfrezi and lager

Jalfrezi has an intense flavour with a thick, dry sauce leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste. Being a fairly hot curry, the best beer accompaniment here would be a clean and lightly hopped lager such as Pilsner Urquell​ or the exceptional Five Points Pils.

4) Thai green curry and saison

The citric notes in saison work beautifully with Thai cuisine. A creamy, coconut-based recipe from south-east Asia such as this is delicious with the peppery spiciness of a Saison Dupont​ or Brew By Numbers Saison Citra.

5) Chicken tandoori and milk stout

The smoky, char-grilled nature of a chicken tandoori is great with a dark, roasty beer. Try something with a sweeter edge such as Weird Beard’s Black Perle​ or Gun Brewery Parabellum​ to take the edge off the heat.

Related topics Beer Menu Ideas Food trends

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